Walkden community braves heavy rain to help move mountain of compost

A rainy Sunday in Walkden turned into an unexpected celebration of community spirit as multiple residents, families and local organisations came together to help Walkden in Bloom move an enormous donation of compost to their community allotment. 

Walkden in Bloom was gifted 20 pallets of compost by a local businessman, Dave, a gesture that was described as generous, but it also became a challenge. Every bag of compost had to be carried off the truck and down to the allotment by volunteers.

Paul Whitelegg, Vice Chair of Walkden in Bloom, said: “With all of these pallets, we all went into a state of panic because there were only a few of us at the time”

When Walkden in Bloom sent out a call for help, the response was immediate.

Within an hour, people from across town began arriving.

Lucy, a Tesco’s community champion, brought her whole family. Lesley from Dancing with Dementia, Jeff and the men from Heads up Gentlemen, a group from Dickinson’s Garden maintenance and the ForHousing Salford team all rolled up their sleeves. Turning what could have been a difficult task into a showing of community spirit.

Paul Whitelegg said: ” It was just like a miracle because I needed some help, thinking nothing of it and we’re going to be here for 5 days unloading this compost.”

“It went from three of us to a team of us.”

And then came the weather, which started as a drizzle and turned into what Paul Whitelegg described as the kind of downpour that “soaks you to your socks.”

But instead of stopping, the rain only added to the atmosphere; muddy boots, soaked sleeves, laughter, teamwork and “pure Walkden magic”.

Walkden in Bloom officially started in April, built for the community. Since then, everybody has been on board with it.

Paul Whitelegg said: “It’s just exploded, everybody’s on board, everyone is helping to make their home look tidy”

“Anti social behaviour has gone down because of everybody getting involved. There is some magical change happening in Walkden.

This weekend’s effort has once again highlighted the strength of Walkden’s community spirit, showing how a simple call for help can bring people together, even in the pouring rain, to keep local spaces growing and blooming.