A group of residents wants to bring back the glory days of one of Bolton's favourite family parks, Moss Bank Park. Frank Elson went along to find out how they are doing.

AS a town built on industry, Bolton has jealously guarded its few green areas.

However, council funds have been squeezed for a few years now and some areas have had to suffer.

In recent times various initiatives, such as the Red Rose Forest, have been helping out with funding, but the work involved has, increasingly, been borne by volunteers.

The Friends of Moss Bank Park is one such group.

Meeting every first and third Tuesday in the month, a group of between a dozen and 30 volunteers take their rakes, spades and hoes along to Moss Bank Park and spend around half a day weeding, planting or just carrying out general tidying up.

Secretary David Butcher said: "During the 18 months or so that we have been operating we do feel that we have made a difference in the park.

"A lot of what we do, general tidying, picking up litter and so on, is not remarked on, but our work in the Walled Garden (known locally as the Old English Garden or Rose Garden) has been noticed by people who use the park.

"There we have carried out some serious 'de-weeding' -- it was very badly overgrown -- and planted a lot of new roses."

David, like most of the group, is retired -- he was an environmental officer with Salford Council -- but the group is in no way "ageist".

"We would welcome anyone who has half a day to spare twice a month," he said.

The group did not simply pick up their shovels and move into the park, of course.

Bolton Council have welcomed the volunteers' help and have even been able to grant them some cash. The Bolton Wildlife Trust has appointed a mentor, Paul Sadler, and both practical and financial support has come from the Mersey Basin Trust and the Red Rose Forest.

In addition to the work in the Walled Garden and litter collections throughout the park, group members have also planted an orchard, helped with the clean up of the duck pond and carried out a lot of work on maintaining, and sometimes improving, footpaths throughout the park.

All of the group have their own reasons for their work, of course, but Fred Greenhalgh, the chairman, has perhaps the most romantic.

"My late wife was the daughter of the park keeper many years ago, and lived at the gatehouse when we were courting," he said.

"When we used to come back to the park, we lived at Astley Bridge, she was very upset at the state it had got into.

"I suppose you could say that my work there is partly in her memory."

Although the group has made a large difference already, one particular area is a favourite, the Rock Garden.

"It was a famous area years ago and, along with the Walled Garden, one of the most noticeably rundown parts of the park," said Fred. "We consider it a priority and we hope to start work on it later this year.

"The biggest problem here, though, is vandalism."

The group is extremely grateful for all the assistance they have received, particularly from the Bolton Wildlife Trust's Paul Sadler.

He said: "They are a great bunch of people to work with, very hard working and very receptive to the ideas I put forward aimed at the promotion of wildlife.

"For instance, I am currently working on which wall to plant Espalier fruit trees. These look very good and provide food and a haven for wildlife at the same time."

The Red Rose Forest organisation has also been able to help fund some of the group's work.

Faith Ashworth, for the Red Rose Forest, said: "The Friends of Moss Park group is a very important part of the whole picture. Moss Bank Park is a wonderfully green area that is important to the people of Bolton."