Natural environment
The city's natural environment has a wide variety of green and blue spaces. Rivers and their valleys, parks, gardens, canals, lakes, ponds, trees and woodlands. Together, they are the city's green and blue infrastructure.
They're vital for people and wildlife. They connect neighbourhoods – helping people to exercise, socialise and unwind. As well as providing a key defence from extreme weather. Such as flooding or heat.
Growing the tree canopy will help to make the city more resilient to the changing climate. We aim to grow the number of trees in the city from 19% to 22% by 2050. To do that, we'll plant 64,000 trees.
Detailed studies of the city give us a data-led approach to planting and aftercare. So, we can plant the right number of the right species in the right places. We share a lot of that data with the public. So, it's free to use.
We work with partners across the city. To share best practice and foster collaboration. We're improving green and blue spaces on land we own. As well as helping others to do the same. And we're encouraging our communities to engage with the nature of their doorstep. Find out how we're putting nature at the heart of placemaking.
Key action from 2020 to 2026:
- Mersey Valley Way is the first new National River Walk. This new Defra funding has helped to improve public access and wetland wildlife.
- We designated three new sites as Local Nature Reserves. They are Kenworthy Woods, Broadhurst Clough and part of Southern Cemetery. The city now has 11 sites. The status helps us to access funds to protect them – and the habitats and wildlife in them.
- We planted over 15,000 trees, 35 community orchards and 6km of hedgerow across the city with our partners. Find out more about our plan for trees.
- We gained £500,000 from the Forestry Commission to boost tree planting. It took our funding total to £1.8million. (Including our £1million tree action plan.)
- We created a 6.5-acre 'oasis in the city' with our partners. Mayfield Park is the first new city centre park in more than 100 years. It transformed an old brownfield site and received a Green Flag award in 2024.
- We procured a tree opportunity map to find new places to plant trees in the city.
- We worked with partners to create a strategy for the city's river valleys.
- We created a new ‘sponge’ park to measure the impact of sustainable drainage. It has informed many projects in the UK and Europe.
- We were highly commended by the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management. For our climate and nature action.