Ealees pond and meadow to be cleared and restored

Date published: 20 January 2019

Rochdale-based household cleaning company, Freudenberg Household Products, Rochdale Council and the Friends of Hollingworth Lake are joining forces in a bid to restore part of Hollingworth Lake Country Park in Littleborough.

Over the next few months, along with a £20,000 donation, colleagues from Freudenberg, which owns leading cleaning brands Marigold and Vileda, will volunteer with countryside rangers to clear an overgrown area and transform it into a recreational area for families to relax and an educational space for children to learn.

Emmah Littlewood, GM of Freudenberg UK said: “We’re thrilled to be getting on board; the project will really make a difference to both the wellbeing of the wildlife that inhabits the pond and meadow and also for the community in Rochdale.

“Our aim is to restore and refurbish the bird hide, make the pond more accessible for people with limited mobility, provide an educational space for children and create a picnic area for families to enjoy.

“With the help of our added manpower together with the rangers, we will transform this area into something which will really benefit our neighbours.’’

Erosion, weed overgrowth and slippery pathways could lead the well-known Littleborough beauty spot to become hazardous and council staff say the pond area will eventually become inaccessible if remedial action is not taken.

Councillor Neil Emmott, the council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Hollingworth Lake is a popular location for a number of outdoor activities and one of the borough’s key tourism destinations.

“This significant investment is a real boost to the area and will play a huge part in improvements to the nature reserve near to the children’s play area, and the ponds close to the visitor centre.

“The nature reserve will benefit from increased access to the bird hide and create a better habitat for wildlife while the ponds will have their access reinstated and become an educational asset suitable for children including those with special educational needs and disabilities.”  

Based on Chichester Street in Rochdale, Freudenberg Household Products LP employs 49 people locally and supplies some of the UK’s best known and loved household cleaning products under its Vileda and Marigold brands.