Improving the ‘Forgotten End of Orrell”

The Brighter Better Orrell community group was founded early 2020 as a litter-picking group, with the aim of creating a brighter, cleaner and safer community, and a place to be proud to live and work. The group is fully constituted, with almost 2500 members, a young, active and enthusiastic committee and a number of regular volunteers. Over the last four years the group have gone from strength to strength, with a number of very successful inclusive community events, random acts of kindness, transforming neglected “grot spots” into beautiful gardens, working on environmental projects, gaining a level 5 "Outstanding" award in the RHS IYN, and working closely with the council, our local community, other community groups, local businesses, schools, colleges and police to reduce ASB, and improve road safety. In particular we have been working to improve Holgate Park, removing tons of historic litter, planting over 4500 tree whips, 8000 native daffodil bulbs, 3000 native bluebells and 1000 native wildflower bulbs, sowing a wildflower meadow, planting a community orchard, providing an area for a concrete base and table tennis table, improving parking and security, and installing a welcoming archway to the pedestrian entrance. The park, which previously many people of Orrell did not know of its existence, is now an attractive and inviting area, well used by families. We have found that by improving an area the community takes more pride, the area stays tidy and there are less incidents of ASB.

Over the years we have struggled to recruit volunteers, so we have been reluctant to expand to other areas. However, we have recently been approached by Orrell St James’ ARLFC who wish to get involved. This is an ideal opportunity to widen our coverage to include the part of Orrell which borders Pemberton. It has often been seen that Orrell “stops” at the M58/M6 junction on Orrell Road and the area from there down to Pemberton appears to be neglected, littered and unloved. We are now in a position to change that image and invest some of our time and expertise to start enhancing this area and improving Redwood Park, similar to the work undertaken at Holgate Park. Our idea is to encourage litter-picking in the community, including the local businesses, many of which are fast food take-aways, organising at least one large community litter pick along Orrell Road towards Pemberton,including the Redwood Park area, start improving any suitable green areas, including introducing some planters and organising an inclusive, community bulb planting event within the park. Through these events it is hoped that we can recruit more members who will be willing to invest time in maintaining the area with the support of the group, making this an evolving and  sustainable project.

Any investment we are able to secure will be used to purchase perennial plants, plantersand spring bulbs for the area.

 Thank You!