Developing Green Skills in the Medlock Valley
Background
Groundwork Greater Manchester are working with The Conservation Volunteers, City of Trees, Mersey Rivers Trust, Canal and Rivers Trust and alongside Manchester, Oldham and Tameside councils to deliver the Medlock Valley Restoration Project.
Funded by the UK Government’s Species Survival Fund, the aim of the project is to halt the decline of important species like Bats, Water Voles, Willow Tits, Great Crested Newts and Waxcap fungi by improving vital habitats along the River Medlock. We’ll be working alongside local communities in Manchester, Oldham and Tameside, giving them the opportunity to be involved in practical conservation work and learn all about the species we’re working to protect.
Why Green Skills are important
Project partners will be delivering a series of green skills training programmes to our partners, volunteers and community groups to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to mobilise climate action on a neighbourhood level. This will include training on; climate change, woodland management, meadow management, our focus species and much more!
We’ll also be delivering a programme of green skills workshops to local school children within the Medlock Valley to increase their knowledge and connection with the natural world around them.
The Story So Far
Creating Jobs in the
Green Economy
Groundwork ran a pre-recruitment course over the Summer where 8 participants spent 2 weeks learning practical green skills and employability skills. This included gaining qualifications in Carbon Literacy, Customer Service and Health & Safety.
2 people have been hired from the course, and are now employed as Trainee Urban Rangers for the duration of the project. They will be learning about the different species and habitats that the project is working to protect, whilst undertaking a variety of practical conservation tasks including woodland and grassland management, alongside our partners and volunteers.
Meet our Trainee Rangers
Woodland Workshops
Groundwork’s Green Skills Tutor has been working with The Conservation Volunteers to deliver a programme of woodland workshops at Clayton Vale Green Community Hub. The 6 week course gives local people the opportunity to learn green skills, explore their local area and meet likeminded people.
The sessions begin with a theory lesson learning about different woodland management techniques, as well as how to identify different species of native trees. After this, participants put the chosen management technique into practice in the surrounding woodland at Clayton Vale.
One participant who has been attending the workshops said:
I especially love that it’s a regular thing so we can build up knowledge and skills week on week and get to know the people attending, and the staff delivering the workshops.
Community Payback
Canal and River Trust have been working along canals with people on the Community Payback scheme. The scheme requires people with court-ordered community service to give back to their community through mandatory volunteer work.
The group have been busy carrying out a variety of conservation tasks along the canals like coppicing trees, clearing footpaths, improving wetland habitats and removing invasive species. The scheme will also provide training opportunities for them to develop their skills and to boost their employability.
What else are we doing?
Project partners are working across a number of sites in the Medlock Valley to improve riparian habitats. We’re also running a programme of activities and events to connect people, community groups, businesses and schools with the nature on their doorstep.
This project has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government’s Species Survival Fund.
