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Green biodiversity and wellbeing boost for Manchester's canals


Ray T

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CRT PRESS RELEASE

15th March 2002

 

GREEN BIODIVERSITY AND WELLBEING BOOST FOR MANCHESTER’S CANALS

 

Manchester’s city centre canals have been given a great green biodiversity and wellbeing boost, thanks to the Canal & River Trust charity and the government’s Green Recovery Fund.

 

Over the last 12 months, the waterways and wellbeing charity has worked with dozens of volunteers, community organisations and youth groups to deliver a community project to green up the Rochdale and Ashton canal corridors running through the city centre.

 

Alongside the canal towpath, walkers and boaters can now enjoy more wild flowers, spring bulbs, flowering shrubs, over 600 metres of hedgerow and new rowan, crab apple and ornamental cherry trees. Bare concrete lock sides and paved paths have been brightened with the installation of 17 large planters, including rainbow-painted planters in the Gay Village.

 

A new reed bed has been established in Piccadilly Basin and all along the waterway, there are new pocket-sized community vegetable gardens, linear orchards and wild flower meadows, improving biodiversity for plants and animals, and air quality for local residents and workers.

 

Training volunteers and young people in environmental skills was a key part of the project for the Trust, which led courses on countryside management, planting, tools and boat handling.  Schools and youth groups were encouraged to get involved and appreciate their local waterway by joining in fun activities like pond dipping and paddle boarding. And families were invited to ‘get active and fight plastic’ by taking part in canal clean up walks.

 

Sara Ponting, community engagement coordinator at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The Green Recovery project has made a big difference for wildlife and the many people who live and work near Manchester’s historic waterways. The Rochdale and Ashton canals provide a peaceful, off-road route through the city centre, which is now greener, cleaner and healthier thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

 

“Research shows that being by the water makes you happier, and it’s satisfying to make a difference. The volunteers have done an amazing job and their hard work will pay dividends this spring and beyond as visitors appreciate all the trees, shrubs and flowers in bloom. They can rightly feel very proud with what they have achieved.

 

“Although the Green Recovery funding has sadly come to an end, the project has been such a success that we have applied for other grants in the hope we can continue the great work that has been started here.”

 

On Friday 11 March, the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Manchester, Cllr Tommy and Carole Judge, and Greater Manchester Deputy Lieutenant Dr Carl Austin-Behan joined Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers to plant a flowering cherry tree at Tib Lock, near the Bridgewater Hall, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy– marking the 70th day of the 70th year of the Queen’s reign.

 

Cllr Judge said: “I am delighted to be here on the canal and support a scheme that is leading towards a greener Manchester. The canals made Manchester. Two hundred years ago, they would have been really busy with lots of boats, so it’s great to see the waterway now also being put to other uses.

 

“It’s projects such as these which allow the people of Manchester to work together towards a greener future.”

 

For more information about how to volunteer or donate to the Canal & River Trust, please visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.

 

-ends-

 

For further media requests please contact:

Lynn Pegler

m 07783 686246 e lynn.pegler@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Edited by Ray T
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What a lot of cynical old sods there are around!

 

I, for one, welcome the idea of making the Rochdale and the Ashton greener (in colour, that is) so that city centre canals become more like linear parks. If the Brummophiles on here are to be believed, it has worked in England's Second City -- so why shouldn't it work in the First City too?

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Manchester a First City ? Well there was a time in 1845 when it was considered as so. The London & Manchester Direct Railway was promoted to serve these places and the publicity placed Manchester as the "first city". Then that railway scheme failed at the standing orders stage. May be the golden days of Manchester and Salford were over ?

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46 minutes ago, Heartland said:

Manchester a First City ? Well there was a time in 1845 when it was considered as so. The London & Manchester Direct Railway was promoted to serve these places and the publicity placed Manchester as the "first city". Then that railway scheme failed at the standing orders stage. May be the golden days of Manchester and Salford were over ?

 

It still is. We have trams, two world-class football teams, a Premiership rugby team, progressive politics, the busiest airport outside London, the best orchestra in the country, a superb concert Hall, and the best beer in the world.

 

Birmingham's OK though.

 

 

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On 15/03/2022 at 18:22, Machpoint005 said:

What a lot of cynical old sods there are around!

 

I, for one, welcome the idea of making the Rochdale and the Ashton greener (in colour, that is) so that city centre canals become more like linear parks. If the Brummophiles on here are to be believed, it has worked in England's Second City -- so why shouldn't it work in the First City too?

 

 

I love the idea of making them greener, but might need fewer flowerpots and more demolition balls ;)

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They have a long way to go before Manchester's canals are as green as the Stainforth and Keadby canal. Can't say I was feeling a particular sense of wellbeing, but this picture was taken in 2013, well before wellbeing was a thing and there were no blue signs telling me that was what I should be experiencing.

Jen

duckweed.JPG.1e9c67a3b1b9af8bd28c3faf67b86da2.JPG

Edited by Jen-in-Wellies
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Yes Manchester does have trams that work, in Brum the curse of a spanish tram builder has led to their withdrawl yet again. We used to build trams in Birmingham !

 

As to the orchestra I believe CBSO is equal to that in Manchester.

 

Football again id seemingly divided between London, Manchester and Liverpool, at Wolves there is only that team that might compete,

 

 

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3 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Alternatively, Manchester could do what Chicago does for St. Patrick's day and dye the waterways green. It is a much more intense green than you can get with duckweed.

https://nypost.com/2021/03/14/chicago-dyes-river-green-for-st-patricks-day-again/

 

Chicago Bears dropped a clanger with that on their Twitter feed 😬

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-quickly-delete-st-patricks-day-tweet-with-unintentional-anti-catholic-message-021400740.html

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10 hours ago, Heartland said:

Yes Manchester does have trams that work, in Brum the curse of a spanish tram builder has led to their withdrawl yet again. We used to build trams in Birmingham !

 

As to the orchestra I believe CBSO is equal to that in Manchester.

 

Football again id seemingly divided between London, Manchester and Liverpool, at Wolves there is only that team that might compete,

 

 

 

Orchestras? CBSO were good when Rattle was there, but nowadays no match for t'Halle Band under Elder. The BBC Phil, I grant you, could improve!

 

If we are talking round-ball football, keep your eye on Stockport County!

 

 

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  • 5 months later...

I notice that the press release has year date 2002 when British Waterways were still in charge and presumably such words as Biodiversity and Well Being had yet to be invented by those that live in the dark places of this planet. So, assuming this was a mistake of date how relevant is the discussion as to these topics.

 

When looking at waterways be they be canals or rivers, the diverse nature of life along the network is important to be recognised and maintained, but as to well- being what is the relevance?

 

It may be equally important to recognise the value of walking and boating along the waterways and the calming effects which water has. For the fisherman the network provides opportunity for sport, yet for the cyclist is one of mixed benefits. Especially if the cyclist is hell bent on travelling along the towpath at the greatest speed, whilst exercise is most beneficial, there is the downside of inconvenience. For the walker or the boater working the locks, the passage of a cyclist or scooter rider (which is not allowed, but still happens) at speed does not convey a feeling of well-being, far from it

 

What, therefore, is the value or meaning of well- being? At the recent Autumn Fair part of the fair was devoted to a section called Beauty and Well-Being and the exhibitors offered a wide range of products associated with this type of goods. Yet in this meaning the well-being aspect verges on care and even an aspect of vanity. With regards to water ways is well-being the correct term to be used?

   

 

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On 15/03/2022 at 17:35, Ray T said:

CRT PRESS RELEASE

15th March 2002

 

GREEN BIODIVERSITY AND WELLBEING BOOST FOR MANCHESTER’S CANALS

 

Manchester’s city centre canals have been given a great green biodiversity and wellbeing boost, thanks to the Canal & River Trust charity and the government’s Green Recovery Fund.

 

Over the last 12 months, the waterways and wellbeing charity has worked with dozens of volunteers, community organisations and youth groups to deliver a community project to green up the Rochdale and Ashton canal corridors running through the city centre.

 

Alongside the canal towpath, walkers and boaters can now enjoy more wild flowers, spring bulbs, flowering shrubs, over 600 metres of hedgerow and new rowan, crab apple and ornamental cherry trees. Bare concrete lock sides and paved paths have been brightened with the installation of 17 large planters, including rainbow-painted planters in the Gay Village.

 

A new reed bed has been established in Piccadilly Basin and all along the waterway, there are new pocket-sized community vegetable gardens, linear orchards and wild flower meadows, improving biodiversity for plants and animals, and air quality for local residents and workers.

 

Training volunteers and young people in environmental skills was a key part of the project for the Trust, which led courses on countryside management, planting, tools and boat handling.  Schools and youth groups were encouraged to get involved and appreciate their local waterway by joining in fun activities like pond dipping and paddle boarding. And families were invited to ‘get active and fight plastic’ by taking part in canal clean up walks.

 

Sara Ponting, community engagement coordinator at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The Green Recovery project has made a big difference for wildlife and the many people who live and work near Manchester’s historic waterways. The Rochdale and Ashton canals provide a peaceful, off-road route through the city centre, which is now greener, cleaner and healthier thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

 

“Research shows that being by the water makes you happier, and it’s satisfying to make a difference. The volunteers have done an amazing job and their hard work will pay dividends this spring and beyond as visitors appreciate all the trees, shrubs and flowers in bloom. They can rightly feel very proud with what they have achieved.

 

“Although the Green Recovery funding has sadly come to an end, the project has been such a success that we have applied for other grants in the hope we can continue the great work that has been started here.”

 

On Friday 11 March, the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Manchester, Cllr Tommy and Carole Judge, and Greater Manchester Deputy Lieutenant Dr Carl Austin-Behan joined Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers to plant a flowering cherry tree at Tib Lock, near the Bridgewater Hall, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy– marking the 70th day of the 70th year of the Queen’s reign.

 

Cllr Judge said: “I am delighted to be here on the canal and support a scheme that is leading towards a greener Manchester. The canals made Manchester. Two hundred years ago, they would have been really busy with lots of boats, so it’s great to see the waterway now also being put to other uses.

 

“It’s projects such as these which allow the people of Manchester to work together towards a greener future.”

 

For more information about how to volunteer or donate to the Canal & River Trust, please visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.

 

-ends-

 

For further media requests please contact:

Lynn Pegler

m 07783 686246 e lynn.pegler@canalrivertrust.org.uk

So it will be great for CRT to start looking after the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal at last!  

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On 24/03/2022 at 19:42, Machpoint005 said:

 

It still is. We have trams, two world-class football teams, a Premiership rugby team, progressive politics, the busiest airport outside London, the best orchestra in the country, a superb concert Hall, and the best beer in the world.

 

Birmingham's OK though.

 

 

And a first class university...

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