Cheshire Gardens of Distinction (Feb-July 2011)

Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction project celebrates the richness and diversity of Cheshire’s horticultural heritage and green spaces. Delivered by Marketing Cheshire the Cheshire’s Gardens of distinction project aims to achieve significant impact for the regional tourism industry from local, national and international markets. Through funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the project works with 31 gardens under the banner of ‘Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction’ to actively promote the group as the ‘Home of England’s Finest Gardens’.
Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction and Manchester Airport have come together with the shared aim of widening participation and interest of Cheshire’s gardens to families and young people who may ever have had the opportunity to see them before. The Manchester Airport schools art project provides the platform for our vision to become a reality. Schools have been selected by Manchester Airport predominantly from areas affected by our operations and many of them from underprivileged areas. Working with community artist the Andy Leigh children are producing unique art that depicts key features of the Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinctions for display within our airport showcasing the talent of the children, promoting our socially responsible approach and marketing the gardens as a tourist attraction. In all there will be 27 pictures produced during 2011. Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction are contributing to the cost of the artist, the gardens are offering free entry and Manchester Airport is providing coach travel and a point of display, this is a true partnership approach to Community Relations.