Sewing the seeds of good health

Pride in Oldham nominee Barry Greaves on his allotment.

GREEN-FINGERED grandad Barry Greaves is helping to sew the seeds of healthy living - by volunteering at a community allotment.

And his efforts have won him a Pride in Oldham award nomination. Barry (65), from Failsworth, organises projects at Broadway Community Allotment and gives talks and demonstrations to groups from cubs and scouts to the long-term unemployed.

The former site manager at Broadbent Fold Primary School has volunteered at the allotment for the past six months and has helped the local community understand how to grow vegetables and eat healthily.

Cherryl Brock, who nominated Mr Greaves after meeting him during a community clean-up in Failsworth, said: “Barry really deserves the award for being an ordinary person who loves his community, something he shows at every opportunity. He’s an amazing and wonderful man who always makes an impact on people.”

Mr Greaves said: “Its a bit of a shock to be nominated but it feels really nice. I worked with children for 20 years and feel we are losing so much hands-on experience.

“I learned how to grow food from the generation before me, and if we don’t pass these skills on to the next generation it will be lost.”