With the assistance of Manchester City Council ‘100 day Clean Up’ event in 2004, the pond site has undergone an amazing transformation. Over the course of three days, over 80 bags of rubbish were removed from the site, along with shopping trolleys, a washing machine and a fridge! The woodland has been thinned out, allowing the remaining trees to fully develop. Old and tired fencing has been restored and repainted. Entrance points have also been renovated, making the site more welcoming to visitors.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers have been building dipping platforms.

The continued clean, following on from the 2004 clean up during MCC 100 day clean up campaign. The Irk Valley Project and MCC felt that the success of the 2004 clean up and the response from the local community warranted a return visit in 2005.

Following the 2004 clean up the area was then incorporated into the River Valley maintenance regime therefore the paths had been maintained and kept clear and rubbish removed. Due to this the 2005 clean up took a slightly different approach in that path lost for years where exposed drain channels also a considerable amount of thinning and cutting back of bushes and trees was undertaken. This year it was not so much about how many bags of rubbish could be removed but how many meters of new footpath could we open a much improved position?

Following up from the clean up work undertaken a new fence line has been installed along factory lane this will discourage fly tipping and limit unauthorised access.

Work on Harpurhey steps took place in early 2006. Further improvements in 2007 took place on paths including the stepped path through the woodland onto the cobbled road on site from Alderside Road.

In 2006 a grant was awarded by the Veolia (formerly Onyx) Environmental Trust to help deal with the pollution in the Factory Lane Lodge. This contributed to the installation of reed bed islands and bank side anti pollution measures, as well as some improvements to the paths and entrances to the site. The reed bed works took place over the autumn / winter period.

Habitat enhancements include an experimental willow island in one of the ponds, plus pond edge planting. A reed bed has been installed in the outflow into the Irk to reduce pollution levels

Work started with local schools in early 2007 with willow weaving activities to enhance the water habitat of the lodges. Harpur Mount Primary School sent 9 classes to visit the site during science week in March 2007, alongside elderly residents from Sir Robert Thomas Court who participated in willow weaving.

On 11th March 2007, as part of Wildabout Manchester and the 100 Days Campaign, King William 4th Anglers cleared rubbish and cut back waterlilies from the pond nearest Harpurhey Road. The lilies were then relocated into the Bottom Billy Pond off Blackley New Road.

Further work on site took place in summer 2007: improving the fence line along the River Irk and opening up a linking path from the new steps to the second pond.