Youngsters get ready for Spring

Children and staff from the Dream Scheme get ready to plant bulbs in Darnhill with Michelle Brodie (front) from Rochdale Borough Council.

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Winter weather may be around the corner, but green fingered youngsters in Heywood are already looking forward to the Spring!

Ten children and their supervisors from the 'Dream Scheme', funded by Neighborhood Renewal have been busy planting daffodil and crocus bulbs as part of ongoing improvements on grassed areas in Darnhill.

The group, run by the 'Guinness Northern Counties' provides fun character building activities for eight to eleven year olds.

The area in the centre of Argyle Parade was identified by the local community as needing work, so over the last few days it's had a make-over said Michelle Brodie from Rochdale Borough Council: "The area needed a tidy up, shrubs had been vandalised, there was lots of litter around and weeds had overtaken the flower beds; the youngsters have done a brilliant job and really enjoyed themselves." 

Before planting the bulbs, the children helped to tidy up the area and collect litter, whilst Rochdale Borough Council staff replaced overgrown shrubs with more sustainable plants and sowed new grass.  David Illingworth from the councils Street Services division was on hand to give the eager youngsters a lesson on how to plant the bulbs, which should flower for two months in the Spring.

"It's great to see young people from the community working in partnership with the council, and really take pride in the area where they live," said Michelle.