Over the last 18 months, we have worked with Groundwork Greater Manchester, TCV, Canal & River Trust, and Mersey Rivers Trust, and, in partnership with Manchester City Council, Oldham Council, and Tameside Council, to restore areas of the Medlock Valley, with the aim of bringing nature back into the landscape.
Supported by the Species Survival Fund, the main goal of this project was to create and restore habitats and help reverse the decline of important species like Bats, Water Voles, Willow Tits, Great Crested Newts and Waxcap fungi along the River Medlock. The partnership set a big target: managing 30 hectares of land across seven key sites.
City of Trees in the Medlock Valley
At City of Trees, we worked at five main locations: Clayton Vale, Bank Bridge Meadow, Sunnybank Vale, Mill Stream Open Space and Lees Brook Nature Park. Volunteers helped with hands-on tasks like planting trees, sowing wildflowers, and removing invasive or dominant plants. We also partnered with local contractors to do special tree veteranisation work, creating habitats that would normally take decades to form.
Because this is a large-scale project, there were many chances for people to join us. This helped us build a strong group of volunteers.
A total of 387 volunteers gave almost 2,000 hours of their time to City of Trees.
Thanks to their dedication, we were able to make real changes:
- 1,945 native trees planted (more than 24 species)
- 722 woodland specialist wildflowers planted (more than 22 species!)
- Over 300g of wildflower seeds sown
- Almost 2.2 hectares of woodland managed
- More than 90 bags of litter removed
What Changed for Nature
The Challenge We Faced
Many woodlands in the Medlock Valley are pioneer woodlands, planted largely in the 1970s and dominated by species such as silver birch, alder, ash, willow, and poplar.
Apart from ash, which is now badly affected by ash dieback, these trees do not live very long. As they get older and start to die, large parts of the canopy are lost. This problem is made worse because there is very little natural regrowth in many places.
Our Response
We focused on actively managing and diversifying the woodlands. This meant thinning out some trees and removing dominant or non-native species to let in more light and space. In those open spots, we planted native trees that live longer, helping to shape the future woodland.
Making Homes in Trees: Veteranisation in Medlock Valley
One of the most innovative elements of the project was tree veteranisation – a specialist technique used to create habitat features normally found only in very old trees.
Veteran trees contain natural cavities, cracks and decaying wood that provide essential homes for birds, bats, insects and other wildlife. However, because many of the Medlock Valley’s woodlands are relatively young, these features are largely absent. Without intervention, it could take many decades before suitable habitats naturally develop.
To address this, we worked with specialist arborists at Manchester-based organisation Tree Station, to carefully carve cavities into selected trees. Using a precision tool known as the Piglet, the team created internal hollows while minimising harm to the tree. This technique produces safe, sheltered spaces designed to mimic natural features formed by age, decay, or storm damage.
Several types of habitats were created. Deep, narrow bat cavities were carved and resealed to form warm roosting spaces, positioned to benefit from sunlight and thermal stability. Nesting holes for small birds such as blue tits, willow tits and coal tits were installed at different heights to suit their varying needs and help protect them from predators.
A large nesting chamber suitable for tawny owl was also created within a mature poplar tree, complete with a woodchip base to replicate natural nesting conditions.
During the work, an existing bat roost was also discovered, providing encouraging evidence that the woodland is already supporting these protected species.
By creating these features now, we are helping these trees begin the long process of becoming veteran trees of the future, providing essential habitat much sooner than would otherwise be possible.
The Outcome
The result is a woodland that is more resilient and more diverse, with better capabilities to support wildlife over the long term.
By planting almost 5,200 trees across the project sites with partners, we’ve significantly diversified the species composition. Over time, this will improve both structural and age-class diversity, creating a stronger foundation for the wildlife already living in these woodlands and for the species we hope will return.
What Changed for People
As a community forest, people are central to our work. This mattered even more in the Medlock Valley, where many sites are in busy urban areas.
People living in and around cities like Manchester often feel cut off from nature, which can affect their physical and mental health.
To help with this, we offered regular volunteer opportunities in woodland management and habitat restoration, as well as a citizen science program. Volunteers took part in many activities and learned useful green skills.
Our volunteer group included a diverse mix of local residents, young people, and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.
We’re proud that the project encouraged participation from all parts of the community, helping ensure the work was inclusive and widely accessible. Those in our Citizen Science programme learned how to survey species in both classroom and outdoor sessions, then used these skills in local woods and along rivers. You can read more about the impact here.
The Impact
Besides helping nature, the project also made a lasting difference for people.
Volunteers learned practical green skills and gained a better understanding of how to manage woodlands. Some kept volunteering or found new opportunities in the green sector, using the skills they picked up during the sessions.
One of our partner organisations, Back on Track, which supports people who have experienced homelessness and mental health challenges, said the program helped participants connect with their community. We saw people grow in confidence and motivation. They described it this way:
“It’s been great for getting members out into their community and encouraging them to engage with their local spaces. Members developed their wellbeing, confidence, communication and motivation for progression.”
Looking Forward
While much has already been achieved, the impact of this work will continue to grow over time.
Where tree veteranisation has taken place, we plan to monitor the features created using wildlife cameras. This will help us understand how different species use these spaces and which nesting features they prefer. We hope to see birds and bats making use of the cavities and crevices, providing an early sign that these woodlands are developing the kinds of habitats usually only found in much older trees.
Across the Medlock Valley, the changes made will shape the woodland for years to come. Newly planted native trees will grow to create a more diverse and resilient canopy. Wildflowers will spread and establish, bringing colour and supporting pollinators. Areas that were coppiced will regenerate, creating natural shifts in light and structure that benefit a wide range of species.
These changes matter not only for wildlife but also for people. The Medlock Valley is an important green space within a densely urban area, used regularly by local communities. Healthier, more diverse woodlands create places that people want to spend time in – places that support wellbeing, recreation, and a sense of connection to nature.
Looking ahead, long-term management will be key. Ongoing care will help us control invasive species, support young trees as they establish, and ensure that the next generation of woodland can flourish. With the right support from City of Trees and our partner organisations, these sites in the Medlock Valley can continue to develop into richer, more resilient landscapes.
Continued investment in this work will not only benefit nature but help protect these woodlands as valuable and welcoming spaces for the communities around them.
Has this inspired you to get involved? Check out our volunteering schedule – we have lots of woodland management days coming up.
This work is supported by the Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its arm’s-length bodies and delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. Read more here.