Minister digs in for groundwork
Date published: 24 March 2009

Digging deep: Phil Woolas MP proves his worth
MP Phil Woolas proved his worth when he dug deep to plant a tree after being announced as the first patron of Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale.
The Immigration Minister and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP has been a long-time supporter of the eco-charity, and on Friday he visited a number of Groundwork projects around Rochdale.
His tour took him to the Fulwood nature site in Sholver, where he rolled up his sleeves and picked up a spade to help plant some trees.
The task saw him join forces with pupils from Oldham Pupil Support Service and graduate volunteers from Groundwork’s V challenge programme.
Cliff Ellison, executive director for Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale, said: “As our first patron, Phil will act as a high-profile ambassador, promoting our values and championing our work in the local community.”
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