Once the parkland grounds of stately Wythenshawe Hall, Wythenshawe Park is now a wonderful greenspace in the middle of the city. Not only enjoyed by thousands of visitors, it is also home to a myriad of amazing wildlife including bats, birds, bees and butterflies. And now thanks to £40,000 funding from local Wythenshawe company, The Cardinal Partnership, areas of once flourishing wetlands in the park will be improved for even more wildlife.

The Wythenshawe Park Wetland Restoration project:

• Funded by £40,000 from local Wythenshawe company The Cardinal Partnership, working to give back to their local environment and community
• Four ponds and their connecting ditch network will be restored to provide habitat for amphibians, birds and invertebrates
• The work will allow local schools and community groups to start using the area again for educational visits

In total four ponds and the meandering ditch network that feeds them will be restored and enhanced over this winter, creating a wetland oasis for amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Come spring hundreds of native wetland plants will be planted, with The Cardinal Partnership staff rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in to help, to further improve the habitat.

Rory Andrews, Greater Manchester Recovery Manager at The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside, said: “Wetlands are some of our most important ecosystems, and being able to restore them in urban areas like Wythenshawe brings huge benefits. We know that these improved habitats will be wonderful for wildlife, but it will also be fantastic for the local community. Currently the areas around the ponds can be susceptible to flooding, but by restoring the ditches and ponds and installing natural features such as leaky dams, this will help to keep the water where it should be, meaning that people will be able to access and enjoy the area all year round. We’re incredibly grateful to The Cardinal Partnership for making this work possible.”

The work, and the installation of new information boards and signage, will allow local schools and community groups to start using the area once again. Through The Wildlife Trust’s Championing Nature project which is also at work in Wythenshawe, local schools are being engaged in nature and these improved areas could provide the perfect spot for children to get hands on with activities such as pond dipping will be undertaken, helping to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Tiernan O’Ceallaigh, Sustainability Officer at The Cardinal Partnership commented: “This project is something we are incredibly proud of at The Cardinal Partnership. By restoring the stream and pond system of Wythenshawe Park, children can learn about healthy ecosystems, families can explore a wild space in an urban area and the community will become more resilient to climate change. We hope that this project will show how businesses can be a force for good and inspire other to do the same.”