News from partners
Photo competition aims to capture local beauty
Are you a budding amateur photographer? Are you inspired by the wildlife of Oldham and Rochdale? Do you have an eye for the landscapes of our area and for people enjoying the great outdoors? If so, here's your chance to get creative…
Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale is launching its first photographic competition to highlight the natural gems hidden around the area. With the help of local residents and volunteers, Groundwork manages a number of nature sites throughout both Oldham and Rochdale boroughs.
Entrants are invited to photograph any aspect of the sites, from the creatures that live there to the people who enjoy these local assets. The theme is open to individual interpretation but entries must have the nature site at their heart.
Full details of the competition can be found on the events page of the Groundwork website
To enter the competition please email your images (in hi-res jpeg format) to andrew.fowler@groundwork.org.uk or post to Photographic Competition 2009, Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, Environment Centre, Shaw Road, Higginshaw, Oldham, OL1 4AW
Please state your name, address, email address, contact telephone number and where and when the photo was taken. The closing date for entries is Friday 20 November 2009.
Bloom and grow
Bloom and Grow is Oldham's entry into Northwest in Bloom, the regional arm of Britain in Bloom.
The town is entering the competition this year for the first time since our award winning entry in 2003. We want to make our 2009 entry the best it can be, brightening up the borough with the help of the community and businesses.
There are a number of ways that you can get involved:
If you own your own home or privately rent you might be interested in entering our private garden competition,all you need to take part is have a garden that you maintain yourself. Even if you don't have a lot of space, you could still win as the judges look for tidy gardens, well maintained lawns, shrubs and flower beds. You could win a merit certificate or a cash prize up to the value of £150. You can download a copy of the application form here. or for more information or an application form to be sent to you call 0161 770 4056 or email bloomandgrow@oldham.gov.uk (closing date 19 June)
First Choice Homes Oldham are also holding a garden competition for tenants (including those who have purchased their properties under the right to buy scheme). The closing date for this is 30 May. Find out more here.
If you don't want to compete you can still help Oldham to look good by keeping your garden colourful and tidy and by making sure the area to the front of your house is kept clean and free of litter and dog waste. If you are proud of your garden why not share it with us and the North West in Bloom judges? Simply upload your pictures here, we will draw up a map of beautiful gardens in the borough.
English heritage funding for two churches
Two Oldham churches have received grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage for essential repairs. As part of a £7m national package for repairs to Grade II listed places of worship, Holy Trinity Church in Shaw receives £115,000 and St Mary’s Church in Greenfield receives £190,000.
You can visit the places of worship that have benefited from the grant. Take a look at English Heritage’s website for more information.
Oldham Leisure Centre welcomes the Quiet Ones
Oldham Leisure Centre has welcomed Oldham Quiet Ones, a support group for people with throat cancer, to its pool with help of some innovative swimming equipment following a £5,000 lottery grant. Janice Lang, the speech and language therapist who founded the Quiet Ones, explains that the club and leisure centre have had to solve some problems along the way. She says: "this club has given them the freedom to take part in an activity that many never felt they would be able to do again.
"A lot of pools won't let people with laryngectomies in as they're not happy to have a 'high-risk' group of people in the water. But Oldham Leisure Centre were brilliant."
Oldham Fairtrade website launched
Take a look at Oldham’s new Fairtrade website.
