**The Monastery is open Sun-Thu, 10am-4pm each week, (except Mondays 4th & 25th May, 2025 when the Monastery will be closed to the public for the bank holidays)**
Health & Wellbeing
Growing Together: A Greener Future at the Monastery
There’s something truly inspiring about watching life bloom in unexpected places.
Here at the Monastery, our re-greening project is blossoming into something extraordinary. Thanks to the passionate efforts of our Men’s Shed volunteers, the green team, and the incredible support of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF) and Groundwork Manchester, our historic site is being lovingly transformed into a haven of wellbeing, biodiversity, and community care.
A Sanctuary in the Making
Our beautiful polytunnel is now a hive of activity. With the irrigation system proving its worth over the Easter break, our plants have flourished – a joyful sign that nature is responding to the care and intention poured into this space.
We’ve been busy sowing hundreds of seeds, potting up new life, and earthing up our growing potato crops. The first salad leaves have now been planted into the beds, along with onions and carrots. The planters are thriving too – one brimming with garlic, another with broad beans, carrots and onions, and a third offering up vibrant rocket, mustard, Swiss chard, and beetroot.
Inside the tunnel and out in the garden, colour and vitality are taking root. A delicate, visiting butterfly reminded us that we’re not alone in appreciating the transformation.
Workshops & Wisdom
We’re not just growing plants – we’re growing knowledge. This month saw the launch of our new, free Groundwork workshop series, beginning with an incredibly useful session on energy-saving tips to reduce household bills. Coming up next: a food-focused workshop on Tuesday 6th May (12-1pm), where we’ll explore delicious, sustainable recipes and how the food we eat impacts the planet. Everyone is welcome, and there’s no need to book.
Making Space for the Next Chapter
We’re also preparing for the next exciting stage of our garden build. From April 28th, a digger will help us level the rear section of the car park, ready for expansion. But first, we’re carefully relocating self-seeded wild plants – including some particularly beautiful cuckoo flowers – to ensure no precious flora is lost in the process.
A huge thanks goes to Chris and John from Gorton Horticultural Society for safely removing a self-seeded Ash tree that was causing damage. Their work helps us ensure the garden’s foundations are strong, healthy and ready to grow.
Come Grow With Us
Every seed planted here is a symbol of hope. Every leaf, a testament to what community can achieve. We’re building more than just a garden – we’re creating a sanctuary where wellbeing, connection, and sustainability take root together.
If you’d like to get involved, lend a hand, or simply enjoy the peace of this evolving space, we’d love to welcome you. Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming workshops and green-themed happenings.
If you fancy rolling your sleeves up with the green team, we have lots of volunteering opportunities – simply whizz an email to [email protected] and introduce yourself, and we’ll get right back to you!
Our project is proud to be funded by the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund, accessed through the Greater Manchester Environment Fund.