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- Click here to see the site
- Contact
Mike Savage at Red Rose Forest
mike@redroseforest.co.uk- Images
- Click here for fly throughs of the Newlands sites and the project picture gallery
- Fingertip Facts
- View facts about The Meadows
- Size:
- 6 hectares
- Investment:
- Funding received £162,750 from NWDA via Newlands, £300,000 from Salford City Council, £60,000 from Access To nature (Natural England / Lottery)
- Partners:
- Salford City Council, Red Rose Forest, University of Salford, Environment Agency
- Status:
- Will be complete in May
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Past
This meander in the River Irwell was once low-lying meadow land grazed by cows. With the Industrial Revolution, it became a base for various industries including chemical works. Later still, it became a landfill site before being grassed over and used as playing fields by local people.
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Present
Following the completion of a new 1.1km footpath made of recycled materials, the next phase of work, to be completed by May 2011, will include a new entrance, woodland and meadow planting, as well as the creation of a new wetland. The project will improve the Meadows’ accessibility, attractiveness and biodiversity, and will encourage wildlife. As the riverbanks are well wooded and the river has become cleaner, its value for wildlife has increased substantially.
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Future
The aspiration is to revitalise The Meadows, creating a six hectare ecologically focused green space with walkways and wetlands for local people, students and visitors to enjoy. Two new footbridges are planned in the longer term to overcome the isolation of the area, linking the newly transformed Chapel Street corridor to the University of Salford and the historic Peel Park. The Meadows is already the largest green space close to the regional centre, and delivery of a revitalised green space will enable thousands of visitors to access the site and enjoy the riverside.
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Regeneration
The project is a key component of Irwell River Park which will become Manchester City Region’s new international waterfront destination over the next decade. Irwell River Park is a sub-regional partnership between Salford City Council, Manchester City Council and Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council embracing 280 hectares at the heart of the conurbation,connecting over £3 billion of economic investment, and creating a new traffic free crossroads across the three local authority areas. The project is already creating new sustainable connections,linking together for the first time internationally acclaimed cultural, leisure and media destinations along its 8km route between MediaCityUk at Salford Quays to the Meadows and University of Salford.
Delivering the vision for The Meadows also complements the transformed Chapel Street, the University of Salford Masterplan and enhances the regeneration of the wider Broughton and Blackfriars neighbourhoods.