The Friends of St Michael’s and Angel
Meadow were formerly constituted in January 2004. Their interactive
website can be accessed at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/angelmeadow where
you can get a comprehensive idea of their activities, as
well as exchanging views about the development plans or other
issues relating to the park. They always welcome new members.
Events held so far include:
• A Clean-up day supported by Manchester City Council, which involved
40 attendees
• A history walk of the local area by the Civic Trust
• A series of consultation events and questionnaires about the future
of the site
• Wildflower planting sessions
On completion of the first phase of development the area has
been complimented by the local community.
Alongside the major infrastructure redevelopment of the first
phase an additional Local Heritage Initiative bid enabled the
local community and Friends group to research the site’s
historical heritage. They produced historical notice boards
(now on site) and an interactive CD which contains an extended
amount of historical information and images. For a copy of
the interactive CD please contact the IRK Valley Project Officer
using the contact us tab. The Friends group were also successful
in obtaining additional funding from BTCV, which paid for the
perennial beds on site.
The perennial plants and surrounding trees provide food and
cover for wildlife throughout the year. The grass will be left
long in some areas throughout the summer, increasing the diversity
of habitat and providing food and cover for a whole host of
wildlife.
Phase two of the development will focus on the wall running
along Aspin Lane, the Angel steps (currently closed for health
and safety reasons) in the middle of this wall and the entrance
underneath the railway bridge. The aim is to return the wall
and steps to their former glory and open up the entrance underneath
the railway bridge to enable full disabled access to the site.
St Michael’s and Angel Meadow successfully achieved Green
Flag status in both 2006 and 2007. This means that the site
has been recognised as a well managed high quality green space.
St. Michael’s Flags was chosen in late 2006 by Manchester
Council’s Leisure Services as home for a number of
rare and spectacular trees from various parts of the world.
Nine specimen trees have now been planted on site as part
of this project.
GMPTE donated a number of bird and bat boxes which were placed
on site in February 2007.
|
