News from Bolton at Home
Here you'll find our most recent news articles, from important tenant updates and new housing developments, to new community initiatives and activities.
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Longsight Lodge tenants are the bee’s knees
Our sheltered housing site in Harwood, Bolton, is a hive of community spirit thanks to our wonderful tenants. They’ve now added beekeeping to their community garden and food growing activities to support the environment, keep fit, produce honey and as a loving tribute to a tenant who sadly passed away last year.
This special beekeeping story began four years ago, when moving to Longsight Lodge was the solution for Joan Manville and her husband Barry- who dealt with breathing difficulties and could no longer climb the stairs of the nearby cottage they lived in.
With a strong community already in place at this under one roof facility for older people, it also presented an opportunity for the couple to use their skills and funding knowledge to set up a formal committee with fellow tenants and create opportunities for more activities.
Joan, a retired training manager for Bolton Community and Voluntary Services (CVS), successfully applied to Bolton’s Fund for a £500 grant to help them tidy the area around Longsight Lodge. Bolton’s Fund is a voluntary sector grants programme delivered by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, us and Bolton CVS (www.boltoncvs.org.uk/boltons-fund-0). Joan has also applied for another grant from Forever Manchester to hold a community event this July.
Joan had previously treated Barry to a beekeeping course as a birthday present. They enjoyed the experience so much that they suggested bringing a beehive to Longsight Lodge for tenants to benefit from. It became a bit of a dream for them both.
Our local sustainable tenancies advisor Jacqui and our activities coordinator Lesley supported, looked into making it possible and arranged for tenants to learn what would be involved and required. They visited the Willow Hey outdoor community project in Farnworth, with bees on site, and had a visit from Tom, an expert in beekeeping.
Sadly, Barry passed away before the bees could be brought to Longsight Lodge. However, it’s created quite the buzz as it’s become the first of our sheltered housing sites to have a beehive after also being the first to have vegetable growing beds.
Well done to all involved. Enjoy your honey.
If you’re interested in our range of sheltered and independent living homes and services, visit: www.boltonathome.org.uk/sheltered-and-independent-living.