NEWS – Planter Giveaway at West Gorton Park
Residents of West Gorton came together for a day of community spirit, creativity and environmental action at a Family Fun Day and Planter Giveaway held at West Gorton Park on the 13th of August 2026.
The event was organised by Groundwork Greater Manchester as part of the Postcode Gardener project, which is funded by Friends of the Earth. Throughout the afternoon, local families enjoyed a range of free activities, including face painting, games and opportunities to connect with neighbours while celebrating the local environment.
The centrepiece of the event was the distribution of 50 free planters to local residents which were built thanks to the hard work of Groundwork’s corporate volunteers.
Residents had the opportunity to make their planters unique by personalising them with spray-painted motifs and adding their house numbers. The creative activity was supported by local artist Becky, who helped participants bring their designs to life safely.
Once decorated, residents were assisted by the Groundwork team to fill their planters with compost before choosing from a selection of flowers to plant up on the day. The completed planters were then taken home by residents, helping to bring colour and biodiversity directly into the neighbourhood. For those unable to transport their planters themselves, Groundwork arranged delivery that evening using its electric van.
The planter initiative is designed to create a wildlife corridor throughout West Gorton, supporting local pollinators, including butterflies and hoverflies, while also helping to brighten streets and create a greener, more attractive neighbourhood.
The event was attended by MP for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, who spoke about the importance of connecting communities with nature.
Environmental issues are important to all of us; our survival depends on it and the closer people’s connection with nature the better.
Lizzie Meade, from Groundwork who leads the project said:
It was fantastic to see so many local residents enjoying the Family Fun Day and taking part in the planter giveaway. By providing people with the tools, plants and support they need, we’re helping to create greener, more wildlife-friendly neighbourhoods while bringing communities together. We would like to thank our volunteers, local artist Becky, Friends of the Earth and everyone who attended for making the event such a success.
The Postcode Gardener project continues to support communities across West Gorton and Belle Vue to create greener spaces, encourage biodiversity and inspire people to take positive environmental action in their local area.
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