Thirty seven people came together at The Green Café to share their experiences, memories and views on what helps them stay connected to their communities when they're over 50 years old.
The event gave people the opportunity to reflect on the people, places and activities that are most important to them and support their wellbeing and sense of community.
We looked at local maps and talked about the places that are important to us and where we like to visit, highlighting these places on the maps and we talked about who makes them feel supported, their favourite things to do in their area and places they would like to visit.
Who makes you feel supported?
Many people spoke about the support they get from family and friends, and the different people in their lives:
- ‘My husband being with me on our walks.’
- ‘My carer.’
- ‘My family and friends.’
- ‘My family, my wonderful husband, my grandchildren, not forgetting my friends and my faith.’
- ‘I feel supported by the team I work with every week and my family.’
What’s your favourite thing to do in your area?
It became clear how important green spaces and cafés are and how they create opportunities for people to connect, relax and enjoy nature:
- ‘Relaxing in The Green Café, talking with friends and enjoying the company of everyone in the café.’
- ‘Zumba at The Green Café.’
- ‘Go to Walnut allotment.’
- ‘My favourite thing to do in my area is grow vegetables and socialise with like minds.’
- ‘Coming to the Green is my go to place on a Thursdays, you are made to feel welcome.’
- ‘The Green Café - the staff are helpful and friendly, the meals are nice and I especially love all the cakes that Karen bakes! The activities, such as Zumba, are great fun and Christine is a great instructor. Most of all the café is a dog friendly community – where a nice group of friends and their lovely dogs meet on a regular basis. We always look forward to a good bit of ‘fur’ cuddling with our own 4-legged friends.’
Where would you like to visit?
We heard lots of different places all around the world such as to the Norwegian fjords or on a safari, but some of the local places were:
- ‘I would love a day in the Burrs woods, and surrounds and I would love to keep tidy St John's Church in the cemetery as most of my husband’s family are there. I would love to walk down memory way, from my childhood in Radcliffe. The old swimming baths, the brick and coal works, all together a walk along memory lane.’
- ‘I would like to visit Queen's Park Heywood.’
What is one memory that comes to mind when you think of the area?
People shared lots of stories from their childhood and growing up in the area to revisiting places from their past:
- ‘Loving the memory of time gone by in my younger days within the Walmersley area.’
- ‘My favourite memory of living in this area is finding this wonderful place called The Green Café.’
- ‘My favourite memory is being surrounded by interesting buildings with the dates remaining while walking along Walmersley Road, the surrounding areas being full of beauty and feeling lucky and blessed in our local area.’
- ‘Paddling in the lido as a child, playing in the woods and sitting around the lido with friends as an adult with the dogs. Mornings in the café with friends.’
- ‘Walking down Burrs on a sunny day, taking a picnic and enjoying the sun and watching people swim in the River Irwell.’
- ‘Sitting at the lido on a hot day with friends and the dogs. Having a picnic lunch, walking in the woods and stopping for a drink in the café with the dogs and friends.’
- ‘Sitting on a bench reading a book in the summer sunshine, people watching as the people of Moorside walked around the Lido.’
- ‘I can remember in my youth living in the Gigg Lane area and I loved to hear the roar of the crowd from the football ground - you knew that your team Bury FC had scored - it was great.’
Thanks to everyone who shared their stories with us. They'll help to shape the future of the Ageing in Place project, ensuring our work reflects what matters most to you.
This event was organised by Ageing in Place, part of Live Well in Later Life.
