Here are some pictures from our Play Street yesterday on Upper West Grove. Over the time we estimate between 40 and 50 children and about 30 adults came and joined in sharing food, chatting, playing games, making things and generally having a good time together as neighbours. It stayed dry for most of the afternoon, but not quite all!

Big thanks to everyone who contributed to the Bring & Share meal, which festured some really lovely food. Thanks for support from Manchester City Council, Biffa, MSA, MSV and thanks to our craft worker, face painters and M13 Youth Project workers.

To make the street cleaner and safer we picked up litter and other rubbish in the morning - thanks to those who came to help.

After last week's Play Street on South Grove, don't forget we have another one! Wednesday 1:30 to 3:30pm on Upper West Grove Play. The street will be cleared of cars and traffic, leaving it free for crafts, games, face painting, stalls and Bring & Share food. There will also be goody-bags from local housing provider MSV (thank you).  ​Spread the word!

​Everyone welcome. If anyone can come early or stay afterwards to help set up then clear up, your help will be much appreciated!

​Plus litter-pick 11:30 to 12:30 to make it cleaner and safer for the children.

We can now confirm not just one but TWO Play Street days on the Groves this month! Fun and games and activities for the children and a chance to enjoy refreshments and chat for us all.

• Monday 19th on South Grove from 12-3pm, organised by Manchester Active
• Wednesday 28th on Upper West Grove from 1:30-3:30pm, organised by residents with support from Manchester City council and others. Food is by 'Bring & Share' from residents – bring some home cooking and baking to share with your neighbours!

There are more details of both of these events and other play activities in the area in our latest newsletter recently posted through your door. Or download a copy here. 

More photos from last year's Play Street here.

Advance news that another Play Street is being planned for the Groves this summer. It will be on Upper West Grove on Wednesday August 28 from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Please let everyone know. All are welcome and residents are again invited to bring food and/or soft drinks for one of our Bring & Share Picnics. More details to follow about this and also ANOTHER Play Street on a different Grove on Monday August 19. 

Thanks everyone who helped with our Community Litter Pick on Saturday morning - including all three of our Councillors - the photos shows just some of who came. Our streets are looking much better 👍 ...but unfortunately we know the litter will return. Which is why it is important to keep on top of this issue and add Education, Prevention and Deterrence to Picking up. We have been promised more visits to the Groves from the Council fly-tipping and compliance teams who will analyze dumped rubbish for evidence of source and issue fines - like the £701 fine given recently to a resident here.

Another community litter pick is being planned for Saturday May 25, 11am to 12:30pm. Details are still being sorted out but we hope the arrangements will be as before. We are also working on a possible collection of large items of rubbish... watch this space.

Thanks everyone who came and helped with our latest litter-pick yesterday morning, Groves residents and some of the team from Victoria Point. We collected 42 bags of litter. Thanks also to 'Hello Student' for providing refreshments and prizes. 

Our next Groves litter-pick and general tidy up will be on Saturday 9 March from 11am to 12:30pm. We will be based at the Manchester Student Accommodation office at the corner of Upper West Grove and North Grove. Bags, gloves and pickers will be provided and Hello Student, our new neighbours at Victoria Point will be there (come and say hello) and bringing refreshments and litter-hero prizes for children who join in and pick the most litter. This will be part of the 2024 Great British Spring Clean organised by Keep Britain Tidy and Biffa will collect the bags we fill.

The Groves could do with a tidy up. We are looking at a Saturday morning in the second half of March to do one of our litter-picks, hopefully with a new partner organisation and some refreshments and treats. As always, everyone welcome to join in and help make our streets and alleys look good again. More details here soon.