Chester In Bloom – Chester BID fills city streets with blooming displays

Chester In Bloom – Chester BID fills city streets with blooming displays

The streets of Chester are awash with flowers as Chester BID fill the city with street-side installations.

A tell-tale sign of summer returning to the city – the team at Chester BID has again filled the streets of the city with locally grown flowers, cultivated locally at Chester nursery, Walkers.

Over 100 planters have been installed around the city, with more than 4,000 plants, attracting bees, butterflies and of course visitors to the city centre. Baskets have been placed along the city’s historic rows, on first floor levels as well as in larger street level installations.

Chester BID are also encouraging social followers to show off their photography skills. in capturing the beauty of the flower installations, in a prize competition judged by Alicia Jamieson from Whitewall Galleries. Entries are made by sharing their pictures across Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, tagging in Chester BID. The winner will receive a Chester Gift Card to the value of £50.

Carl Critchlow, BID Manager said: ‘Our annual Chester in Bloom initiative has become the precursor to the city changing into its summer uniform. Our businesses are busy preparing and executing alfresco dining areas with many also contributing to the floral feel of the city with their own planting.’

‘We’re already seeing the city footfall numbers rise on sunnier days, with visitors excited to explore the unique outdoor nature of our city centre, with its positioning on the river and green spaces so accessible.’

He added: ‘We’re hoping our photo competition will showcase not just the flower installations – but also the beauty of the city they sit within – as a reminder to the region that Chester is the perfect place for a summer day trip.’

Cheshire West and Chester Council are supporting the BID’s In Bloom campaign by keeping the flowers fed and watered in the weeks ahead.

About Chester BID Company

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led, business-funded body created to improve a defined commercial area. Chester BID is funded solely by the businesses within the city.

There are over 460 businesses in Chester’s BID area with a rateable value of more than £18,000. Each of these contribute a levy equal to 1% of their business rates every year to fund a wide range of improvements identified by the businesses themselves. It is expected that approximately £2.5m of private sector funds will be generated over the five-year BID term and this money will be reinvested back into the city centre.

In June 2019, hundreds of businesses voted in favour of the plans to renew the BID’s term in Chester and on September 1st, 2019, Chester BID Company started a second five year-term with the intention of continuing to deliver a more vibrant and successful trading environment for Chester city centre.

For more information, visit www.ChesterBID.co.uk