Rangers in 7th haven..

David Lord and Rose Johnstone at the Rembrandt Walk pitch in Sholver

A NEGLECTED 12-acre plot of land in Sholver is to be turned into a haven for the communty after conservationists joined forces with the council.

Oldham Council has transferred the land to the Fullwood Rangers on a 30-year-lease, which secures its future as a nature reserve, a sports pitch and a venue for community events.

The group has £40,000 in the bank ready to spend, but members have dwindled over the last 18 months, during the wait for the long-hoped for transfer.

Now secretary Rose Johnstone has thrown out an appeal for local people to get involved to make sure the land is used to its full potential.

The Fullwood Rangers go back to the 1980s, when they were called the Sholver Rangers, and worked on the land to turn it into a nature reserve.

Rose said: “The Rangers have been going a long time without much funding, nor the recognition they deserve. Children and volunteers have planted trees, made a pond and wet area and made paths, but when we discovered we hadn’t got the lease on the land we weren’t able to get insurance for the public to use it.”

Celebrating news of the transfer of the plot, off Rembrandt Walk, she said: “I am absolutely thrilled to bits, and I only hope people from the community will now come forward to help.

“Besides a nature reserve we are also planning a sports pitch which the local under-11s football team will have as its home ground, and for local people to play games on, especially with the legacy from the Olympics to encourage young people into sport.”

She added: “We want to create a community garden, to grow vegetables, and we want children and retired people to join in.

“There is a lot of work to do on the finer details, but now we have the lease we can start. It’s very exciting.”

The Rangers will work alongside Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale on the scheme, and give local schools the opportunity to get involved.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, transport and planning, said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to work closely with members of the community in Sholver in a way that benefits the residents.

“This is a good solution that we hope might inspire other groups who feel they could run a plot of land or building.”

Throwing out the challenge to other groups to follow suit, he said: “Transferring the land to the local community is of potential benefit to all local residents.”

A £31,000 grant from landfill company Viridor, £8,000 from First Choice Homes and a donation from soft drinks firm Britvic, have given Fullwood Rangers the money to put their dreams into action.

Anyone who wants to get involved can contact Rose on 01706 881806.

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