Rewilding Stockport Town Centre
Background
In 2023/24, Groundwork Greater Manchester began working with Stockport Council to rewild the town centre, creating more biodiverse spaces for native wildlife and opportunities where people can learn about and connect with nature.
Work began in Suffragette Square – where a small community space in the heart of Stockport Town Centre was revamped with input from local schools and businesses. Year 2 and 3 saw greenspace improvements continue in St Peter’s Square, Chestergate Street, a pocket park near The Light Cinema and on Greater Egerton Street.
Green space improvements
Suffragette Square
Suffragette Square was transformed into a greener, more welcoming space at the heart of the town centre, thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and partner organisations.
Teams of volunteers came together to breathe new life into the Square, litter picking, de-weeding and clearing away old vegetation from the flower beds to prepare the area for vibrant new planting. Their efforts helped turn the space into a place that not only looks more attractive, but also supports local wildlife and improves the environment.
The refreshed planting scheme introduced a range of native species chosen to create food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife, while also helping to absorb excess rainwater and improve climate resilience. Purple flowering plants feature throughout the Square, a deliberate tribute to the Suffragette movement, where purple symbolised loyalty and dignity. Lavender, Anemones and Digitalis now bring colour, texture and meaning to the space, connecting the landscape to the history it represents.
To strengthen that connection further, new signage was installed to share the story of the suffragette movement in Stockport, helping visitors better understand the significance of the site. Existing benches were also improved with the addition of accessible back panels, creating a more comfortable and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy.
Pocket Park
The main feature of this small space is a large flower bed, which was poorly maintained. The team were joined by volunteers to cut back and remove overgrown plants, and replanted it with a variety of native plants including Salvia, a vibrant purple flower and Hylotelephium Spectabile, which blooms in the Autumn, providing a much-needed source of nectar later in the year.
Local artist Russ Meehan, aka Qubek, created a new mural for the space inspired by his childhood exploring the local woodlands in Stockport. The four sites are also connected by a bug trail, created by Phantasmagoria.
St Peter’s Square
In November 2024, we invited local residents, schools, businesses and community groups to help us with rewilding St Peter’s Square by planting a variety of flowering bulbs. A whopping 47,000 bulbs were planted to bring a splash of colour to the space, and provide food for pollinating insects throughout the Spring and Summer.
Over time, the bulbs will naturalize and spread, creating beautiful displays that return year after year. They’ve become well-adapted to survive the UK’s cold, damp winters, making them a perfect addition for brightening up St Peter’s Square.
Chestergate Street
Chestergate Street is lined with flower beds which were completely overgrown, making the area look untidy. After consulting with residents, the team started work on the space by cutting back and removing the overgrown vegetation, including Himalayan Balsam – an Invasive Non-Native Species.
We were joined by volunteers and local artist The Wheel Trim Shady, who was eager to help us cut back the plants blocking his art display which was installed the previous year.
Perennial plant species such as Alchemilla mollis and Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ have been included in the planting, as they’re able to tolerate shade along with producing flowers and providing a much-needed food source for pollinating insects. They’re also low growing, so the artwork installed on the wall will no longer be blocked.
Great Egerton Street
Our team has been working alongside volunteers to bring new life to a number of previously unused spaces around the town centre, including a green area near Redrock, just off Great Egerton Street.,
14,000 bulbs planted
890m2 of Public Realm rejuvenated
Over 434 people engaged
Community Engagement
Local residents were given the opportunity to share their thoughts and be involved with the development of Stockport’s greenspaces through a series of activities and events hosted from the various locations. Activities included painting plant pots, planting herbs & flowers, and making bird feeders.
It would be fantastic to have a plaque or information board that has information about the suffragettes – who they are and what they did.
Residents, local schools and businesses have been engaged in the transformations themselves, volunteering their time to remove litter, clear beds and plant bulbs. This included businesses such as Guilford Try, the Coop and Stockport Homes.
As part of our Suffragette Square transformation, schools were called upon to create artwork inspired by the Suffragettes for the new information boards. This artwork now features on the new signage boards within the flower beds of the Square.
Textile Workshops
Our team hosted a series of Alice in Wonderland themed sessions at the Stockroom, using natural materials and upcycling textiles that were destined for landfill.
Each session was fully booked, with a mixture of new and returning participants each week. The sessions received some positive feedback:
“A very friendly atmosphere and wonderful that it’s free. Some of participants were very talented and creative!”
“Really value this happening in Stockport!… Stockroom is a great venue for it”
This project has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund
