Bloom Hub: Love Old Trafford

Funding Required: £500
 

Summary:
A revamp of this much loved green oasis. We need to replace the metal door on our garden shed after numerous break-in attempts. We are also keen to design and create a fun, inviting natural play-zone for pre-school children in one corner, and we want to re-treat the wood in our covered area, walkway, and benches throughout the gardens. Ideally we'd complete the work by summer 2026, although we can be flexible on dates. We would need a professional to fit the door, but for the other 2 tasks we'd love extra hands to help join our committed core of volunteers who help garden. 

Resources Needed:
• Metal door (£300)
• Play-zone equipment (£200)
• Door installation and building/treatment volunteers

Anticipated Measurable Outcomes:
Hundreds of people use Centenary Gardens every month. This would make the space safer for all, and more fun and engaging for small children. We're hoping that good wood treatment will help the fixtures of our garden to last for another decade. 

Funding Required: £1,445
 

Summary:
Orchard49 is a community orchard located on Seymour Grove allotments, established in 2010 on a hard-to-let allotment plot. The purpose of the orchard is to demonstrate how you can grow a diverse range of fruit in a small space. Trees are grown along a fence line, up and over arches, grape vines and blackberries over a pergola – all ideas which can be replicated in small gardens and back yards, which dominate in the area around the orchard.

This project will organise a programme of 4 events between Spring 2026 and Winter 2026/27. The events aim to raise awareness locally about Orchard49 as an important biodiversity site where people can volunteer in a peaceful space, and use it as an example of how you can grow fruit trees and soft fruit in small spaces, encouraging people to grow these and other plants in their gardens and back yards.

The events will be open to all, with local residents of Old Trafford targeted using local social media channels such as OT Hive, Love Old Trafford, Community hubs etc

Resources Needed:
• Facilitator time £250 x 4 = £1000
• Workshop printed materials and publicity = £70
• Workshop equipment such as hand lenses = £265
• Gardening gloves £4x15 = £60
• Pavilion cost, suggested donation = £50

Anticipated Measurable Outcomes:
• 15 people attending each workshop – 60 attendees in total.
• The publication of a short document to encourage people to grow fruit in their gardens, with top tips. Available to download for free.
• 30 pledges from attendees to do something different for nature in their own gardens/back yards.
• Quotes and images will be shared via social media to help raise profile of Or-chard 49.

Funding Required: £72,740

Summary:
To transform the shared alleyway between Henrietta Street, Walter Street, and Isabella Close into a safe, accessible, biodiverse, and welcoming green walkway connecting local streets, shops, and Seymour Park Primary School. The project includes resurfacing the existing cobbles or potential excavation and levelling of cobbles, which are currently uneven and difficult to navigate, to improve accessibility for prams, wheelchairs, and pedestrians.

The alleyway is unadopted land, maintained informally by residents. While not under direct council maintenance, Trafford Council and Amey have expressed support for the project’s aims and are open to advising on resurfacing and accessibility improvements. Their guidance will help ensure any works are consistent with local standards and good practice.

It also incorporates a drainage inspection along the alleyway to ensure the space remains sustainable and well-maintained.

The project celebrates the multicultural community of Old Trafford through art, planting, and shared stewardship.

GMET Note: This is a particularly large and ambitious Bloom Hub project. For a full breakdown of aims, cultural significance, activities timeline and expected outcomes, please see this document: Love Old Trafford - Old Trafford Heritage Greenway Project M16 9QB.docx