MASJIDS IN BLOOM
HOW ONE ROCHDALE FAMILY'S EFFORT LED TO REGIONAL FLORAL COLLABORATION Asrar Ul-Haq and his family started the Amaani Initiative with the aim to tackle climate change. The family led initiative aims to encourage the community to engage in activities that reduce carbon emissions, combat climate change and enhance the beauty of the local environment.
Five mosques in Rochdale took part in Masjids in Bloom. Each Masjid [mosque] put on beautiful floral and plant displays as part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s North West in Bloom Competition. Supported by Rochdale Council of Mosques, the five masjids – Neeli, Central, Golden, Jalalia and Bilal were visited by the In Bloom judges in August. Bilal mosque took the top spot at the awards ceremony on 4th November, after judges were wowed by the attention to detail, environmental efforts and splash of colour.
Over the years the Rochdale family’s initiative has had an extremely positive impact on the local community. They have planted over 400 trees in Kirkholt with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, engaged with various organisations across the borough and the initiative also inspired ‘Masjids in Bloom’. 26 | Rochdale Style
A special trophy for outstanding contribution was presented for the very first time to Asrar Ul-Haq. The Bill Blackledge MBE Chairman’s Award was presented to him in recognition for his work in the local community and Masjids in Bloom. Roy Down, Chairman for Rochdale In Bloom, commented: "Asrar thoroughly deserves this prestigious award for his amazing achievements with the project. It's a real pat on the back for him. He doesn't go around broadcasting everything he does, so it's nice that it has finally been recognised that Asrar is making a real difference in the borough."
