Sphagnum pool
Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership
The Great Manchester Wetlands is a unique and diverse landscape of water, fen, wet grassland, wet woodland and lowland raised bog.
The Great Manchester Wetlands (GM Wetlands) is a 185-square mile Nature Improvement Area. We focus on the wetland areas of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh, the Mosslands of Wigan, Salford and Warrington and the Mersey Wetlands corridor including Rixton and Woolston Eyes in Warrington. Our area extends south-eastwards beyond the Manchester Ship Canal encompassing parts of Trafford, including the peatlands of Carrington Moss, and northwards to include a substantial corridor which is the watershed area between the Mersey and the River Douglas catchments, including parts of Bolton.
GM Wetlands partners work on projects that are restoring landscapes for habitats, species, communities and wider societal benefit. We aim to create a Nature Recovery Network of linked up wildlife-rich spaces, which help species to move, connect up and expand, across the GM Wetlands area.
Creating a living landscape between Greater Manchester and Merseyside
The partnership was formed in 2011, involving around 20 local authorities, statutory bodies, businesses, academic institutions, environmental charities and community groups. It is creating a nature recovery network between the urban areas of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, restoring habitats, creating new spaces for wildlife, reintroducing lost species and engaging local communities.
What do we do?
Our vision
The Great Manchester Wetlands will be a thriving, resilient and inspirational landscape that delivers real benefits to local communities and the local economy.
Our aims
Our aim is for GM Wetlands to be an exemplar of biodiversity restoration, enhancement and the delivery of landscape-scale ecological networks. Working with landowners and land managers, the landscape will be managed as a whole, with sensitive and complementary land management techniques. This will allow species to survive and thrive in the face of pressures such as the impacts of climate change and fragmentation through development.
Click here to download a report that outlines what we want to achieve through the Great Manchester Wetlands partnership, how we will do it and the partners who are working to achieve this. You can also view our Terms of Reference.
Our objectives
- To mitigate the impact of environmental pressures by improving species mobility between Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
- To make a lasting improvement to four of Britain’s rarest habitats (lowland raised bog, wet woodland, fen, marsh and swamp (including reedbed), and wet grassland) by restoring key designated sites (Special Areas for Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves and Local Nature Reserves) and priority habitats.
- To improve regional and local connectivity for critical species by creating stepping stones and corridors between habitats and populations.
- To optimise the ecosystem services provided by all habitats particularly the carbon storage function of lowland raised bog.
- Continue to build and deliver a shared vision for nature recovery in the wider landscape with key partners, organisations and local people.
- Enhance community health, wellbeing, learning and skills through improved access to nature and creative engagement with the landscape.
30 ways to deliver nature recovery in the Great Manchester Wetlands
Our projects
Our projects are restoring an essential network of wetland and other habitats, which will enhance biodiversity and species connectivity and greatly improve the health, wellbeing and recreational opportunities of the people living within and around the area. Below are current and previous projects delivered or delivering across the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership.
Who are we?
The Great Manchester Wetlands project is a partnership between various organisations including;
Canal and River Trust | Cheshire Wildlife Trust | City of Trees | The Conservation Volunteers | Edge Hill University | Environment Agency | Forestry Commission | Greater Manchester Ecology Unit | Lancashire Wildlife Trust | University of Liverpool | University of Manchester | Manchester Metropolitan University | Mersey Rivers Trust | Natural England | Peel Land and Property Group | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds | University of Salford | Salford City Council | Trafford Council | United Utilities | Warrington Borough Council | Wigan Council | Woolston Eyes Conservation Group
