Helping Oldham communities show their love for local parks

Looking back on Love Parks Week 2026, which ran from 24 July to 2 August, our communities celebrated green spaces that bring people together. Through practical support for community-led projects across Shaw, Chadderton, St Mary’s and Greenacres, colleagues, contractors and local groups worked together to make parks cleaner, more welcoming and more inclusive for local people. 

At Dunwood Park in Shaw, our joinery apprentices helped give the park a new lease of life by creating accessible picnic benches for visitors. Friends of Dunwood Park had asked for help after existing benches became old and unusable, and our contractor Connolly donated more than £500 worth of timber to support the project. 

Level 2 carpentry and joinery apprentices Alisha Carr, Tom Pickering, Devon Laithwaite-Adair and Angelise Johnston built the benches under the supervision of mentor Paul Rogers, with extended tops designed to allow disabled access. The benches were installed in time for Love Parks Week, giving residents and visitors more opportunities to sit, meet and enjoy the park. 

In Chadderton, we supported activities focused on making parks and public spaces safer and more inclusive for girls and young women. A collaboration with contractor Ridge LLP, funded Fullcircle nw CIC to deliver Girls: Designing Our Space, a project for girls aged 13 to 18. 

The four-day programme combined consultation, community design and drone skills training, giving 14 girls the chance to explore how parks and public areas could better meet the needs of women and girls. Sessions took place at FCHO’s Nelson Way Community Centre and nearby Coalshaw Green Park, with support from Inclusive Bytes CIC. 

Alongside these projects, colleagues, supply chain partners and community groups supported practical clean-up activities to help prepare parks and surrounding areas for summer events. This included litter picks around Oldham Edge and the St Mary’s neighbourhood, as well as work at Coalshaw Green Park and Nelson Way. 

At Beech Park Avenue in Greenacres, Oldham Play Action Group began its Playing with Urban Design pilot during Love Parks Week, supported by a community development grant. The first workshop brought together 20 children and six parents and carers, using arts, crafts and games to help children think creatively about their local environment. 

Together, these activities reflect our commitment to creating stronger communities, supporting neighbourhood pride and working with partners to shape places that feel welcoming and respectful. From new benches and cleaner parks to youth-led design and family workshops, Love Parks Week support helped celebrate the value of Oldham’s green spaces and the people working together to care for them.