While winter's chill now grips Manchester, the memory of a sun-drenched summer day at Deeplish Community Centre in Rochdale offers a heartening reminder of warmer times and a remarkable urban transformation.
From Barren Yard to Green Oasis
On one of the hottest days of 2025, the warmth of the sun was easily matched by the enthusiastic welcome from the staff and children at the centre's bustling Saturday Club. The scene was one of vibrant activity: young people watered plants in the community garden, played table tennis and archery, and fully enjoyed this green oasis in their urban neighbourhood.
According to Sohail Ahmed, operations manager at the centre, the inspiration for the garden emerged during the pandemic. It highlighted the crucial need for access to nature for the mental and physical wellbeing of residents, especially in Deeplish, a highly urban ward with limited green space.
A Grant-Fuelled Transformation
The project became a reality after the centre successfully won a grant from Andy Burnham’s Green Spaces Fund. This financial boost enabled them to develop a garden around the building with the goal of helping residents feel more connected to the natural world.
The results have been astounding. What was once a bare grass yard has been completely revamped into a functional green space featuring over 100 native plants. This transformation has engaged over 200 children and young people and 150 adults in activities ranging from tree planting and composting workshops to community clean-up days.
"For many of these young people, this garden was their first hands-on experience with nature, and they’ve taken real pride in helping care for the space," Sohail said. This sentiment was echoed by a young boy who told a visitor that it felt like “nature has found a home here.”
Connecting Generations and Heritage
The garden's impact extends far beyond the younger generation. Arshad Mahmood, a member of the Deeplish Community Centre Association, shared a poignant story about helping on his family's farm in Pakistan as a boy. He now feels he is passing on the knowledge they taught him to the children at the centre today.
This highlights that the garden is about more than just horticulture; it is a space of learning, laughter, and cultural heritage. It's a place where people, inspired by those who came before them, can grow alongside the plants, creating a beautiful and thriving asset for new generations.
The success was celebrated this summer with a bumper harvest, joined by the Mayor of Rochdale, Janet Emsley, marking the culmination of a project that has truly made nature feel at home in Deeplish.
The Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund, which made this project possible, is distributed by the Greater Manchester Environment Trust (GMET), a UK Registered Charity. The Trust works to channel green finance to grassroots groups across the city region to make Greater Manchester greener for all.
