Restoring Habitats in The Medlock Valley
Background
Groundwork Greater Manchester are working with The Conservation Volunteers, City of Trees, Mersey Rivers Trust, Canal and Rivers Trust and alongside Manchester, Oldham and Tameside council to deliver the Medlock Valley Restoration Project.
Funded by the UK Government’s Species Survival Fund, the aim of the project is 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’ll be working 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 are Riparian Habitats important?
The Riparian Zone is made up of the habitats on the banks of our rivers, which play an equally important role in the water ecosystem. Our native woodlands provide shelter to regulate the temperature of the river, and tree roots can provide structure to the river bank, helping prevent erosion. While falling leaves and deadwood provide shelter for the insects that many species living in and along the river feed on.
Having a diverse range of healthy habitats along our rivers also creates wildlife corridors, allowing species like Kingfishers, Bats and Otters to move freely through our towns and cities.
In the River Medlock Valley, we’re working to restore woodland, wet woodland and grassland habitats across Manchester, Oldham and Tameside by;
- Diversifying the ages and species of trees in woodlands to improve biodiversity
- Cutting back dominant plant species covering grassland and meadow habitats
- Removing invasive non-native species
- Improving accessibility across all sites
Manchester
City of Trees have been working with volunteer groups at Bank Bridge Meadow to remove Dogwood, a native species which has been spreading and covering the meadow habitat. By opening up the space, we’re giving the grassland habitat a chance to be restored and welcome a variety of meadow species back to the site. Volunteers have also been creating habitat piles with the cut Dogwood to provide shelter for hibernating species over the Winter.
Working alongside City of Trees, Groundwork’s Trainee Rangers have been opening up other areas of the Meadow by cutting back the Bramble, and by treating Japanese Knotweed in hopes of permanently eradicating it from the site.
The Trainee Rangers received their brush cutter qualification in September and have since been opening up the meadow habitat at Millstream Open Space by cutting back the overgrown plants.
Prior to their work, the site was completely inaccessible and overgrown. Opening up the space will hopefully allow a variety of plants to grow and improve biodiversity on the site. We also aim to make the site more accessible so the project teams can bring in volunteers in the near future to help with the restoration works.
Oldham
In the Summer, Groundwork invited local volunteers to help us remove Himalayan Balsam, an invasive non-native plant species, from alongside the Brook. Removing the plant before it flowers stops the seed pods from bursting and spreading hundreds of seeds into and alongside the Brook.
Over the Winter months, we will be working with volunteers on a monthly basis to clear and maintain the network of footpaths and steps around the site to improve accessibility.
What else are we doing?
Project partners are also delivering a programme of green skills training to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to facilitate climate action and upskill the workforce. We’re also running 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.
