Hopwood Hall College students give woodland a makeover

Footpath improved

Landscaping, Gardening and Aquaponics students at Hopwood Hall College worked with Rochdale Council’s Green Volunteers to restore parts of woodland area in the Rochdale Borough.

The students gave the community task force what would be a normal month’s worth of volunteers in the space of a few days, to try and bring life back to the community areas of the nature hotspots.

Aside from general clean ups, the students created new pathways for the public, hedgerows for the wildlife and carried out habitat management to give both the public and nature a healthier and safer environment.

The students’ work follows numerous community projects from the Hopwood Hall College course, such as the restoration of parts of Rochdale Canal and the grand gardens of the listed Hopwood Hall.

Whilst the schemes have benefitted the community, the students also see reward for their work as the projects offer valuable work experience to help build a career with.

Kurt Stubbs, one of the Level Three Landscaping, Gardening and Aquaponics students, expressed his pride in helping out his local community, he said: “Whilst it has been cold, wet, hard work, we have all enjoyed it knowing it’s for other people’s benefit as well as the local environment.

“It is great for us to in terms of work experience and doing some practical learning outside of the classroom. I just hope the local community get out and use it all now.”