Bolton Green Umbrella
Bolton Green Umbrella was formed in August 2016 when a small number of like-minded people talked about how encouraging and motivating it was that we had at last discovered each others’ existence.
For years each of us had been despairing of the deterioration we saw in our town; the loss of the pride in one’s own community that used to exist.
That’s the spirit we want to recover in our town.
For more information about us, please click here.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Our mission is to act as an umbrella organisation which recognises and supports volunteer and community groups who look after the environment in Bolton.
Our Work
We seek out groups and like-minded individuals to form a network that promotes our aim of making Bolton a cleaner and greener town for all its residents. We work together to restore pride in our town, and take responsibility for our own back yard.
We also work to commit local organisations and businesses to care for and maintain the area around their premises, volunteer their time and/or resources to a local volunteer group or project.
Local Groups
We aim to promote, support and encourage local volunteer groups and individuals who work to improve their environment. To view local groups, please see our local groups page. If you are involved with a local group, please consider adding your details to this site.
Organisations
We ask local organisations and businesses to commit to caring for the environment around their places of business, and supporting local voluntary activities. To view local organisations, please see our organisations page. If you are involved with a local organisation or business, please consider adding your details to this site.
The Pledge
Many organisations commit to looking after the environment by taking our pledge. For more details about the organisations and the pledge, please see our organisations page.
Latest Addition
Friends of Queens Park (Bolton)
Friends of Queens Park (Bolton) is an independent group of volunteers who work collaboratively with council officers, other volunteer groups and any interested parties to improve and develop the greenspace and facilties in the park. We promote both environmental and practical conservation and explore funding opportunities to raise funds to fund specific projects. We meet monthly with council officers and are looking for volunteers to grow the group and have a hands on approach help with gardening projects.
Next Event
BGU Spring Celebration
Bolton Green Umbrella - Public Event
Bolton Green Umbrella (BGU) are hosting a Spring Celebration Event in Queen's Park, Bolton, on Saturday 10th May 2025, from 1pm - 4pm. There will be a range of fun activities and stalls, most of them completely free!!ENTERTAINMENT:
Leap to Your Feet Appalachian Dancers and SOYABAND musicians: perform the traditional dance and music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of America - also known as Appalachian Clogging (Facebook ) (Home Page )
The Aquaphibians: The Aquaphibians are a three-piece acoustic party band based in Bolton, described as "old enough to know better" on their Facebook page. They play pub sing-along classics with a folk tinge and are known for performing at events like the Bolton Food and Drink Festival (Facebook )
The Dodgers: The Dodgers are 3 friends who have been playing around north Manchester and South Lancashire for over 20 years. With guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin (and sometimes fiddle) they play a wide selection of music from skiffle, folk, country and 50's/60's rock and roll. Most of their material is designed for audience participation and sing along.
ACTIVITIES:
Dog Training demonstration: Come join us for our Green Dog Training Sessions at Queen's Park! Learn how to respect the environment, protect it, and enjoy the great outdoors with your furry friend. Or just come along and watch.
Organised by Bolton Conservation Volunteers ( Bolton Conservation Volunteers – Working for Wildlife Since 1976 ). Sessions run by Firwood Dog Training ((3) Facebook ) Follow this link to book on a session ( Green Dog Training Sessions - 10 May 2025 | Eventbrite ) There are four 40-minute sessions: 1pm, 1.50pm, 2.40pm, 3.30pm
Wildlife Walk through the park: 2pm meet at the Bolton Green Umbrella stall
Foraging Workshop: by Forest Horizons meeting at the Green Shoots stall. Starting at 2pm
Face Painting stall - FREE!!
Friends of Queens Park - activity
Lancashire Wildlife Trust - making seed bombs
Create Bolton - crafts for sale (Home )
Woodland Trust - activity and information
The Hoggery (Hedgehog Rescue) - information about hedgehog rescue plus crafted items to buy to support the rescue service ((3) Facebook
Litterpicking : information and a fun activity
Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park - potato craft activity ((3) Facebook )
Groundbreakers/Third Space - activity and information. Ground Breakers is a Local community collective based on the Flower Estate in Farnworth ( (3) Facebook ). Third Space Bolton supports young people through this time of growth and change physically, mentally, socially and spiritually (Third Space Bolton )
Green Shoots Bolton NW: Pebble decorating, seed planting and wild flowers for children to make jam jar/tube posies.
Green Shoots Bolton is an umbrella group for a number of projects: Harpers Lane Community Garden, Ivy Road Community Project, Bolton West Guerrilla Gardeners, Bolton West Litterpickers, Gilnow Road Green Island, Friends of Captains Clough
Forest Horizons: Forest Horizons offers mushroom and wild food foraging sessions ( Wild Food Foraging Lessons | Forest Horizons | Forest Horizons ) They are sharing the Green Shoots stall
Little Bats Learning: Little Bats is all about embracing the power of the outdoors to nurture, inspire and develop local children. Getting kids out of the confines of the traditional nursery and classroom settings; we empower and encourage children to explore, investigate, experiment and assess risk at their own pace. (Bolton Forest School - Little Bats Learning CIC )
Horwich Repair Cafe: Throw it away - no way! (https://www.repaircafe.org/en/ )
Bolton Community Kitchen: provide food and drinks in a warm and safe environment to Bolton's elderly, vulnerable and homeless. Will be selling plants and seeds. ((17) Facebook )
Beechcroft Growing Site: The Beechcroft growing site is a community gardening project located on Beechcroft Avenue in Breightmet. There is also an active Men in Sheds group ( Facebook )
Justicia: Justicia is a dedicated fair trade shop at the heart of Bolton's community since 1985. Fair trade food, gifts, toys, fashion. (Justicia Fair Trade | Justicia )
Latest News
BGU event - Queens Park - 10 May
The Friends of Westhoughton Station | Sunday 04 May 2025
We will be at the BGU event with a small display and photos of our work. Hope to see you there.
Our Aims and Objectives
We aim to show volunteers that they are not alone; they are part of something much bigger.
We aim to encourage groups and volunteers to continue their fantastic work.
We aim to acknowledge local groups and volunteers fantastic contribution to our town.
We aim to enable mutual support between groups.
We aim to enable the sharing of ideas and resources.
We aim to give the volunteer body more influence upon Bolton Council, local businesses and organisations.
We aim to provide support and guidance for funding applications.
We aim to offer access to training for volunteers.
We aim to provide advice and support to individuals and fledging groups.
Bolton Green Umbrella Newsletter
We send a regular e-mail newsletter with information about groups, events and volunteering opportunities.
We'd love to add your name to our subscribers.