Floral Manchester Bee tribute to buzz into Norden

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The floral bee tribute is proposed to be located next to Caldershaw Road

A floral Manchester Bee tribute is set to buzz into Norden over the next few weeks.

This will be the third tribute to the 22 people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena attack, following Rochdale and Middleton.

The first bee, sited next to the statue of John Bright in Broadfield Park, was completed around three weeks ago and was quickly followed by a second tribute in Middleton’s Jubilee Park.

Paul Ellison’s latest project, sponsored by Andrea McCarrick from AJ Properties, will be located near the Turf Tavern on Caldershaw Road.

He said: “This fantastic floral tribute will be for the Manchester bomb victims.

“I’ve organised with Rochdale Council Environment Management to install and plant up the display for the feature.

"Special thanks go to Andrea McCarrick for sponsoring my latest project and I will be carrying out all the work voluntarily.”

The worker bee became a symbol of Manchester following the hard work and ‘hive of activity’ during the Industrial Revolution and represents the city’s innovative and enterprising past.

Bees can be found gracing various surfaces across Manchester from bins, lampposts and bollards to the floor tiles in Manchester Town Hall and in the city’s coat of arms, granted in 1842.

Nicholas O’Neill, of Rochdale Borough Council’s environmental services team, said: “The floral bee displays are moving tributes to the Manchester terror attack and have really captured the public’s hearts. It’s great that Norden will have a bee display, complementing the council’s poignant and beautifully crafted tributes across the borough. Well done on this fantastic project.”