Green Volunteers call for all gardeners

Date published: 27/08/2008

Fancy yourself as a bit of an Alan Titchmarsh or Charlie Dimmock? If you reckon you could give them a run for their money and have a little time to put something back into the community, then the Green Volunteers want to speak to you.

Rochdale Council is on the hunt for green fingered people to help the Green Volunteers on their mission to bring a number of herbaceous flower beds in parks across the town back to their former glory.

The Green Volunteers will start the first dig on a flower border at Springfield Park on Thursday 11 September from 10am to 1pm. Then on Wednesday 1 October from 10am to 1pm they will divert their attention to a flower border at Denehurst Park, near Rochdale Football Club.

The Green Volunteers have been improving the countryside around Rochdale for almost a year, and their team is now 51-strong. Their work has included opening up previously overgrown footpaths, managing woodland, eradicating invasive weeds and supporting a healthy amble walks programme to help people on the road to steady exercise.

Now, the Green Volunteers are looking to welcome more gardeners into their midst as they look to expand their existing countryside improvement capabilities.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “As well as continuing the fabulous countryside improvements they have made, the Green Volunteers want to broaden their horizons and make a real difference to flowerbeds too – but we need more green fingered people on board to help us do it.

“So join up now! They’re a friendly bunch and they have plenty of fun.”

No experience in volunteering is needed to become a Green Volunteer, just plenty of enthusiasm and a passion for the countryside and parks.

Green Volunteer Coordinator Ian Trickett, added: “We have ambitions to restore flower borders to the standard that you’d expect to see in a RHS or National Trust garden, except our difference is that we work in areas that are free for the public to enjoy.”

If you’d like to become a Green Volunteer or if you would like to donate a plant contact Green Volunteer Coordinator Ian Trickett on 01706 922073, or email ian.trickett@rochdale.gov.uk