Stretford Volunteer Group is Blooming Great!

A volunteer community group dedicated to making Stretford even more beautiful are appealing for volunteers to help them with their work.

Members of the Stretford in Bloom group, which works closely with Trafford Council, plant flowers and shrubs in planters around the town centre to make it greener and more attractive.

The group, formed in 2017 to ‘green up’ the town centre, plant on the busy roads around Stretford Mall and have recently expanded to Barton Road, Edge Lane and Chester Road. They are always on the lookout for volunteers and need willing local people who are able to give up a couple of hours a week to water their flowers and plants.

Stretford in Bloom currently look after 27 floor planters and 19 barrier planters in the town centre so there is plenty of work to do to keep them filled and watered. Last year, Stretford in Bloom was judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in the It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards which are judged by Britain in Bloom with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) – the highest award available. 

Maggie Barker, from Stretford in Bloom, said: “When we set up Stretford in Bloom, we did it to make a difference to the area – and I believe we have done just that. Our planters cover all the main roads around the town centre and provide a colourful and beautiful gateway. 

“Barrier planters are planted so that they have flowers throughout the year that people can appreciate as they walk past – even in winter. Floor planters are planted with perennials and grasses which are friendlier to bees and other pollinators. These also form a core of permanent plants which reduces the environmental impact of relying on annual plants.

“There is a lot of watering to do so we are on the lookout for willing volunteers to help us out. It’s a great way to improve the area and lots of residents seem to love what we are doing.” 

To volunteer, please call Maggie on: 0161 865 3348.