{"id":2448,"date":"2026-06-19T16:03:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T15:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/sci\/?p=2448"},"modified":"2026-07-10T13:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:12:34","slug":"protecting-manchesters-green-spaces-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/sci\/2026\/06\/19\/protecting-manchesters-green-spaces-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Manchester\u2019s Green Spaces, Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Clare Cummings writes about a community festival in the Medlock Valley that highlighted the value of collaboration between local communities, environmental groups, and university researchers in protecting urban green spaces.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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On 6th<\/sup>\u00a0June, the SCI\u00a0supported\u00a0the\u00a0Friends of Medlock Valley<\/a>\u00a0(FOMV)\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0University\u2019s\u00a0Climate and Justice group<\/a>\u00a0to organise the Medlock Valley Community Festival, a\u00a0community celebration of the\u00a0beautiful urban green space. For those who haven\u2019t yet ventured to this hidden valley just north of Piccadilly Station, entering the Medlock Valley is a surprise. Huge trees line one side of the Valley, with the river Medlock flowing through the middle, swathes of\u00a0meadow grass, a history trail and sculptures by a local artist\u00a0all\u00a0make\u00a0this is an incredible place for people and nature.\u00a0Since 2021, the Friends of Medlock Valley have worked hard to turn this forgotten area into a thriving space for wildlife and for the local community to enjoy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"\"To\u00a0encourage people to discover\u00a0the Medlock Valley\u00a0and learn more about\u00a0how to protect it,\u00a0FOMV and Climate and Justice\u00a0organised an afternoon of entertainment and conversation.\u00a0This\u00a0small community festival\u00a0brought together local families\u00a0and\u00a0neighbours,\u00a0fellow green space campaigners\u00a0Save Ryebank Fields<\/a>,\u00a0Friends of\u00a0the Irk Valley and Sandhills Association<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Easy Come, Easy Grow Manchester<\/a>,\u00a0as well as several\u00a0local councillors,\u00a0to share ideas for how they can\u00a0defend\u00a0green spaces in Manchester.\u00a0Discussions involving the\u00a0University of Manchester\u00a0researchers Clare Cummings (SCI), Sarah O\u2019Brien (Social Anthropology), David Bailey (SALC) and Alexander Newell (Environmental Science)\u00a0raised\u00a0ideas for\u00a0documenting\u00a0the\u00a0area\u2019s\u00a0biodiversity,\u00a0gathering\u00a0people\u2019s visions for\u00a0the future of\u00a0the\u00a0Medlock\u00a0Valley\u00a0and\u00a0ways that groups can\u00a0generate\u00a0local political support for their work.\u00a0Meanwhile, music from Ruff Trade, Daniel Clarke and Matt Hibbert, a book reading by Manchester historian Hannah Priest, a comedy set by James Crook, and Easy Come, Easy Grow\u2019s pedal-powered orange juicing brought the valley alive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"\"By creating opportunities for stronger relationships between communities and researchers,\u00a0the University of Manchester\u2019s work to support sustainability, nature and wellbeing\u00a0can better\u00a0resonate with local priorities.\u00a0And so, with new connections made\u00a0and\u00a0good times shared,\u00a0plans for\u00a0the next\u00a0Medlock Valley\u00a0gathering\u00a0are already\u00a0underway.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
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Gilets jaunes, Extinction Rebellion and neoliberal climate policy<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
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