Sky Gardening Challenge 2025

We're excited to be part of the National Trust's Sky Gardening Challenge, once again.

The free competition taking place across Greater Manchester this summer gives our customers the chance to transform their balcony or window ledge into a thing of natural beauty.

This year, customers in our high rise blocks, Littor and Montgomery House are taking part with entries including flowers in planters or growing fruit and vegetables – the sky is literally the limit.

To help, we are providing planters and funding workshops – run by Failsworth social enterprise Northern Lily – to give out handy gardening hints. The first one took place at Beulah Church Community Room on Saturday (26 April).

Director of Northern Lily Victoria Holden said: “It’s important for everyone to have nature around them, especially in urban areas.

“These workshops show people who have never gardened before how they can get started on greening their balcony.”

Two further workshops will take place at Veg in the Park, Waterhead Park – already home to a dedicated growing area – on Saturday 17 and 24 May.

Dale Taylor, Learning and Development Co-ordinator added: “We’re delighted to be working with the National Trust again this year after the successful Sky Gardening Challenge in Eldon and Barker Street in 2024.

“This project is following on from our successful Great British Spring Clean as we work with our customers to love where they live and learn new skills.

“I hope they will come to our workshops over the coming weeks, meet their neighbours, make friends and enter the competition.”

Sky Gardening Challenge kicks off on 12 June – when categories will be announced – and ends on 31 July.