Millennium Green at Lumb

The Millennium Green at Lumb, Rossendale, was created in the year 2000. Many of the pathways had become overgrown, and the pond - which used to be a central, attractive feature of the Green - was choked with weeds.

The aim of the Rossendale Rotary project is to work with the villagers to restore/upgrade the facilities, thereby enhancing the appearance of the Green which will increase usage and enjoyment. The Green provides recreational space for the villagers, and was well used during the COVID 19 ‘lock down’ summer.

By restoring the pond it is hoped that children from the local primary school will be able to resume their ecological visits to the Green.

In November 2021, several thousand purple crocus bulbs were planted around the Green, both as a feature and to recognise the work of Rotary International in helping to eradicate polio. The purple colour reflects the colour used to indicate that a child has been vaccinated.

The major work on clearing the pond was completed in 2022 and the first community open day was held on Sunday 28th August 2022. Then, on the 'Big Help Out Day' on Monday 8 May 2023, more than 20 Rotarians, local residents and representatives from Waterwell Foundation, Civic Pride, and the Raft Foundation spent more than 4 hours on clearing paths of grass and weeds, plus general tidying up.  

We continue to help maintain the Green with local residents and others. In September 2023, a Friends of  Lumb Millennium Green group was formed, with the aim of maintaining and improving the green and its surroundings over the coming years.  The first contribution by the Friends was another tidy up session in September 2023, followed in October 2023 by yellow daffodil planting.  This was done by the pupils of Water Primary School, under the direction of Andrew Corbishley, who kindly donated the daffodils.  The children enjoyed the work so much that they returned after October half term to plant some white daffodils!

During VE80 week in May 2025, the Friends group and Waterwell Foundation organised a very successful 'Tea in a Tent' event to raise funds for Shelterbox, a Rotary-led international disaster aid charity.