in the news
The team would like to give a big thank you to everyone that raised money for us during November. We'd like to give a special shout-out to the following fundraisers:
Leigh & District Ramblers – £125
Horwich Duathlon – £150
Chorley Ramblers – £500
Don't forget, if you would like to fundraise for the team, head over to www.justgiving.com/charity/bolton-mrt or if you'd like to give us a one off donation, simply click the button below.
Thank you to everyone for continuing to support Bolton MRT.
It’s that time of year again!
Bolton Mountain Rescue Team are proud to once again lead the Turton Young Farmers’ Annual Christmas Tractor Run as it celebrates 5 years of festive tractor magic!
This year’s run takes place on Sunday 7 December 2025, along the route shown in the image below.
With over 100 brilliantly decorated tractors, a joyful community atmosphere, and a route winding through our local villages, it’s set to be another unforgettable evening.
A huge thank you to everyone taking part, supporting, and cheering from the roadside, and to Turton Young Farmers for inviting us back to lead this event.
🎄✨ It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas! ✨🎄
Christmas is on the way, and the team are at Ye Jolly Crofters today supporting their annual Christmas Market and raising vital funds.
If you’re nearby, come and join in the fun — browse the stalls, soak up the Christmas cheer, try your luck on the tombola, and you might even bump into Santa himself!
We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from Ye Jolly Crofters. Their fundraising makes a huge difference and helps us work towards the £60,000 it takes each year to help us keep saving lives.
Where: Ye Jolly Crofters, Chorley Old Road, Horwich
When: Saturday 29 November from midday - 4pm
If you can't join us in person, you can still sprinkle a little Christmas magic by clicking the button below to donate.
The team would like to pass on a big thank you to our electrical contractor, Walker Gabbott, who replaced some interior lights at our base earlier this year. Walker Gabbott worked closely with Steve in the team to install new LED lights with sensors from JCC Lighting Products, supplied by Eyre and Elliston. The LED lights are more energy-efficient and will help us reduce our running costs. It’s great that we can work with local companies to help drive our costs down, meaning we can direct more money to life-saving equipment.
🎄 Join us tomorrow! 🎄
The team will be at the Christmas Market at Ye Jolly Crofters in Horwich tomorrow. We’re so grateful to Ye Jolly Crofters, who have supported Bolton MRT for many years, and helped raise hundreds of pounds to keep our vital work going.
If you’re in the area, pop by the Christmas Market, say hello to the team, and try your luck on the tombola! You can also browse a wonderful selection of local businesses — the perfect chance to start your Christmas shopping. 🌲🤶🏻
Where: Ye Jolly Crofters, Chorley Old Road, Horwich
When: Saturday 29 November from midday - 4pm
Hope to see you there!
Bolton MRT is delighted that the government has recognised the value of Mountain Rescue Teams in today’s budget by providing a change to tax rules exempting Search and Rescue vehicles from Vehicle Excise Duty. This is a significant cost to teams and a saving across UK Search and Rescue of over £450,000.
The team would like to thank those MPs who have been calling for this change including Phil Brickell MP (Bolton West) who raised the issue in Parliament and with government, along with Andy MacNae (Rossendale and Pendle).
It costs Bolton MRT on average £60,000 per year to operate. These funds come from donations and gifts as well as fundraising activities by our members. Reducing our costs by exempting our vehicles is very welcome.
If you can help us keep the lights on please go to boltonmrt.org.uk/support-the-team and find out how you can support us.
Christmas Cheer for a Great Cause!
Ye Jolly Crofters in Horwich are, once again, hosting a festive Christmas market to help raise vital funds for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team!
Come along for a day filled with holiday spirit — stalls, treats, raffles, local crafts, and plenty of family-friendly fun. It’s the perfect way to support a fantastic local charity while getting into the Christmas mood.
Every penny raised will help Bolton MRT continue our lifesaving work across local hills, moors, and wild places.
Date: 29th of November
Location: Ye Jolly Crofters, Horwich
Wrap up warm, bring your festive cheer, and let’s make this a Christmas market to remember!
Last weekend Bolton MRT member Ali took part in a fantastic multi-agency training event hosted by Bowland Pennine MRT. Colleagues from RAF Leeming MRT, Calder Valley SRT, and Derby MRT also attended.
Friday’s training kicked off at 1900 with an exercise callout for a downed Hawk T2 fighter jet. The search areas were challenging and realistic, with RAF Leeming MRT and Calder Valley SRT also deployed. After a long night on the hill, the exercise wrapped up at 0300.
On Saturday, MRT members were back out again for a 0900 start, responding to a scenario involving two walkers missing overnight for 12 hours. Teams from BPMRT and RAF Leeming MRT worked together across large search areas, with the exercise concluding successfully at 1800.
The weekend’s training finished on Sunday with valuable input from RAF Leeming MRT, who delivered a fascinating lecture on their role and the specialist kit they operate with. This was followed by hands-on medical CPD covering vacuum mattresses (whole-body splints, made rigid by creating a vacuum in compartments containing polystyrene beads), vacuum splints (limb splints that use the same technique), and primary survey refreshers.
Throughout the entire weekend teams were joined by search dog Tally and handler Sarah from Derby MRT, whose skills added an extra dimension to the exercises.
A huge thanks to Bowland Pennine MRT for organising the event and to all the teams who took part. Training together strengthens the relationships and skills that are vital when real-world incidents occur.
Yesterday, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team provided standby rescue cover for two fantastic local events.
Firstly, we covered the Bolton North Runners 5km, proudly supported by Last Drop Village. 190 runners took part on a glorious, autumn morning.
Secondly, we were on the beautiful moors above Darwen, helping keep safe the 73 runners who took part in the Darwen Dashers Running Club Public David Staff Memorial Fell Race.
We are pleased to report there were no injuries on either event. Well done to all runners, and thanks to the organisers for once again including us in your events.
Last month, the team were delighted to receive a generous £1,000 donation from Horwich RMI Harriers. This contribution was made as a thank you for the support Bolton MRT has provided at the club’s races throughout the year.
A big thank you to Horwich RMI Harriers for their ongoing support. Donations like this make a real difference and help us continue our voluntary work throughout the area.
On Saturday 8th November, Bolton MRT members were pleased to provide first aid cover for the Greenmount Scouts Family Bonfire & Firework Display. Eight team members covered the event for three hours. Thankfully everyone enjoyed the fireworks and bonfire, and there were no injuries to be dealt with.
Tonight, Monday and Tuesday night, Rivington Pike is due to be illuminated with a poppy for the Remembrance weekend.
It's a bit grim up there tonight; in fact at the time of writing there's a lot of fog and some rain, so if you're walking up do wrap up well, know where you are, and wear footwear with good ankle support.
All at Bolton Mountain Rescue Team would like to pass on a huge thank you to Christine, at Asda’s Astley Bridge store, for kindly donating cans of Lucozade to our team.
Support like this helps keep our volunteers fuelled and ready to respond 24/7 to emergencies across our area. We’re incredibly grateful for the continued backing from the community. It really does make a difference.
Thank you, Christine and Asda, for your generosity!
This Sunday, 9th November, members of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team will be attending the annual Remembrance Service at Lead Mines Clough, near Rivington.
The service provides an opportunity to honour and remember those who gave their lives in service, including the crew of the Wellington Bomber Z8799, which tragically crashed on Winter Hill in 1943.
Team members will join others from the local community and uniformed organisations to pay their respects in this poignant and historic setting.
We’re proud to continue this tradition each year, standing together in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The service begins at 11:00, and we recommend getting there from 10:30.
Lest We Forget.
The week before last, from Thursday evening through to Sunday evening, Bolton MRT provided first aid cover for the Rivington Terraced Gardens Festival of Lights.
Organised by a team of devoted volunteers, this event is enjoyed by around 4000 people each year. Providing entertainment, food, refreshments, and more. It is a fantastic community showpiece. It is also a great opportunity for us to fundraise, and interact with the public.
There were a few minor medical incidents that our team Remote Rescue Medical Technicians dealt with but, overall, a brilliant time was had by all.
Today is Mountain Rescue Day.
For us at Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, this is a chance to highlight our team of highly-trained, committed volunteers who are ready 24/7, in all weathers, to respond when things go wrong in our local hills, moorland, and rural areas.
Whether it’s a lost walker on Winter Hill, an injured mountain biker, assisting the ambulance service, or responding to water-rescue and flooding incidents, we’re there when called.
Today, we’re celebrating:
* every callout answered;
* every volunteer who leaves home, work or family at a moment’s notice;
* and everyone who donates, fundraises, or simply helps raise awareness - you are part of this too.
If you love the outdoors and would like to support what we do, you can donate by clicking the button below.
During summer 2024 team members Bob and Diane delivered a talk on the work of the team to our friends and long time supporters Ladybridge Women's Institute. Following this talk, the WI selected us as their charity for 2025.
Last night team members Diane, Bob and Mike attended the WI’s AGM to receive a cheque for monies raised at their summer fayre. They brought with them a team vehicle and chatted to members showing them some of the equipment in the vehicles, before going inside to receive the donation.
Much to the amazement of the three team members the donation was a wonderful £900. All the money raised came from a Tea and Cakes Afternoon they held in the summer including from ticket sales, tombola, cakes, jewellery and handbag stall.
The team would like to thank all the WI members for their hard work in raising this money to help with the work of the team.
If you are part of an adult group e.g. a Women’s Institute Group, a Rotary Club, a walking group, a social group, an Inner Wheel group and would like a talk, please email speaker@boltonmrt.org.uk
On Friday 3rd October team member Mark travelled to Leigh Miners Welfare to deliver an illustrated talk about the work of Bolton MRT to a large audience of members of the Leigh & District University of the Third Age (U3A). U3A is an organisation that brings together people who are in their “Third Age” i.e. people who are no longer employed full-time. The idea is that these people (who are all volunteers) come together to learn, create, share their knowledge and skills, and learn from visiting speakers. The talk generated a considerable amount of interest and lots of good questions. At the end of the talk, there was an audience collection that raised £286 for Bolton MRT– a huge amount of money for which we are very grateful.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. The team are fundraising at Tesco in Prestwich today. If you are in the area, pop in, meet the team and learn more about the work we do.
If you are unable to meet the team and would still like to donate, simply click the donate button below.
At 19:56 last night we were requested to assist Rossendale & Pendle Mountain Rescue Team with a search for a lost 13 year old child on Holcombe Moor. 10 team members attended, working alongside RPMRT, Greater Manchester Police and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) drone team.
The moor was surrounded in mist and darkness, and searching began on foot, via drone, and via vehicles. Thankfully the lost young man was found fairly quickly by a party of two Rossendale MR team members on foot, near to Red Brook. He was assisted back to his family in Holcombe.
This was our second time working with RPMRT on the same day - the first being to an injured 20 year old mountain biker at Rawtenstall. Five team members attended and assisted with a stretcher carry over steep ground.
(library pic)
On Thursday 18th September team members Mark and Paul were pleased to deliver an illustrated talk to the Bolton National Trust Association. This is a voluntary organisation with a varied programme of events with speakers on subjects of interest, and social events such as lunches and quizzes. We were delighted to see such a large audience of around 60 members. There was a good deal of interest in the work of Bolton MRT. The photograph shows Mark and Paul with Mary O’Loughlin, the Chairman of Bolton National Trust Association. Mark and Paul were delighted to receive a donation for Bolton MRT of £70 - £60 from the group, and £10 from individual members of the audience.
At 19:08 on Wednesday 1st October, the team were contacted by North West Ambulance Service, requesting our assistance with a casualty at Cutacre Country Park, Over Hulton.
Team members and vehicles were quickly dispatched, with our first member on scene by 19.30.
The ambulance crew were joined by North West Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Arriving mountain rescue crews were held at the rendezvous point to support the casualty’s extraction, if needed.
The casualty was treated for potentially serious injuries, having fallen off a motocross bike.
NWAS ambulance crews and HART provided care before extricating the casualty using the HART Polaris all terrain vehicle.
We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.
Oops – a little technical hiccup!
It looks like Bolton Mountain Rescue Team’s JustGiving page isn’t working at the moment. We're already on the case and hope to have it back up and running soon.
In the meantime, if you’d like to support us, you can still donate via PayPal Giving by visiting:
www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/4101209
Or simply head over to our website and click the ‘Donate’ button.
Thinking of setting up a fundraiser for us? Just drop our Fundraising Officer an email at: FO@boltonmrt.org.uk
Thanks so much for your support and patience!
Today at 3pm the Government will be testing the national Emergency Alerts system. Compatible phones across the UK will vibrate, make a loud siren-like sound, and display a message explaining that a test is taking place. Learn more: gov.uk/alerts
Emergency Alerts are used to warn and give important safety information about events that we are involved with such as severe flooding, wildfires, and storms.
Do let your friends and family know about the test, and if it happens for real please follow the advice.