Andrew Oldham writes about Pig Row, which is three gardens over a quarter of an acre in Scouthead. Visit at www.lifeonpigrow.co.uk
ON THE twenty-first of this month we will pass into the grips of winter.
The autumn colours have been fleeting this year. The russet brown leaves gave way to road sweepers who cleared them from our roads and paths.
Leaves are a wonderful resource to any grower, and I hope you had time to collect some and put them in a bin bag punched with a few holes.
There is even a greater resource in Saddleworth that we should consider during Christmas: you.You are part of a community and we should all look at our community and see if we can do something to improve it.
This could take the form of guerrilla gardening, joining a community association or even helping your neighbours.
We often bemoan the loss of green spaces in our communities but each home in Saddleworth can be greener, can grow more by adopting unused spaces and if everyone planted a pot by their front doors whole streets would transform.
We could take a step further and turn our backs on the big six power companies, move to green providers, many of which are cheaper. We could have a dream where Saddleworth becamecarbon negative.
It has been shown that communities which work together improve the lives of everyone forge strong bonds and make a difference.
In a digital age we have to remember real links, real communities exist beyond the click of a mouse.
So before you lock your sheds, place your wellingtons in the cupboard under the stairs and curl up in front of the fire until spring, think about how you could make your community better and do it.
You can join the debate with us; discuss how we can all work for a greener future in Saddleworth at www.facebook.com/lifeonpigrow
