11.01.2026
A sombre picture, shared with us by Tottington District Civic Society, of the aftermath of Christmas Eve, 1944. The picture shows the destruction outside of St. Anne’s Church on Chapel Street. For those that aren’t aware, the church is directly opposite the Whitehead Gardens site.
15.12.2025
After seeing such excellent artwork from the children from Tottington Primary School, we also came across this picture in the information shared with us by the team at Tottington District Civic Society. It’s a photograph of a V1 ‘Doodlebug’ bomb – the same bomb that hit Tottington on Christmas Eve, 1944. It is reported that 45 of these bombs were launched that night, with 31 reaching the UK and 15 landing in Greater Manchester.
11.12.2025
Since artist Rick Goodwin from Stump Art visited Tottington Primary School, the children have been working on designs for a new sculpture for Whitehead Gardens. Here’s a peek at some of the ideas they have come up with so far! 🌳
08.12.2025
Artist Cath Ford joined pupils in years 5&6 to run two special art workshops focussed on the themes of Hope and Peace. During the first workshop, Cath showed the class how she works in layers as an illustrator using a base of layer colour with a final layer of black drawing, and then the students created a series of green handmade collage papers. Pupils also saw war time pieces from Picture Post, and discussed different symbols of hope and traditions. At the end of the session, the children cut some of their collage paper into a triangle / tree shape and created their own Christmas card symbolising hope.
In the second workshop, the class discussed how, during the war, print would have been in black and white and how artists and designers had to use that limited palette effectively. The pupils experimented with mono-printing to create drawings of creatures found in and around Whitehead Gardens. After finishing their wildlife drawings, each student created their own mono-print of the word Peace with their individually designed decorative borders.
Here’s a look at some of the designs….
04.12.2025
Another old picture from Tottington District Civic Society showing Whitehead Gardens looking fantastic 🌳
27.11.2025
Another wood carving demonstration…this time at Tottington High School. Today, artist Rick Goodwin from Stump Art carved another beautiful Hare, and kindly gifted it to the school. As with the primary visit, the children who attended the demonstration are now busy working on designs for a new Whitehead Gardens sculpture. Design ideas to be shared, as soon as we have them 🌳
20.11.2025
The amazing artist Rick Goodwin from Stump Art visited Tottington Primary School this week to show the children how an expert carver creates new sculptures. The children are now working on ideas and designs for a new sculpture for Whitehead Gardens. The winning design will be carved by Rick and installed next year. We can’t wait to see what the group come up with!
10.11. 2025
A local resident recently shared some old newspaper articles and this fabulous picture. It shows the cobblestones of Chapel Street, Tottington, and Whitehead Gardens looking so lovely! 🌳
31.10.2025
Happy Halloween! The bats found Whitehead Gardens too spooky to swoop around last night, but we still learned lots about the bat species that live here. Thanks to everyone who came along 🦇🎃🦇
23.10.2025
The bat walk is now FULLY BOOKED! Thank you to everyone who emailed, and sorry we couldn’t fit you all in this time.
We’re thrilled that this project is so popular with everyone. We’re very lucky to have funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – and all the lottery players, to make events like this happen.
We’ll keep you all updated about future community activities here – so do keep checking back for details!
14.10.2025
There are still some places left on the expert led bat walk that will take place at Whitehead Gardens on Wednesday, 29th October from 6pm till 7.30pm. You can learn about, and hopefully hear and see a few of the local bat species that call the gardens home 🦇
Everyone is welcome – email Martin Proffitt to book 🦇 [email protected]
09.10.2025
There’s an amazing opportunity to attend an expert led bat walk at Whitehead Gardens on Wednesday, 29th October from 6pm till 7.30pm. You can learn about, and hopefully hear (and see) a few of the local bat species that call the gardens home 🦇
Everyone is welcome – but places are limited, and you do need to book! You can do this by emailing Martin Proffitt [email protected]
22.04.2025
We’re looking for an Ecologist and Sculpture Artist to work with us on the Whitehead Gardens project!
You can find all the information you need here:
Whitehead Gardens Ecology Brief April 2025
Whitehead Gardens Sculpture Artist Brief April 2025
If you have any questions, please email Martin Proffitt
28.02.2025
Yesterday, children from Tottington Primary School and Tottington High School joined us on site to watch a tree felling demonstration. The arborists explained exactly what their role was within the garden, what tools are used to the job, discussed what kinds of places and spaces their team work in, and also chatted about the skills, interests and qualifications needed to do the job.
During the demonstration, the students were shown how they can estimate the age of a tree, as well as how to spot if a tree is dying or unhealthy. The arborists were eager to share that, even though we all love trees (and we’ll be planting more of them), sometimes it’s necessary to responsibly fell and thin out existing trees in parks and woodlands to improve the overall health of the space.
At Whitehead Gardens, some of the trees are damaged or diseased. They needed to be removed to prevent the disease spreading to other healthy trees, and also because the brittle branches and trees are at risk of falling – so it’s important that the site is made safe. The team also explained thinning out the trees can help create space and light for other trees and plants to grow better, as well as allowing more light reach the floor, which should increase the diversity of plants and encourage more wildlife in the gardens.
The students were also happy to learn that, when work like this happens, all of the wood isn’t wasted… some of the timber can be reused and turned into other things like fence posts, bird boxes and fuel. Even the deadwood can help to provide vital habitat for a range of creatures too!
It was a great afternoon, and a great way to start the community and school project activities. Thank you to everyone who came along 🌳🐞🪲🐛
20.02.2024
Contractors are due to start tree works in Whitehead Gardens next week! They will remove dead, diseased, and dying trees from across the gardens. Log piles will be created from the timber and standing trunks left as habitats for wildlife. The work will take place throughout the week, weather permitting.
Please note that parts of the site will be temporarily closed to the public for a few hours at a time for safety reasons. 🌳
18.12.2024
It’s going to be an exciting time at Whitehead Gardens in 2025 as the improvement project begins.
A reminder that plans for the site include making improvement to access and pathways, installing new seating areas, tree works, wildflower planting, wall repairs and improving drainage. A big part of the project involves also involves bringing the staged area within the gardens back into community use. Children from Tottington High School, Tottington Primary School and other local schools and groups will also be given the opportunity to get involved in an historical research project and several other outdoor activities on the site too.
Thanks to everyone who has supported the team so far.
We’ll update you again when we have start dates for the works!
23.10.2024
Great news – funding for the Whitehead Gardens improvements has now been secured! The project is being supported by Bury Council, and the amazing team at The National Lottery Heritage Fund who support amazing projects like this one all over the country.
The work on site will begin in 2025, and when we have those exact dates and details, we’ll let you know. Thank you to everyone who has continued to support the Whitehead Gardens Steering Committee during the consultation, planning, and fundraising stages 🙂
20.01.2024
Finally, we now have the planning approval that we have been waiting for!
The next step for the project is for us to find funders that we can work with. Looking for funding can take some time. We’ll be working on this over the coming months, and we’ll more share details with you when we can 🙂
14.08.2023
WHITEHEAD GARDENS TOTTINGTON – APPEAL
As part of the project to improve Whitehead Gardens, the Rotary Club of Tottington and Bury West are trying to trace the relatives of those who lost their lives during the V1 missile attack on Christmas Eve 1944.
The club are eager to share the plans for remodelling the stage area and re-installing the memorial plaque with the relatives, and get their views.
If you had a relative who died in the attack in 1944, and you would be happy to be involved, please email [email protected] by 15th September and let us know.
06.07.2023
Thanks to everyone for their patience as we move forward with the Whitehead Gardens project. We’ve been working to get planning approval, and the process has been taking longer than anticipated. The details are with the planning team, and as soon as we get the all clear from them, we can move on and begin the fundraising process. We’ll update you all again when we have more news – so do keep checking back for details 🙂
20.11.2021
A huge thank you to everyone who selected this project as your local cause to support. Thanks to you, and the wonderful team at Co-op, we have been awarded £3,041 towards the Whitehead Gardens improvements. You can read more about the project, and the support from the Co-op team here Coop Newsletter Nov 21
The fundraising work continues and we’ll update you again in the new year!
04.10.2021
The masterplan for the Whitehead Gardens project are now up around the site, so please do take a look. Now that we have a plan, we can begin thinking about fundraising to move the project forward.
15.09.2021
Great to see details of the Whitehead Gardens project being shared by the One Community Bury group:
https://www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/whitehead-gardens-tottington-restoration-update
It’s a great resource for people who want to know more about interesting projects happening in Bury!
29.07.2021
Like many teams, we’ve had a big gap in progress due to the Covid pandemic – but we’re now in a position to share a proposal for improving Whitehead Gardens. The plan was created following consultation work carried out last year. Some key aims of the plan involve improving access into the site, updating the drainage, opening up some of the darker areas of the gardens, brightening up some areas with colourful planting and bringing the ‘stage’ area back into use. As many of you know, the site is full of history and, as part of the project, we will work with local school children to research the local history and share some of the findings with the wider Tottington community. We have already received a lot of positive feedback about the changes including support from the Whitehead family, Tottington Primary School and Tottington and Bury West Rotary Club.
The next steps are to try and find the funding to carry out this work. Wish us luck – we will keep you up to date when we can.
Take a look at the plan below – you can click on the image to enlarge it if you need to. Thank you all for your continued support.
25.03.2021
Just a reminder that Proffitts CiC / Whitehead Gardens Steering Commitee have been selected to take part in the Co-op Local Community Fund. The group are working hard to raise the funds needed to improve Whitehead Gardens with suggestions of bringing the staged area back in to community event use, The team have their own profile page on the Co-op fund site and is one of three causes in your community which Co-op Members can select to support between now and 23rd October 2021.
If you want to support the project, you will need to become a Co-op Member and then, once signed up, select Proffitts CiC / Whitehead Gardens as your cause. It’s very easy and quick to join online at coop.co.uk/membership or by downloading the Co-op app. If you know someone who would like to become a member, but doesn’t have online access then they can call 0800 023 4708 and the lovely Co-op Community Fund team will set it up for them over the phone.
Once you’re signed up, every time to shop at a Co-op store, you’ll help raise funds for our project. Even though this project will be linked to four local Co-op outlets (Co-op Funeral Care, Holcombe Brook / Co-op Food, Holcombe Brook / Co-op Food, Vernon Road, Greenmount / Co-op Food, Tottington), money raised through Co-op Membership can be generated anywhere in the UK, as long as you are buying selected products or services from the Co-op Group. If you would like to find out more about how money is allocated to causes and which products earn rewards, check out Co-op Membership Terms & Conditions.
This is such an easy way to support community projects in your area – please do become a Co-op member and select your cause today.
14.12.2020
Thanks to everyone who has signed up to become a Co-op Member already, and thanks to those who have selected the Whitehead Gardens project as their chosen cause! You can sign up online at coop.co.uk/membership or by downloading the Co-op app – so please do encourage your friends and family to sign up and support local projects too.
23.11.2020
We’re delighted to announce that Proffitts CiC / Whitehead Gardens Steering Commitee have been selected to take part in the Co-op Local Community Fund. The team have their own profile page on the Co-op fund site and is one of three causes in your community which Co-op Members can select to support between now and 23rd October 2021.
If you want to support the project, you will need to become a Co-op Member and then, once signed up, select Proffitts CiC / Whitehead Gardens as your cause. It’s very easy and quick to join online at coop.co.uk/membership or by downloading the Co-op app. If you know someone who would like to become a member, but doesn’t have online access then they can call 0800 023 4708 and the lovely Co-op Community Fund team will set it up for them over the phone.
Once you’re signed up, every time to shop at a Co-op store, you’ll help raise funds for our project. Even though this project will be linked to four local Co-op outlets (Co-op Funeral Care, Holcombe Brook / Co-op Food, Holcombe Brook / Co-op Food, Vernon Road, Greenmount / Co-op Food, Tottington), money raised through Co-op Membership can be generated anywhere in the UK, as long as you are buying selected products or services from the Co-op Group. If you would like to find out more about how money is allocated to causes and which products earn rewards, check out Co-op Membership Terms & Conditions.
This is such an easy way to support community projects in your area – please do become a Co-op member and select your cause today!
04.06.2020
Hi everyone. Sorry we have been a bit quiet recently. Slowly getting back into the swing of things now. We are hoping you will help by completing this survey This survey will give us an insight into what local people would like to see with the site. Lots have people have mentioned improving the performance stage area so community events can take place and improving the paths alongside carrying out a history project involving local school children. What are your ideas? If you find it easier you can simply leave a comment at the bottom of this web page. All ideas will be fed into an overall design. Please share with anyone who lives in the area or would be interested in commenting.
28.02.2020
We are delighted to be supporting Whitehead Gardens Steering Committee in working towards improving of the popular gardens in Tottington, Bury.
Local residents have been pushing for improvements to the community facility with suggestions of bringing the staged area back in to community event use, and other ideas including involving local school children in a research / history project which can be shared in some form. As you may know, Whitehead Gardens contains a memorial to seven people who lost their lives on Christmas Eve, 1944 in an enemy air raid. The garden has a large stone tablet set into the wall on which the names of the dead and the circumstances of the raid are recorded.
The group have started the consultation process and you can give comment by simply leaving a comment below or clicking on the link below. Paper copies are also available – please let us know if you need one.
https://www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/whitehead-gardens-tottington-restoration-project/brainstormers/Whitehead-gardens/
