President Yvonne Carty, and Regional PAC Chair, Margaret Molyneux of SI Leigh, were joined by members of SI Manchester, Val Moss, Maureen Heywood and their President Stella Kay to support the National Trust initiative to plant snowdrops and turn Manchester into ‘Snowdrop City’ next spring to mark the Centenary of World War 1.
The National Trust aims to plant 100,000 snowdrops this September at various sites throughout the city at drop-in sessions, and the planting took place in Parsonage Gardens on the day we went. The Trust has bought in selected bulbs from Holland that are expected to flower on the first year of planting.
All were given reflective jackets to wear and spent a few hours on their knees planting the bulbs in holes cut out of the turf (by the stronger volunteers) and replacing the divots. The weather was kind (no Manchester rain) and many of the city workers came to take their lunch in the peaceful square and watch what was going on. Some of them even had a go at planting some bulbs. A return to see the fruits of the labour will happen in February.