Fullwood Rangers finally have their portacabin

Mayor of Oldham, Shadab Qumer, with Cllr Ginny Alexander and David Smith (center) and left to right Colin Howarth, Sarah, Elaine Howarth, Rose Johnstone, Martyn Atkinson, and the Rev Denise Owen

Fullwood Rangers have been provided with a portacabin with water and electricity by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), following three and half years campaigning by Councillor Ginny Alexander.

Councillor Alexander said: “As David Smith from FCHO put it ‘I badgered him for three and half years with my dogged persistence’ to ask them to provide Fullwood Rangers with a portacabin and to connect water and electricity also.

“I would like to thank David Smith and his team for making this happen for the community.”

The Mayor of Oldham, Shadab Qumer, opened the portacabin, along with Colin Howarth, bee keeper of Fullwood Rangers, Sarah from Caseys, Elaine Howarth, gardener at Fullwood Rangers, David Smith from FCHO, Rose Johnstone, secretary of Fullwood Rangers, Martyn Atkinson, the chairman of Fullwood Rangers and the Rev Denise Owen, from St Thomas Church, Moorside.

The Rangers Association has been around for about 40 years and has a nature reserve on the edge of Sholver, Oldham. This youth based organisation works with local residents to involve them in caring for the environment. Action Together helped support the group with an Action Oldham Fund grant to develop an apiary and train people in the art of bee-keeping.

The bee apiary encourages learning, confidence and a feeling of community. The apiary is close to flat terrain so wheelchairs users can also get involved to the full.

The Rangers have already seen that the bees can provide an interesting and relaxing scene for one disabled member who loves to watch them from his wheelchair. The grant has helped the site to become even more of an asset for local schools and the community.

Colin Howarth, a volunteer with the Fullwood Rangers, said: "Without the funding we would not be able to develop this project and see the bees thrive. We will be able to increase the number of hives and the community will gain greater benefits from seeing the activity of the bees first hand.”

The group have agreed to donate surplus vegetables from the garden to local soup kitchens and will donate some local honey for Action Oldham Fund to sell at fundraising events.