Parks, leisure and the arts Irk Valley

The "Irk Valley Project" what we do

The Irk Valley Project has been taking sad and neglected sites and undertaking environmental regeneration projects that work with the eco system to repair industrial damage.

Currently, within the Irk Valley green corridor, there are 39 sites totalling 600 hectares. Some of these sites have pre-defined uses such as playing fields or parks.  The Irk Valley Project aims to rejuvenate the green space for the benefit of the community through a process of environmental developments, community involvement and sensitive habitat management.

The project spans from St Michaels and Angel Meadow, near Manchester Victoria Railway Station, to the M60 boundary at Heaton Park, in the North, and heading eastwards along the Moston Brook tributary until you can actually see Moston Brook at the boundary with Oldham.

From large mature woodlands like Blackley Forest and Bailey's Wood, to the winding riverside walks around Smedley Dip, the potential for developing a linked-landscape of accessible 'urban countryside' is amazing.

Planning for the Future:

The Project aims to rejuvenate and regenerate areas of land within the Irk Valley catchment. Due to the size and complexity of the area, a consistent and prioritised approach to management across the Irk Valley is needed. This will ensure that it develops positively as an important local environmental resource, affecting many aspects of people's lives.

Health, Landscape, Recreation and Nature:

Sustainability is the key to the ongoing development of the Irk Valley Project. Initial work helped to secure and define sites, giving them a managed look. This has provided the essential foundations for establishing site-specific maintenance programmes and long-term management plans. The process is gradual, but these environmental improvements will benefit both people and wildlife for many years to come.

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