It must be summer – Bradford BID’s brilliant hanging baskets are back!
The Business Development District has installed more than 150 of the glorious flower displays across Bradford city centre, bringing a splash of colour to the streets for the busy summer months.
“You know it’s summer when the hanging baskets go up!” said BID project officer Leanne Holmes.
“They really bring the streets to life and make a huge difference to the whole feel of the city centre.
“They are very popular with residents, businesses and visitors and they really help to show Bradford’s best face – complimenting our fabulous architecture – to everyone who comes here.”
The BID, the limited not-for-profit company which helps promote and develop the city centre, installs the baskets on behalf of its 600-plus members who pay for the work through an annual levy.
“This is the fifth year in a row that the BID has bought and paid for the baskets and their installation as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the city centre for all who use it,” said Mrs Holmes.
“Along with our five-year deep cleaning programme, including hot-washing pavements, gum and graffiti removal, it helps to instil a greater sense of pride in our surroundings and encourages more people to visit, shop and spend time here.”
The baskets are supplied and installed by ACW Garden Centre, based in Canal Road, and are grown and prepared by the team at ACW’s Woodbank Nurseries, in Harden Road, Harden.
Bradford BID manager Jonny Noble said: “The BID’s policy is always to use and support city centre businesses wherever it is possible to meet our needs and, failing that, to go to companies in the wider Bradford district.
“We’re really thrilled that we’re able to turn to a local business like ACW, who do such a fabulous job, to supply our baskets. They look better and better every year!”
The hanging baskets are kept looking at their best with the help of a bright yellow water tank trailer which the BID bought in 2021 and was named ‘Buddy the Bowser’ in a Facebook competition.
Ian Ward, general manager of The Broadway shopping centre, who is also chair of the BID, said the baskets were an increasingly important part of the city’s street scene.
“They look fabulous and they really improve the feel and atmosphere of the city centre, something which is going to be incredibly important during our UK City of Culture year,” he said.
“It’s vital that we show our best face to the world in 2025 because we will never get a better chance, so we need to make sure that our streets look vibrant, colourful and inviting.
“Hopefully, the BID will be in its second five-year term by then because we need to ensure the deep-cleaning and street smartening process – which the levy-paying BID member businesses pay for over and above the Council’s statutory cleaning duties – continues and keeps the city centre looking as good as it can for the millions who will see it in person as well as on film and in pictures.”
