Launch of 2008 Manchester in Bloom

Manchester City Council is calling on communities across the city to make sure 2008's Manchester in Bloom event is an even bigger success than last year.

The competition is being launched tomorrow, Wednesday May 7, with help from youngsters who will be creating hanging baskets at the Urbis Museum's Urban Gardening exhibition.

The annual bloom competition has been running since 2004 and has brightened the city by encouraging communities to plant trees, flowers and shrubs.

The event has gone from strength to strength, with 37 projects winning awards at last year's North West in Bloom awards, compared with only three when it started, and Manchester City Council is calling on groups across the city to increase that number in 2008.

Councillor Eddy Newman, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "The success of last year's event was richly deserved and reflects the amazing effort, energy and care which went into producing those high quality entries.

"I hope Manchester residents are as keen to take up the challenge this year, and perhaps even take more awards for the city."

Anyone interested in getting involved should call the Environmental Campaigns Team on 0161 953 2410.

Manchester City Council launched Challenge Manchester - 100 Days to a cleaner, greener city 2008 on February 14 2008 at Manchester Town Hall.

The campaign will run until 24 May 2008, featuring 100 days of intense activity all over Manchester with the first 50 days focussing on green issues - primarily waste minimisation, recycling and climate change - and the next 50 days focussing on community clean-ups, local environmental improvements and planting schemes.

The council will also be asking residents and businesses about what they want the council to do to help them minimise waste and recycle more.

Challenge Manchester began in 2004 with "Challenge Manchester: 100 Days to a Clean City", and in its fifth successful year the campaign returns to its core aim to "clean up" the city.

More information about Challenge Manchester and how you can participate appears on our website http://www.challengemanchester.co.uk/ . You can also e-mail campaigns.team@notes.manchester.gov.uk or telephone 0161 954 9000.

Media contact:

Conrad Astley, tel: 0161 234 4027