Sometimes its the simple things, like nature and community, which can have the biggest effects on our wellbeing 🌿
Our most recent wellbeing programme at Trafford Ecology Park focused on helping local residents boost their confidence, reduce isolation, and improve their mental health by reconnecting with nature and each other.
Taking part in activities such as mindful walks and outdoor yoga, participants enjoyed a supportive space to connect and recharge. At the end of the programme, over 90% of participants felt better in themselves for taking part 💚
We’re proud to have supported another group of neighbours in Tameside to transform their rundown alleyway into a greener and more useable community space 🌱
Thanks for funding from Tameside Council, we’ve been able to support residents on Whiteacre Road in Ashton-under-Lyne to reimagine their alleyway as a space the whole community can enjoy!
Residents have been at the centre of the transformation over the past few months, sharing their ideas, getting involved in planting and adding creative touches like mosaic door number tiles and a vibrant community mural.
It’s been fantastic to see the space come to life and see the community come together 💚
📸 - Tameside Council
It’s great to see families in Stretford making the most of the recently installed Kingsway cycle lanes, created by Trafford Council and AE Yates 🚴♀️
The route is already allowing people to travel in greener and healthier ways, with a growing 'bike bus' bringing families together to cycle safely to school!
Projects like this show how investing in safe, accessible travel routes can boost confidence, support healthier lifestyles, and build stronger communities 🙌
📸 - Trafford Council
No Mow May is here! 🌼
This month is all about giving our local green spaces a break, and giving nature a boost. By letting grass and flowers grow a little longer, we create vital habitats for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators waking up for spring 🐝🦋
Even a small patch can make a big difference. By allowing wildflowers to bloom, you'll be providing nectar and shelter where it’s needed most!
Will you be taking part?
The Manchester Flower Festival returns to the city centre on Saturday the 23rd May!
Pop along and you'll find:
Fabulous floral displays 🌸
Talks from nature experts 📢
Workshops for all ages and abilities 👨👩👧
Groundwork have been commissioned to design a display inspired by the Piccadilly Gardens Redevelopment so make sure you come and say hello and get inspired about greening our city!
📸 - Visit Manchester
What’s coming up this May? ⬇️
We’ve got a fantastic line-up of events which you can get involved with this month, learn new skills, and connect with nature across Greater Manchester:
🧵 Rag Revival Textile Workshops
Learn basic sewing skills, explore sustainability, and discover how to reduce your carbon footprint through creative reuse.
🌳 Clayton Vale Greenspace Volunteering
Make a real difference while enhancing local green spaces, from bat walks to meadow management.
🚶♀️ Guided Canal Walks in Bolton
Join expert-led nature walks along the Bolton Bury Canal. Don’t forget your phone to help record species!
🌼 Daisy Nook Greenspace Volunteering
Support biodiversity and nature connectivity while getting hands-on in a beautiful park setting.
💬 Nature in Bolton Community Consultations
Share your ideas and help shape your local landscape alongside our team.
Visit the link in our bio to find out more and sign up! 💚
West Gorton’s “sponge park” is a leading example of how climate action can help strengthen communities!
During the park's creation, we worked closely with residents to co-design the space, creating a park that not only reduces flood risk in the area but reflects local needs and builds community ownership. With flood risk now under control and a greenspace which meets community needs, the park is now regularly used for community events, activities and gatherings, creating a vibrant green hub 💚
A few months ago, the alleyway behind Syddall Street in Hyde was overgrown and largely forgotten.
That began to change when we brought neighbours together to share ideas and reimagine what the space could become.
Today, the alleyway is greener, safer, and far more welcoming. Planters and hand-painted murals now brighten the space and local residents report feeling prouder about where they live!
These improvements haven’t just transformed the environment; they’ve strengthened community connections and created more opportunities for people to come together 💚
From shared stories to stitched symbols, our Stockport group’s community tapestry is a powerful reflection of place, people and pride 🙌
Created using scrap material destined for landfill, the piece brings together local voices, creativity and sustainability in one collaborative artwork.
Now, the tapestry is heading out on tour, visiting venues, community spaces and events across Stockport. By taking it into different neighbourhoods, it continues to spark conversations, celebrate identity and connect communities!
Nature recovery in action! ⬇️
Our team have recently undertaken formal training in pond creation, so that we can help landowners introduce new pond habitats. These new ponds boost biodiversity in the local area whilst helping to slow the flow and reduce flood risk further down the catchment!
We’re also supporting landowners to help nature recovery through:
🌱 Loosening compacted soil to improve soil health, carbon storage and biodiversity
🐑 Installing fencing to protect riverbanks from deterioration and prevent livestock contamination
🌿 Planting hedgerows to intercept runoff, store carbon and connect habitats
This Earth Day, we wanted to celebrate how our partnership activities in the Medlock Valley have made a real difference in Greater Manchester, and to our planet overall 💚
🌱 Habitats restored across multiple sites, bringing woodlands, wetlands & grasslands back to life
🌳 Thousands of trees planted and green spaces transformed into thriving, biodiverse areas
🌊 Healthier waterways and improved riverbanks, boosting resilience to flooding
🌼 Invasive species managed, giving native wildlife the chance to recover
🦋 Biodiversity boosted, with new species of wildlife sprouting up across the valley
🤝 Local communities more engaged with nature through volunteering opportunities and public events
🎓 Local volunteers green skills enhanced, creating more environmental champions and nature stewards
Have you been involved in this amazing work?
In order for us to future-proof our neighbourhoods from the effects of climate change, we need considerable investment in more nature-based solutions.
Here's a great example of this in practice from City of Trees, who transformed Dale’s Brow in Swinton into a flood management system, featuring two swales, a wetland area, and hundreds of newly planted trees and plants 🌳
This helps rainwater soak naturally into the ground, supporting local ecosystems, rather than flowing onto paths and into nearby neighbourhoods 🌧️
Together we can create a resilient, nature friendly Greater Manchester!
📸 - Landscape Engineering
