Some new measures have now been introduced at one of Greater Manchester’s most popular beauty spots ahead of the summer in attempts to cut the risk of wildfires.
Every year, as the summer sets in and the temperatures start to rise, Dovestone Reservoir often sees people flock to make the most of what the bordering picturesque Peak District landscape has to offer – but this has sadly meant that the area has been hit by several devastating wildfires as of late.
This has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and has destroyed precious habitats.
While a public space protection order may currently be in place to stop any BBQs, campfires, and fireworks from being lit, the RSPB and landowners United Utilities have decided to go one step further this year to prevent catastrophe.
The RSPB has been given a grant by the Nature for Climate fund, and this has allowed for two seasonal fire rangers to be employed at Dovestones, who’s job it will be to help raise awareness of wildfires and their devastating consequences.
Over the summer months, the new fire rangers will patrol Dovestone Reservoir and the Longdendale Valley to watch out for any fires, report what they deem to be suspicious activity, and pick up litter, as well as remind visitors about the public space protection order and the fact BBQs, campfires, and fireworks are all banned from the site.
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Dovestone Reservoir has been hit by several devastating wildfires as of late, including one already in March 2022 / Credit: RSPB Dovestone (via Twitter)
Anyone found to be breaching this order risks a large fine, or even prosecution if their actions lead to a wildfire.
Not only that, but the rangers will also conduct an outreach programme in schools and the local community to help visitors understand what they can do to prevent them.
Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMRFS), and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are all working alongside the RSPB and United Utilities to protect the moorland over the next few months as the wildfire risk increases, and just like the rangers, one of the main things they will be doing is making sure people are aware of the public space protection order in place.
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“Even a small wildfire can cause a huge amount of damage and destruction to the local environment and wildlife and they also take up significant time and resources for our crews to respond to,” said Jim Willmott – Group Manager for Bury, Oldham and Rochdale at GMFRS.
“I’d like to remind people to protect our moors and never light a barbecue or fire of any kind in the countryside.”
Are you celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this weekend? If you decide to visit our countryside parks and reservoirs, please make sure to keep safe and don’t start fires or take BBQs. Thank you!💚 #BeMoorAware#KeepSafepic.twitter.com/jupqx2DVFi
— United Utilities (@unitedutilities) June 1, 2022
GMP will be carrying out dedicated patrols in the Dovestones area in Greenfield to help raise awareness and deal with any breaches of the order.
Local primary and secondary schools have been given assemblies about the risks of wildfires and how they can be prevented, with a competition taking place for primary school students to design signs for the area telling people about the dangers of fires.
The RSPB is also looking for volunteers to help with fire watch.
“When it comes to wildfire prevention we all have a role to play and no one organisation is doing this single-handedly,” said Miriam Biran – Visitor Experience Manager at the RSPB.
The Boots recycling scheme where you can get £5 off every shop
Thomas Melia
UK high street retailer and healthcare shop Boots has launched an innovative recycling scheme that entitles customers to £5 off their future shopping trips.
If you’re still struggling to come up with a New Year’s resolution, why not try a spot of recycling and earn some money off your next cosmetics shop while you’re at it?
Started in 2020, the Boots Recycling Scheme allows Advantage Card holders the opportunity to get money while also being more conscious about how we recycle our used health and beauty products.
Their third-party app, Recycle at Boots, uses a ‘Scan2Recycle‘ system where users can upload items from various beauty brands by taking a picture of the empty packaging before identifying its form.
This scheme takes items that can’t usually be recycled at home, such as lotion pumps, toothpaste tubes, lipstick, mascaras, travel minis, make-up palettes and more.
Once you have five items approved, head over to your nearest participating Boots store, drop off your empties and scan the QR code on the deposit box.
After you’ve followed all these steps, a voucher will appear entitling you to 500 Advantage Points when you spend £10 in-store at your nearest location, and not only do you have £5 worth of points with your name on it, you’re also an eco-warrior.
There’s even a dedicated section of the app to recycling empty medicine and vitamin blister packs, which gives customers 100 Advantage Points when they spend £5 in-store.
Brilliant.
Credit: Publicity pictures (supplied)
Items dropped into these deposit boxes are taken to MyGroup, a recycling and waste management service which works around the clock to help divert waste from landfill.
These empties will be washed and traditionally recycled into a material called MyBoard, a construction board material most similar to plywood, with lots of different uses.
Nearest Boots locations in Manchester running the Recycle at Boots scheme:
Manchester Market Street – 32 Market Street, M1 1PL
Salford Regent Park – Regents Park, M5 3TP
Manchester Didsbury – 736-740 Wilmslow Road, M20 2DW
The Trafford Centre – 10 Peel Avenue, M17 8BD
Trafford Retail Park – Neary Way, M41 7FN
If you’re up for getting money off your next Boots splurge while also helping recycle cosmetics containers and more, you can download the Recycle at Boots app and find your nearest HERE.
Manchester United issue statement after Bruno Fernandes’ social media is hacked
Danny Jones
Manchester United were forced to issue an official statement following Bruno Fernandes’ social media being hacked.
The Man United star’s digital profile was hijacked in the wake of the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, which saw the Red Devils knocked out of the FA Cup and, it’s fair to say, quite the flurry of activity online.
As if to add insult to injury, with United‘s exit from the competition, a user then commandeered the club captain’s presence to share several fake posts.
With the official Bruno Fernandes X account being targeted following the game, the club had no choice but to respond after several controversial and/or inappropriate posts, not to mention multiple instances of general anti-ownership sentiment.
In case you didn’t see any of the since-deleted posts, besides one understandably troublesome comment which read, “let’s get rid of INEOS“, others were even more provocative/inflammatory.
The comments ranged from everything between messages @ing darts player and United fan Luke Littler to influencers like KSI and Jake Paul.
Offensive language was also present in many of them.
As for the Portuguese midfielder, he also quickly clarified that he obviously had no involvement in the activity; meanwhile, despite plenty of players coming out to apologise for the defeat on Sunday night, the skipper is yet to address the disappointment directly.
The loss to Brighton confirmed that Manchester United will be playing just 40 games for the rest of the campaign – the fewest since the 1914/15 season (i.e. at the outset of the First World War) – which serves as yet another unwanted record for the club of late.
You can see the highlights for the game down below.
It is also likely to have been caretaker manager Darren Fletcher’s final game in charge of the Reds, with an interim replacement set to be appointed imminently following Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking earlier this month.
His predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, also looked like the frontrunner at one point – and could still be involved in a backroom setup – but The Athletic now has it that Carrick could be is odds-on favourite to be announced before the Manchester derby.
Nevertheless, plenty of supporters still feel the problems remain deeply rooted throughout the club and that a change of personnel among the coaching staff still may not be enough…
Emily Sergeant -
3rd June 2022 
