Supporting the Local Community to Create Wildlife Corridors Across Miles Platting

Background

In 2024, the Miles Platting Community and Age Friendly Network received a Green Spaces Fund grant to create a wildlife corridor which would span across Miles Platting in Manchester.

This community group had an ambition to use the project to engage the wider community with the nature on their doorstep, whilst also creating new habitats where local wildlife to thrive.

As a Green Spaces Fund partner, the Groundwork team supported the Miles Platting Community and Age Friendly Network to bring their ideas to life.

Miles Platting wildlife corridor trees

Creating the green spaces

Thanks to the hard work of local people and corporate volunteers, over 1,000 new plants have been planted in Miles Platting so far! This includes:

  • 53 trees
  • 780 hedge plants
  • 37 wildlife features (bird boxes, ponds, habitats etc)

The wildlife corridor was created across five green spaces which varied in size and format:

Bollington Road Green

Planted trees

A total of 10 trees were planted in this space, as well as wildflower seed bombs being scattered around the area.

Victoria Mill Park

Wildlife corridor shrubs

2 trees, 4 climbing plants, 5 bird boxes, 3 bird feeders, 2 insect hotels and wildflower seeds were added.

Holland Street Garden

Local group posing in front of planters

A wildlife pond with rockery and plants was added, as well as a wildflower area, frog house, insect hotel, butterfly house and climbing plants.

Ridgway Street Garden

Miles Platting wildlife pond

A variety of trees and shrubs were added, including a blossom tree and blueberry bushes, as well as raised beds and a wildlife pond.

Chippenham Road Garden

Bench and planters in Miles Platting

The garden was tidied and a pond liner was purchased for installation. There are plans to do further pruning and create new wildlife habitats.

Community engagement for the Miles Platting wildlife corridor

Community activities

Over the past year, Groundwork have supported the community to run events and activities which engage participants of all ages and abilities in the wildlife corridor project.

Our team have hosted a programme of cultural engagement and training events across Miles Platting which connect residents and regular volunteers with each other, and with nature.

During events, residents built bird boxes and bird feeders, came up with planting ideas, created wildflower bombs and much more!

The aim of all the sessions was to bring people together and celebrate the new green spaces, with a hope that the community would recognise them as assets for their own health and wellbeing.

So far over 170 people have taken part in community activities, with feedback being overall very positive.

For more information about this project, contact Suzanne via Suzanne.Walton@groundwork.org.uk