Last week, school kids and volunteers were called in to exorcise a Gorton church’s graveyard, because it had gotten’ really creepy.

Red Rose Forest, Greater Manchester’s Community Forest, knew who they were “gonna call” and so Old Hall Drive Primary School pupils came to help blast the creeps away at Brookfield Churchyard.

The graveyard had been covered by ivy and general undergrowth, and last month general volunteers, Gorton Brook Heritage Trail Action Group, Red Rose Forest, and Manchester’s Biodiversity Strategy Team joined forces during Manchester City Council’s 100 Day Clean Up to try and breathe some life into the churchyard.

Thanks to these daring pioneers, the graveyard was no longer as creepy. And last week, pupils and volunteers were able to clear the final bits of vegetation away from the graveyard and concentrate on planting wildflowers, including primrose, fox gloves and red campions.

Red Rose Forest’s Pete Stringer, said: “The churchyard’s now looking fantastic and the pupils have made a really positive contribution. Hopefully the event has helped demonstrate to them that they can make a difference. Also working in the churchyard has made them aware of the importance of looking after their heritage.”

For more information please call Chris Johnstone at Red Rose Forest on 0161 872 1660.

Notes to Editors:

Red Rose Forest is an environmental regeneration initiative in Greater Manchester and one of 12 Community Forests being developed in England. We are a partnership of the Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission and six Greater Manchester authorities. Over 40 years we will plant over 25 million trees, across 292 square miles of the area, as the framework for a programme of regeneration and renewal that will make Greater Manchester a greener and more satisfying place to live. At the heart of our strategy is the involvement of local people and local businesses in the social, economic and environmental of the area through land development and enhancement for the enjoyment of communities and individuals.

ENDS