Irwell Valley Revival
About the project
PROJECT TITLE: Irwell Valley Revival
LOCATION: Various sites along the Irwell Valley with targeted work in Phillips Park, Bury
FUNDING: Awarded £111,409 from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund
PARTNERS: Bury Council, City of Trees, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Friends of Prestwich Forest Park
The idea
Phillips Park is a critically important Local Nature Reserve within a wider connected landscape of over 556 ha. Unfortunately, the site has experienced decline due to local authority financial constraints and this has been exacerbated by coronavirus, leading to limited management work since March 2020.
Large sections of the park’s ancient and semi-natural woodland have also been affected by invasive, non-native plant species which threaten to reduce species diversity within the woods.
The Irwell Valley Revival project will kick start the recovery of management work in Phillips Park to maintain and enhance the natural heritage of this much-loved wild space as well as increasing the resilience of well-established community groups at the site.
The project aims to restore and conserve nature, improving habitats to support flora and fauna with a focus on woodland, grassland and wetland.
Alongside this, the project will provide positive opportunities for the local and wider community in the city region, including many of those hit hardest by the pandemic. By connecting people with nature, the project will:
- Raise awareness and celebrate the natural heritage of Phillips Park and its connected landscape amongst Greater Manchester residents through family events and engaging social content.
- Provide voluntary opportunities for local people to play an active role in their local natural environment whilst gaining new skills and improved health.
