The trust which manages the Millennium Green in Sholver has been awarded £10,000 by The National Lottery Community Fund which will be used to improve the green.

The green, which has very few financial resources, applied for the grant with the help of First Choice Homes Oldham and Life for a Life, a charity that plants and protects trees and forests.

Jon Comyn-Platt, a trustee of the Sholver Millennium Green, said those at the trust felt "over the moon" to have secured the funding.

He said: "Without it there was little prospect of us being able to do essential work to the green and making it a valuable and essential facility for the people of Oldham.

"The Millennium Green still needs a lot of money in order to achieve the aims for which it was originally intended, but this lottery fund grant means that we can make a significant start towards doing just that."

The trust plans to use the funds specifically on re-instating footpaths, planting a range of plants and the removal of litter and fly-tipping.

The trust is also planning to organise community events and activities for residents of all ages.

Mr Comyn-Platt said: "Our aim is not only to effect these improvements but also to engage residents from the whole of the surrounding area in doing so."

The grant from The National Lottery Community Fund is crucial as funding has been hard to come by for the green. The trust tried selling part of the green which it didn't use, but were unable to due to obstacles.

Mr Comyn-Platt said: "It is important for people to understand that the trust is not a part of the council, it does not have any millionaire benefactors and it has virtually no money of its own.

"As such, we were left with no other funding possibilities until, that is, this grant application was made, and was successful."

Kevin Field, FCHO Project and Partnership Officer said: "We’re delighted to have supported the Sholver Millennium Green Trust with their application for this funding that will be used to restore pathways and promote engagement with the local community.

"We look forward to working with the trust team going forward and to the results we can deliver together."