Chester In Bloom as alfresco Chester booms

To welcome summer in the city, Chester BID has filled the streets of the city with locally grown flowers, cultivated at Chester nursery, Walkers.

Over 100 planters have been installed around the city, with more than 4,000 plants, attracting bees, butterflies and other insects to the city centre and cheering up shoppers, tourists and alfresco diners. Baskets have been placed along the city’s historic rows, as well as larger street level installations. 

Carl Critchlow, BID Manager said: ‘We are delighted to be able to dress the city with flowers throughout the summer months; to cheer up shoppers and people working in the city and to show our city at its best as tourists and day trippers visit. 

‘Our flowers this year have been chosen to offer the ultimate in joyful summer colours. Our city, its businesses and residents have faced a fair set of challenges over the last 18 months, and we hope they will play a small part in bringing a smile to people’s faces. 

He added: ‘Since re-opening in April, we’ve seen Chester reimagine itself to become truly alfresco. Our businesses have been amazingly innovative and proactive - creating pavement cafes, outdoor barbecues and in some cases erecting marquees and building permanent outdoor structures to make sure their customers can enjoy dining out again. Combined with further pedestrianisation of the city roads, Chester now offers the experience of some of the great European cities, where you can sit outside people watching, admiring the beautiful architecture in the city and dine while you take a break from shopping. Chester in Bloom will bring the feel of the beautiful Cheshire gardens into the city streets.’ 

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