The rain stopped and we had a very productive day clearing rubbish and rat hiding places from the Community Garden and also picking up litter from the top end of the Groves. A big thank you to all from MossCare St Vincent, Groundwork, Manchester City Council and Biffa who came and also to the residents who turned up to help. It was good to work together and accomplish something good for our neighbourhood and get to know each other better while doing it. Big thanks in particular to Nia for coordinating and encouraging people to join in.

Watch out for more activities in the garden and around the Groves. The best way to keep in touch is to be part of our Groves WhatsApp group. Email your name, Groves address and number to join.

Coming out of our recent Residents Meeting, Mosscare St Vincent Housing and Manchester City Council along with the Biffa Engagement Team will be in the Groves area on Thursday October 23 from 10-3pm to speak with residents about waste management. They will help residents clear out the overgrowth in the Community Garden which has provided a haven for rats.

We are grateful for this offer of help with our community space, so lets as many of us as can, come along and join in.

We had an excellent turnout yesterday at our Groves Residents Meeting, hosted at Victoria Point (thank you). 16 of us, plus Councillors Amna and Abdi, Neighbourhood Officers Katrina and Fowsia and Raf from MSV. Good discussion about improvements to the area already on the way (plus suggestions for more) and ideas on how to deal with the ongoing rubbish and bins issues, and... the rats. Thanks everyone for making the effort to be there.
​More details to follow. 

We're having a Residents Meeting on Wednesday September 10, 5-6:30pm.
Venue: Victoria Point Student Accommodation, Bax Road, Block 5 meeting room.
(it's the buildings behind Upper West Grove - access from Hathersage Road).

Why we are meeting:

• Rubbish dumping and fly-tipping in our streets
• Misplaced bins and food waste
• Increased sightings of rats
• Community participation

Who's invited:

• Local residents
• Councillors
• MSV Housing & Neighbourhood Officers
• Victoria Point representatives

Let's work together to keep our community clean, safe, and welcoming.

​Download a poster here.

Thanks to Victoria Point for hosting.

 You might have seen mention in the news of the 2025 Great British Spring Clean, run by Keep Britain Tidy. We on the Groves have registered and will be doing our part on Saturday April 5, 10:30 to 12noon, tidying up our streets and alleys. It's an opportunity to meet and work alongside our neighbours while cleaning up our local environment. The more people come and help, the more we will get done.

As before with our litter-picks, we will be supported by local companies and part of that is being able to use the MSA office as a base to give out bags, gloves and pickers to volunteers. And have a chat and maybe some refreshments. Let's take some action together on the litter and fly-tipping.

Here is the finished Groves mural having an unofficial 'unveiling' by Amna And Abdi, two of our counsellors. Also in the picture is Richard the artist (in the middle) and Cem (second left) who helped organise the funding from 'Hello Student', plus three Groves residents. There has been loads of positive reactions to the mural from people passing by, including this comment from a community nurse who works locally: "This will put a big smile on my face every morning."

Look out for more work on the Groves, starting in 2025 with cleaning up and improving the area in front of the mural.

Big thanks for funding and support to Hello Student, Moss Care St Vincent Housing, Manchester City Council and to Brewers Decorators Centres for paint and Rosgal for equipment loan.

Richard the artist has begun his wall mural for the Groves and we should soon see the finished wild bird design. Weather permitting! Next Wednesday at 3pm there will be a brief informal 'unveiling' at the mural which is on the end house of East Grove at the Carmoor Road end. Everyone is invited to come along.

The annual community switch-on event for the Swinton Grove Park Festive Lights will be on Swinton Grove, Wednesday December 4, from 3:30pm. Goody bags, hot drinks, crafts, local school children singing – and the countdown to the big switch-on. All free. Also free entry for local residents to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House from 11-3pm.

Plans are underway to paint a mural on the end house of East Grove with residents from that end of East Grove currently choosing their favourite between two designs submitted by the artist. Others are also welcome to give a preference - check out Bird A and Bird B from the leaflet below and send an email.

The mural will make a great welcome to our community statement and brighten up the Groves. There are also plans to transform the waste area in front. Big thanks to Richard the artist and to Hello Student and Moss Care St Vincent housing and Manchester City Council for funding, permission and support.