Green projects paid for by our rubbish

Projects adding greenery to Oldham have benefited by £24,000 this year from an environmental fund — paid for by our rubbish.

Greening Greater Manchester is a multi-million pound environment fund which uses landfill tax credits to support environmental projects across the UK.

Over the past decade, almost £4.75 million has been handed out.

Oldham organisations were among the groups which won cash from the fund which is managed by Groundwork.

Oldham’s share includes help to transform Austerlands Cricket club by opening up the grounds and facilities to the local community; building a boardwalk at Sammy’s Basin in Daisy Nook to encourage more visitors and make fishing more accessible and rejuvenating an abandoned site in Failsworth, to create a community green space with education and recycling facilities.

Two cross-borough initiatives have been developed by Oldham, Tameside and Manchester councils.

They have joined forces to develop the Medlock Valley Way, to link the Pennine Moors with Manchester City Centre, and the Green Tips project to develop former landfill sites to create attractive community spaces.

Details of all the projects are on the website (www.greeninggm.org.uk).

Ian MacArthur, regional director of Groundwork North-West, said: “Green spaces are incredibly important to local community well-being. Groundwork is all about projects that make a real difference in local neighbourhoods, so we’re delighted to have played a part in developing some exciting ideas.”