These are gloomy times – another lockdown as the Covid restrictions continue, and now cold and dark winter weather. Winter Cheer is a project to put the smiles back on our faces. In December we will be giving small packs of food and essentials to the vulnerable and elderly, and also some sweets to families with children (plus, maybe a few surprises). Then, towards the end of the month, a Happy New Year poster and a light for every house. If we can all put these in our windows we can wish our neighbours light and hope for the new year. And it will look great!

Also, we have a competition for junior age children to make a picture or design to use on the poster with a prize for the winner.

More details about Winter Cheer are on our latest newsletter which everyone should have received at the weekend. If you can't find yours, you can download it here. If you need more information or know of a home or family that should get one of the packs, send an email.

One of our new hanging baskets, up and looking great. Thanks George and Donna for the picture.

​Over the next weeks and months (with a bit of watering!) these winter pansies will flower, then spring flowers will appear, including snowdrops and crocuses.

This afternoon in the Community Garden we were giving out free hanging basket kits with spring bulbs and winter pansies, thanks to some funding from the Council. The offer was put out through our Whatsapp group and all 20 baskets were taken. The collection was done with social distancing and masks and there was no gathering! With winter nights ands weather drawing in and several more weeks of lockdown, hopefully these flowers as they grow will bring a note of hope and new life to cheer us up!

We're looking out for more offers as Christmas approaches. Look out here for news or, better still, why not join the community WhatsApp group? Send an email if you're interested.

As many residents of the Groves have told us of problems accessing and using the Council's online services (including Parking!) a new Help page had been added to this website. This has how-to guides for getting your free resident's parking permit, plus other services such as free disposal of large, unwanted items, reporting fly-tipping and more.

If there are other things you would like to see added to this page, send an email.

We're having another socially distant litter-pick over the weekend of October 3-4. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown we haven't been able to organise one of our usual picks centred on the MSA Office, but it's been good that some individuals have been continuing to do some de-littering.  We need to try and stay on top of keeping our streets and alleys clean and tidy for good hygiene reasons. And it looks so much better.

Just go out at a time that suits on Saturday or Sunday and fill a bag with rubbish, keeping a safe distance away from other people.  BIFFA will collect official bags from the usual place at the end of Upper West and West Groves. If you need bags or pickers send an email. Let's be good neighbours.

You should have had our latest newsletter through your door in the last couple of days. It includes news of a litter-pick over the weekend of July 11-12. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown we haven't been able to organise one of our usual picks centred on the MSA Office, but it's been good that some individuals have been doing some anyway.  We need to try and stay on top of keeping our streets and alleys clean and tidy for good hygiene reasons. And it looks so much better.

Just go out at a time that suits during next Saturday or Sunday and fill a bag with rubbish, keeping a safe distance away from other people.  BIFFA will collect official bags from the usual place at the end of Upper West and West Groves. If you need bags or pickers send an email. Let's be good neighbours.

We have added a new page with links to reliable sources of advice and information so we can steer clear of the bogus stuff doing the rounds. Also links to useful online activities. More to be added as we come across it. See it here.

We are taking part in the Great British Spring Clean again this year. Our Groves Clean-Up will be on Saturday on March 21. Come along anytime between 11am and 2pm. As before we are being supported by Manchester City Council, Moss Care St Vincent housing. local businesses such as MSA, and our Councillors will be calling in. Also this year we welcome Manchester Student Homes who will be encouraging our local students to come and join in. 

We will have prizes and goody-bags and we're asking everyone if they can to bring some cake or biscuits to share. Let's make it a fun community and family time together doing something positive.

Our clean-up is registered with Keep Britain Tidy and our number of volunteers and numbers of bags filled will be counted in the national statistics. More details soon.

Once again we fitted our picnic between rain showers! It was an excellent time together. Thanks to everyone who came and brought all sorts of delicious food and drinks. Thanks to M13 Youth Project for children's games. And thanks to Trae for capturing several of us in silhouette on the Community Garden walls.