Garden team are in the Q for wild success
A COMMUNITY gardening club is blooming in Kirkholt.
A group of greenfingered gardeners have taken over the Q Gardens allotments on the estate and are busy growing everything from potatoes to herbs and strawberries to wild flowers.
Rochdale Borough Council leader Richard Farnell visited the gardens to meet the volunteers at a launch party and was thrilled with its progress.
He said: “Q Gardens has been growing for a couple of years, helped along by the council, Groundwork Trust and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.
“Now a dedicated bunch of volunteers are taking over and running the site themselves.
“It’s a great example of residents coming together and making a real difference on the estate.
“They are already 20 strong and they are so skilled and enthusiastic.
“In the true spirit of a co-operative, the fruits of their labours are divided equally among members.
“It’s great to see the project thriving and people enjoying themselves.
“The volunteers are great people and I know the gardening club will be a huge success.”
Q Gardens volunteer Jill Hughes said: “We are a really friendly bunch and more people are joining every week.
“It’s a great opportunity to get out the house, meet new friends, learn new skills and get fit, and you can bring along the kids too.
“We grow lots of things, and also run cookery lessons so people can eat more healthily with all the food we are growing.
“We also run arts and crafts for the children.
“We also have the local Brownies taking part, local schools are joining in and the homeless charity Petrus helps out too.”
Anyone wanting to join in should go to Q Gardens on Queens Drive on Wednesday or Sunday ,11am to 3pm.