You are invited to join us either for a leisurely morning or stay all day (walking a maximum of 4
miles) discovering the wildlife of open green spaces very close to the centre of Rochdale.
Meet – outside Mandale Park on Manchester Road – Note the Start time of 10.00am
Parking is available at the top end of Old Manchester Road in front of Beech House School
which won’t be in session. (OL11 4JQ; Grid reference SD 891 125)
For 1 ½ to 2 hours in the morning we will check on the condition of the grassland, wild flowers and
insects in Mandale Park which was a former Landfill Site until it was transformed into an urban
green space about 40 years ago. Members of RFNS have recorded there at different stages of its
development. We can compare our findings in 2023 with earlier species lists which might be
helpful in talks with GMEU and the local authority about Local Nature Recovery generally and
specifically along the Roch Valley.
Those staying with us for the day will then head for Springfield Park, walking along some of the
hidden byways of Inner Rochdale shown on our late member, Donald Taylor’s, map.
There we’ll have our picnic lunch where there are plenty of benches, toilets and perhaps even an
ice cream van! If the day is fine there’s a chance to check out pollinators on the long herbaceous
border which our members Pamela J, Celia M and Ruth H have been restoring along with other
Green Volunteers.
After Lunch a short leg stretch on good paths will take us through different habitats: playing fields,
golf course and deciduous woodland until we reach the sturdy steps which lead down to the
footbridge over the mighty River Roch. Again, following one of Donald Taylor’s routes we will walk
along easy wooded footpaths upstream to the former Pony Club site which is owned by United
Utilities. Pete K led us there in December 2021 and we thought it could possibly be developed into
an urban nature reserve. A summer afternoon spent examining this large area of grass and
scrubland next to the river will provide us with more information about its potential, particularly in
meeting targets for Local Nature Recovery.
From there it is an easy walk back to Mandale Park.
Note that after heavy rain some parts of the route can be muddy. We will do another recce the
week before and you can ring us on 01706 853791 to get an update.
Karen and Rick Cowley