Young volunteers renovate Petrus garden

Calvin Buckley and Lisa Daly (back left) from Groundwork with R83 team.

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Volunteers from across Rochdale, taking part in Groundwork’s Prince’s Trust Team programme, have put the finishing touches to their community project – improving the garden and land around Petrus Community building on Greave Street.

The team of volunteers worked through cold and wet weather to complete the improvements at the centre for homeless people. The work included litter picking, pruning the bushes and trees, removing weeds and dead plants, cutting back brambles and turning over the soil. The young people then planted a range of plants and flowers in the flower beds to make the area more appealing to Petrus service users.

Sonia Rothwell, Petrus Project Leader, said: “We’re extremely grateful and pleased with the work carried out here at Greave House by the Prince’s Trust Team. The young people have been pleasant and polite at all times showing great enthusiasm and motivation even when faced with heavy rain and frost.

“The environment they have created has provided Greave House and its service users a sense of tranquillity and well being, and somewhere to look forward to returning home to. It will be greatly enjoyed – especially in the summer months.”

The team members decided on Petrus as their community project as there was lots of work to do and they thought it would benefit a large number of people. The young people planned and organised the project, fundraising the money needed to complete the work. The money was raised through a charity car wash at Gordon Riggs Garden Centre and through a meal day at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale headquarters.

Lisa Daly, Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team leader, added: “I am very proud of all the hard work that Rochdale Team R83 have put into the project. They have managed to secure excellent fundraising opportunities, which have improved Petrus’ gardens in Rochdale.”