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Two thousand and twothree

WIRKING REVIEW

the challenge is growing

The Irk Valley Project continues to breath life into the landscape

There are lots of good things going on, but there is still lots more to do...

Quite literally, the signs are good. Many Irk Valley sites now have highly visible and good quality signage at their entrances.These have been placed to bring identity, uniformity and continuity across the Valley.The Irk Valley logo is prominent, and hopefully we will be seeing many more examples of these as the Project progresses.
Its all part of the long term regeneration of the landscape, giving open spaces an identity and giving local communities a sense of place and a sense of pride. Some old areas now have new names.Tweedle Hill Tip is now Tweedle Common. Moston Brook Amenity Landfill site is now Moston Vale. More pleasant and more welcoming, I think youll agree!!

This year has seen more innovative change and community involvement across the Valley. Lots of people have shown more than a passing interest, and many have been involved in a wide range of events co-ordinated both through the Project and the Manchester Leisure Parks Warden Service. There are lots of good things going on, but there is still lots more to do...

Cllr Paul Murphy Chair Irk Valley Steering Group Cllr Joanne Green Deputy Chair Irk Valley Steering Group

What a Difference.. So little seed, such a lot of flowers!!

The Waiting Game You need a little patience with wildflower seed...The hard work of soil preparation, rotivating, raking and mowing is over and now its a question of waiting... for at least three months!!! Community Groups from Moston, Blackley and Collyhurst as well as volunteers from Manchester Social Services, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and Community Service Volunteers worked with the Project and Red Rose Forest to achieve a fantastic flush of colour across the Irk Valley in Summer. Cornfield annuals were used at many site entrances, where on bigger sites perennial species were sowed.

Hard Work Rewarded What a Difference.. So little seed, such a lot of flowers!! A fantastic achievement all round. The work of the Blackley Initiatives Group tenants and residents association, Crosslee tenants and residents association and Friends of Blackley Forest played a part in helping Blackley win the National Britain in Bloom Urban Community Award at the Royal Horticultural Society Awards Dinner in Aberdeen. Wildflowers Work!! By using creative conservation techniques to brighten up Irk valley sites, the Project looked towards using wildflowers to create eyecatching entrances.The areas that were chosen were significantly different in type. From semi-formal wildflower borders to large scale meadow creation schemes local people were out in force to make a difference on their own particular open spaces.

A lot of people have put a lot of hard work in to the area and it shows. It has been a pleasure to see it develop.

Sites in Focus Tweedle Common is a former landfill site running along the Northern edge of the Irk Valley. Immediately adjacent to Plant Hill High School, the Common is an important area of natural green space. The wide areas of grassland and woodland copses are great for wildlife, and the relatively flat landscape has good access making it for ideal for walking. In the past it has suffered from vandalism and burned out cars, but with a new identity, the Common has a new sense of purpose.. Working with local residents, Manchester City Council and the Red Rose Forest Green Tips officer, access points were identified and improved with appropriate fencing and stiles used on other Irk Valley sites. A new orchard area has been planted, a wildflower meadow sown and seating installed. Burned out cars have become a thing of the past.

Cllr Ken Barnes says Weve made a good start. Its been a tremendous effort all round and we can now look towards establishing long term management on site.

Andy Edwards, Red Rose Forest Green Tips Officer says A lot of people have put a lot of hard work in to the area and it shows. It has been a pleasure to see it develop.

Shackliffe Green, Moston This area of undisturbed scrubland has suffered a lot in terms of illegal motorcycling and flytipping. The network of paths are used to access the excellent Boggart Hole Clough Park, and also the North Manchester High School for Girls. Working with local people and Groudwork Manchester, the Irk valley project helped tidy up two neglected access points, putting in good stile access, signs and fencing and more are planned for next year.

If you go down to the Woods today... Harpurhey Woods forms a two Hectare green edge along Harpurhey Road, running directly behind the Baytree renewal area and nearby school. The Woods have become overgrown, with bramble encroaching onto the kerbside driving pedestrians dangerously close to the road itself. There were serious amounts of fly tipping along the woodland edge, and the dense nature of the trees meant that walking from Rochdale Road to Waterloo Street was not particularly safe or welcoming. A two week period of specialist woodland management, rubbish clearance and vegetation removal has meant that the aspect along Harpurhey road is much lighter and better. Further work will be needed, but the scheme has already made a real difference.

Read All about it!! What a year!! The Project is really growing, with lots of people and organisations showing an interest and getting involved across North Manchester. Irk Valley events have been highlighted in lots of local newspaper articles and GMR radio did a five show focus on walking in the Irk Valley from the city centre to Heaton Park. The Project even got a slot on prime time national television,as Blackley won the Urban Community category in Britain in Bloom. A BBC film crew spent a day filming with local groups in the Irk Valley, and I proudly attended the Award ceremony in Aberdeen as hardworking Blackley resident Ivy Worswick and Bob Cain from Manchester City Council lifted the trophy!

Irk Valley on the Web

We now have an interactive website www.irkvalley.info where you can check out up date site information, news and views on particular schemes.The website is constantly being updated, and will soon feature state of the art panoramic views and landscapes, so get on line!!

Get Stuck In!! Volunteering in the Irk Valley couldn't be easier... we work with many different volunteer groups, so you'll never be on your own on an Irk Valley event. Activities include: Pond Creation Boardwalk Building Fencing, Path and Step work Cleanups Bulb planting and seed sowing

The project goes from strength to strength, and slowly but surely we are realising the potential of open space in North Manchester. Help us to make it work. Dave Barlow Irk Valley Project Officer

Learn new skills and make a difference.. Join in!! The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers also provide certificated courses for a range of tasks.The Irk Valley Project facilitates a number of volunteer days with the BTCV throughout the year, usually midweek. We also work with the Manchester Leisure Parks Warden Service and CSV Go Manchester who run weekend events in the Irk Valley. Useful numbers: British Trust for Conservation Volunteers 0161 608 0498 CSV GO! Manchester 0161 833 0245 Manchester Leisure Park Wardens 0161 795 2650

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