Developing Green Skills in the Medlock Valley
Background
Groundwork Greater Manchester worked with The Conservation Volunteers, City of Trees, Mersey Rivers Trust, Canal and Rivers Trust and alongside Manchester, Oldham and Tameside councils to deliver the Medlock Valley Restoration Project.
Funded by the UK Government’s Species Survival Fund, the aim of the project was to halt the decline of important species like Bats, Water Voles, Willow Tits, Great Crested Newts and Waxcap fungi by improving vital habitats along the River Medlock. We worked alongside local communities in Manchester, Oldham and Tameside, giving them the opportunity to be involved in practical conservation work and learn all about the species we’re working to protect.
Why Green Skills are important
Project partners delivered a series of green skills training programmes to our partners, volunteers and community groups to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to mobilise climate action on a neighbourhood level. This included training on; climate change, woodland management, meadow management, our focus species and much more!
We also delivered a programme of green skills workshops to local school children within the Medlock Valley to increase their knowledge and connection with the natural world around them.
Creating Jobs in the
Green Economy
Groundwork ran a pre-recruitment course where 8 participants spent 2 weeks learning practical green skills and employability skills. This included gaining qualifications in Carbon Literacy, Customer Service and Health & Safety.
2 people were hired from the course, and were employed as Trainee Urban Rangers for the duration of the project. They learned about the different species and habitats that the project was working to protect, whilst undertaking a variety of practical conservation tasks including woodland and grassland management, alongside our partners and volunteers.
Meet our Trainee Rangers
Woodland Workshops
Groundwork’s Green Skills Tutor worked with The Conservation Volunteers to deliver a programme of woodland workshops at Clayton Vale Green Community Hub. The 6 week course gave local people the opportunity to learn green skills, explore their local area and meet likeminded people.
The sessions began with a theory lesson, learning about different woodland management techniques, as well as how to identify different species of native trees. After this, participants put the chosen management technique into practice in the surrounding woodland at Clayton Vale.
One participant who attended the workshops said:
I especially love that it’s a regular thing so we can build up knowledge and skills week on week and get to know the people attending, and the staff delivering the workshops.
Meet Finn
Finn took part in our Green Skills Training while out of work as a way to build his confidence and learn practical skills. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, he was offered an apprenticeship with the RHS.
“It’s really nice just to meet new people and to spend time in nature. You’re improving your local community and can see the differences day-to-day.”
Community Payback
The Canal and River Trust worked along canals with people on the Community Payback scheme. The scheme required people with court-ordered community service to give back to their community through mandatory volunteer work.
The group carried out a variety of conservation tasks along the canals like coppicing trees, clearing footpaths, improving wetland habitats and removing invasive species. The scheme also provided training opportunities for them to develop their skills and to boost their employability.
Meet Travis
Travis was introduced to volunteering with the Medlock Project by his support worker. Volunteering in local nature sites offered Travis structure, purpose, and a way to stay active despite being unable to take on paid employment.
“Don’t be ashamed to volunteer, it’s very relieving because of the self-worth it gives you.”
Volunteering at Lees Brook
On the last Thursday of every month, volunteers in Oldham took part in practical conservation tasks at Lees Brook Nature Reserve, ranging from river clean ups to invasive species removals.
Josh volunteered in Lees Brook as a way to learn new skills and connect with nature, having previously worked for Groundwork as an Environmental Project Support Officer. Find out more about Josh’s green skills journey:
Volunteering on Ashton Canal
The Canal & River Trust recruited local volunteers to assist them in improving the River Medlock along the Ashton Canal, with the work including invasive species removal, scrub management and plant relocation.
Read about Carole and Nick’s experiences with the project and all the skills they’ve learned along the way:
What else did we do?
Project partners worked across a number of sites in the Medlock Valley to improve riparian habitats. We also ran a programme of activities and events to connect people, community groups, businesses and schools with the nature on their doorstep.
This project has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government’s Species Survival Fund.
