Parks, leisure and the arts Sand Street and Sandhills

Sand Street and Sandhills area

Irk river valley, Sandhills sign

These two sites in Collyhurst form part of the Irk Valley green corridor, and serve as community green space. Both sites consist primarily open meadow land with a fringe woodland coppice of Alder and Birch.

The topography of these sites is indicative of much of the Irk and Moston Brook River Valley. Moston Brook is culverted underneath Rochdale Road, surfacing at the North East corner of Sandhills. It briefly returns to culvert underneath Fitzgeorge Street, joining the River Irk underneath Collyhurst Road.

It is said that the sandstone dug from the hills of Sandhills was used to build Manchester Cathedral.  As Manchester grew with the industrial revolution a tannery was built on Sand Street.

Location and Access:

The main entrance for Sand Street is just off Collyhurst Road opposite HMG Paints. For Sandhills the main entrance is located on Eggington Street just off Rochdale Road.

There is good wheelchair access from Collyhurst Road, but the main surface of the central path is cobbled.

Size:

  • Sandhills - 5.6 hectares
  • Sand Street - 3.5 hectares

Links:

Walk across Collyhurst Road and into the New Era Woods site next to the 'Dreadnowt' submarine sculpture by Manchester artist Jonathan Woolfenden, at HMG Paints. Continue walking up Collyhurst Road and join the River Irk at Smedley dip at the junction of Collyhurst Road and Queens Road.

Recreation and usage:

These sites are suitable for short walks and cycling.

Contact us about Sand Street and Sandhills by email to parks@manchester.gov.uk

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