Tree-mendous effort lays foundation for future woods in Kirkholt

Volunteers, including Mayor of Rochdale Billy Sheerin, pause to celebrate their hard work in planting 375 tree saplings

Volunteers from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) joined forces with ten children from Holy Family Primary School Ecology Club and the Green Team, to plant 375 new trees off Great Gates Road in Kirkholt on Wednesday 27 November 2109.

The Green Team is a well-established environmental and ground working apprenticeship project run in partnership with the local environmental charity, Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale. Groundwork Landscapes, a local company, also provided volunteers.

The idea for this came from Asrar Ul-Haq, a non-Executive Director of RBH who also runs the Amaani Initiative, a family project which aims to encourage the community to engage in activities to reduce carbon emissions, combat climate change and enhance the beauty of the local environment. Asrar explained:

“I am passionate about taking every opportunity we can to reduce carbon emissions, combat climate change, and enhance the beauty of the local environment.”

The challenge was to plant 375 saplings in a single day. The feat was made all the easier when the team was joined by the Mayor of Rochdale, Billy Sheerin, who grabbed a spade and with the help of the youngsters, began planting.

The new wood, which will mature over the next 15 years, will provide both a space for people to enjoy in their leisure time as well as mixed habitats to support wildlife diversity.

There are plans to provide more woodland spaces throughout the Rochdale area and RBH is keen to receive suggestions of places that would benefit from the planting of trees or other natural improvements. If you have a suggestion please contact RBH Asset Team on 0800 027 7769 (option 5).