Haslingden High School student helps with 'amazing' displays

Haslingden High School student Aaron Kershaw worked with Civic Pride Rossendale to create floral and felt displays for the 60th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society's "Britain in Bloom" competition.

The teenager has been attending The Zone in Rossendale for the last year and is a member of Rossendale Youth Council.

At the Old Fire Station, 11 members of The Zone, including Aaron, worked with Civic Pride members to prepare the displays.

On October 29, Aaron will be joining Civic Pride members at Bolton Wanderers Football Club’s stadium for the awards presentation.

Aaron said: "It is the 60th anniversary of Britain in Bloom and Civic Pride picked friendship, flowers and felt as the theme."

Young members of The Zone made yellow felt roses to symbolise friendship and celebrate Rossendale’s history with felt.

They also planted the garden areas around The Zone.

The displays were created for the 60th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society's 'Britain in Bloom' competition (Image: Supplied)

Aaron said: "From April, we were meeting once a week and then, when it got to June, we met twice a week to get everything ready for the judges.

"I like the sense of community and working as a team and it has been a great experience working with Civic Pride.

"Everyone came together, especially at the end when we were being judged.

"The judges could not stop talking about the work we had done."

Aaron has also worked with Child Action North West to help create a training package on the inequalities young people face in accessing mental health services.

He has been working with them for a few months and has done multiple presentations.

Aaron wants to become a primary school teacher and has enjoyed his work experience with early years children in a primary school.

He said: "After GCSEs, I am looking to do a T level in Early Years teaching qualification.”