Helping neighbours and neighbourhoods in Moss Side & Rusholme
to clean and green alleys, reduce fly‑tipping and rubbish,
increase recycling, and improve our environment.

An Edwardian alley in Moss Side, cleaned, greened and planted by local residents, supported by UppingIt
Painted door in a Moss Side alley, cleaned and greened by residents with help from Upping It
With support from Upping It, Moss Side residents cleaned, greened and planted this alley
White lilies are a local tradition in the front gardens in Moss Side

Restoring civic pride in the Edwardian streets and alleys of Moss Side & Rusholme.

Restoring local belief in what communities can do together.

The challenges of cleaning a Moss Side alley: a builder's tonne bag

The challenges of cleaning and greening the environment in Moss Side.  With a tonne bag of rubble dumped by a builder, residents had to wait for 3 months for Manchester City Council to remove it.

After cleaning the communal alley, another builder stores and dumps their waste

After a small group of neighbours clean the alley with spades and brushes, another builder stores and dumps their materials.

Planters in a Moss Side alley, cleaned and greened by residents

The cleaned alley with a few new planters and new plants.  The residents have taken control and it is now worth litter picking.

A lovely mix of mature perennial plants in a Moss Side alley

After greening the alley, the transformation continues year by year.  Here in a Moss Side alley, a mix of mature perennials develops in the 2nd and 3rd years.

Residents in Moss Side greening their alley, after cleaning.
Collaborative work by residents in Moss Side to green their alley
Everyone helps or advises in greening a Moss Side alley
The start of alley greening: plants ready to grow

Why clean and green your alley?

  • Discourage fly-tippers by builders and outsiders

  • Discourage locals from putting rubbish on the ground

  • Encourage recycling to control waste and reduce costs

  • Restore pride and a sense of community

  • Meet and work with your neighbours

  • Create an area you feel proud to live in.

Before and after the alley cleaning

The Horton & Thornton Roads Alley Clean, was on Sunday 21st May 2017.  There’s lots of Moss between the cobbles in Moss Side, so they are hard work!  Image posted on Facebook by Ishbel.

Want to clean and green your alley?

  1. Walk around other streets and alleys to get inspiration.
  2. Start by regularly reporting rubbish to the council, to keep the alley clear of rubbish and increase local morale.  Take a few photos now, so you can compare later.
  3. Talk with your neighbours, so that you can together feel inspired to change things. Get at least 6 people interested in the practical work, in at least 4 different houses.
  4. Speak to us about producing a leaflet with you.
  5. Deliver it door to door to your neighbours, talking with them, to build local interest to clean and green the alley.  Find out some good times in the coming weeks to do it together.  Get their mobile numbers so you can text them to change or confirm.
  6. If you want us to help, check the date and time with us first.

On the day we’ll bring litterpickers, spades, helpers and a wheelbarrow.
Plus (depending on funding) some pots, compost and plants.

Contact Anne, below.

Contact Anne if you are inspired to clean and green your alley

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More

 

Our 4 Rs…

Research

Our collaboration with Manchester University involving 50+ local residents: ‘Talking rubbish’

More

Reporting Rubbish

Bins not emptied?  Fly-tipping?  The rubbish keeps coming, so how do you ask MCC to remove it?

Page to come…

Recycling

Find out what a difference recycling makes for Manchester, and for all of us.

Page to come…