Community groups across Oldham came together this week to celebrate World Bee Day, thanks to funding from First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) aimed at boosting biodiversity and supporting pollinators. The housing association provided £2,200 in grants to three local organisations, enabling a series of events that highlighted the vital role of bees and other pollinating insects in our environment.

The funding was shared between OL1 Oldham, social enterprise Local Food First CIC, and Hope Restoration CIC, with each group holding activities during the week surrounding World Bee Day on 21 May. These events were designed to engage the community, particularly children, in learning about nature and the environment.

OL1 hosted a range of activities at Barker Street Community Centre in Coldhurst. Families and local residents took part in bug hotel making sessions, which provide essential shelter for insects, contributed to improvements to herb beds, and received seed packets to start their own pollinator-friendly gardens. The initiative aimed to encourage residents to create habitats for bees in their own backyards and community spaces.

Local Food First organised family-friendly activities at the Wildbrook Community Food and Growing Hub. These sessions included hands-on workshops and talks focused on creating pollinator-friendly environments, helping attendees understand how small changes in planting and garden care can make a big difference for bees and other wildlife.

Hope Restoration delivered a biodiversity-themed event at Sholver and Moorside Community Centre, with another event planned for 28 May. These gatherings offered residents practical advice on supporting local ecosystems and highlighted the importance of biodiversity in urban areas.

Dave Hanlon, representing one of the groups, expressed gratitude for the funding. "Without funding from organisations like FCHO, we wouldn't be able to put on such a fantastic event on this scale," he said. "We've had 85 visitors including pupils from three local primary schools and some home-schooled children too. It's been great to show and teach the children about biodiversity, nature and growing initiatives, and we find that often, children are more in tune with nature than adults. These local kids really are our future, so exposure and early education around these topics is of huge importance. Thank you to FCHO for enabling us to do this."

Carl Turner, Neighbourhood Manager at FCHO, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the initiative. "The theme of this year's World Bee Day is 'Bee together for people and the planet – a partnership that sustains us all'," Mr Turner said. "By working together with these three groups and using our grant funding, I think we have collectively lived up to that theme."

Mr Turner noted that these events support wider environmental work carried out by FCHO, including No Mow May initiatives and projects involving tree, wildflower, and bulb planting. This integrated approach underscores the housing association's commitment to sustainability and community engagement in Oldham.

The World Bee Day celebrations have helped raise awareness about the importance of pollinators in Oldham, encouraging residents to take action in their own communities. With continued support from organisations like FCHO, local groups are making strides in promoting biodiversity and educating the next generation about environmental stewardship.