Ordsall Park Green Fingers Project

Friends of Ordsall Park plans to diversify the area, creating habitats for wildlife and providing opportunities for volunteering. The project will see the creation of wildflower meadows, an accessible tree trail, bird and bat boxes and a mini orchard around the existing bowling green complete with sensory plants, water butt and composting area.

The project will include the creation of wildflower turf, diversifying the species of wildflower within the park and in turn helping pollinators. This supports Salford City Council's wildflower/grassland strategy for Salford. A woodland walk with a mixture of bulbs will also be developed, diversifying the park's woodland with a local school involved in planting the bulbs.

The tree trail will give children and adults alike a wonderful interactive learning experience, which will also be fully accessible 24/7. The tree trail sign will be designed by students from the University of Salford and manufactured in the university's Make A Space facility.

Bird and bat boxes will be made with a local community group before being installed throughout the park to create new homes for birds and bats.

The project will also see the creation of a fruit orchard on the green within the park, alongside herbaceous plants, two water butts and a composting area. Fruit trees will be purchased from the nearby Ordsall Hall, which has a brilliant variety of heritage fruit trees. These will be grafted onto root stock at a training session at the hall gardens, before being looked after by a team of community volunteers. An AQA certified training course will also be provided, teaching volunteers how to look after fruit trees throughout grafting, planting and pruning.

In total, the project will see over 50 new plants and 10 new trees planted, alongside 20 engagement sessions and other community engagement activity.