Community

Stronger Local Connections

We have been successful in building stronger local connections and have welcomed over 50 ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ teams and countless new volunteers to the fold. The passion shown by our core Rochdale in Bloom team is infectious and the projects we’ve developed have succeeded in tugging on community heart strings, bringing in a wealth of new support. The surge in interest has brought new challenges for our team, but one which we relish.

Volunteer groups represent a full cross section of our society, irrespective of race, beliefs or age. On a cold morning in June over 30 local volunteers answer the yearly call for help with summer planting on the Rochdale AFC Wonderwall. After a few hours of hard work, the feature is full of colour and adds vibrancy to Sandy Lane. The local community were inspired to further enhance the area by investing in 4 pavement planters that have been built by inmates of the local HMP Buckley Hall Prison.

Improving the look of areas

Hundreds of young students from five Castleton schools have been introduced to planting at Castleton Railway Station while Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and National Citizenship Service participants took part in projects at Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Centre and Norden Jubilee Park. These activities not only improve the look of an area, by participating they also instil a sense of pride and enduring respect for our open space.

School Mentoring

Three Norden primary schools have benefited from mentoring by the enthusiasts at Moss Row Community Allotments and children at St Edwards School, Castleton have learned how to host a huge poly-tunnel in their school grounds. The poly-tunnels house rare and protected aquatic plant species including luronium natans. This project is in association with the Canals and Rivers Trust.

Residents in Norden, Spotland, Castleton and the town centre turned out in force for our largest ever Keep Britain Tidy Spring Clean to tidy-up grot spots and cleanse the local environment. Central areas of Rochdale also benefit from weekly clean-ups by the multi-faith Rochdale Environmental Action Group (REAG).

Business Support

We are fortunate to have gained and maintained strong links with local and national businesses since 2010.

Sponsors H Bell & Sons have provided financial support, materials and expertise. The moving of the pop-up garden in the town centre and the new flagging around the Castleton War Memorial are clear examples of what their support facilitates.

The Co-op have provided funds that allowed us to bring colour to Castleton Railway as well as other areas along the route.

Gordon Rigg Garden Centres have provided plants for the Wonderwall, while Crown Oil, sponsors of Rochdale AFC, have added goal posts to the display.