Matthew Moss partnership with Hospice begins to bear fruit

Year 10 pupils from Matthew Moss planting apple trees at Springhill Hospice as part of the Rochdale’s Jubilee Orchard Project

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Year 10 pupils from Matthew Moss have recently planted apple trees at Springhill Hospice as part of the Rochdale’s Jubilee Orchard Project.

The planting of the fruit trees came as a spin-off from the work done by Mrs Miller’s Year 10 science class who have been helping to plant fruit trees in Rochdale’s Memorial Gardens in the town centre.

Countryside Ranger Bob Bevan and Carey Robinson from Rochdale’s Green Infrastructure Department co-ordinated the planting which was funded by Rochdale Township and the Big Tree Plant and was supported by Pennine Edge Forest.

As a reward and a way of saying thank you for a taking part, the schools have been given fruit trees to plant in their school grounds. The other schools involved where Brimrod, Broadfield and Shawclough Primary schools.

Matthew Moss pupils decided that it would be nice to plant their trees at the Hospice. Mr Down who helped co-ordinate the planting said: "We heard that the hospice wanted to develop their food growing area so they can harvest some of their own fruit and vegetables.

"We contacted the gardener at the Hospice, Nick Dent, and asked him would he like our fruit trees.’’

The Hospice were delighted that the students wanted to donate their trees and they went along and planted them under the expert supervision of Nick.

“The Hospice gardens are absolutely fantastic,” said Mr Down. “You can see why they are the North West In Bloom champions.

“The Hospice is having an Open Garden Day on Sunday 7 July, I would urge anyone interested in gardening to go along and have a look.”