Restoring the Medlock Valley | Groundwork Greater Manchester

Duration: February 2026

Background

Thanks to funding from the Government’s Species Survival Fund, a group of partners comprising of Groundwork Greater Manchester, TCV, City of Trees, Mersey Rivers Trust and Canal and Rivers Trust are working alongside Manchester City Council, Oldham Council and Tameside Council to enhance habitats across the Medlock Valley.

What partners are doing

The project will deliver a number of habitat improvements across 30ha of the Valley which will halt and reverse the decline in species abundance by preserving and restoring vital habitats.

In addition, project partners will deliver a series of green skills training programmes to partners, volunteers and members of the public, leading to an upskilled workforce more able to respond to the climate emergency.

The project will also seek to connect local people with the Medlock Valley, designing events and activities that primarily support unemployed people and those experiencing poor health and wellbeing.

What Groundwork are doing

Our dedicated Project Manager will be overseeing the full partnership work programme and maintaining relationships with all delivery partners.

In addition, our employments teams will deliver a bespoke Green Skills Training Programme to 8 people who want to start a career in the natural environment, two of which will be recruited by Groundwork as Trainee Urban Rangers until December 2025.

Our community engagement team will engage residents in the Medlock Valley through our Love Your River programme, ensuring more people connect with nature and become ambassadors for the species which live there.

Led by our experienced landscaping team, the Trainee Urban Rangers and local volunteers will support a number of habitat improvements in the Medlock Valley including:

Grassland management at Clayton Vale, Millstream Open Space, Bank Bridge Meadow and Sunnybank Vale
Invasive species control across the Valley
Improving paths, steps and footpath at Lees Brook Nature Park

Thanks to our funders & partners

This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.