Manchester is often associated with its industrial history and busy city centre, but there’s plenty of nature to be found across the city, too.
From parks and tree-lined streets to canals, gardens and smaller planted areas, greenery is an important part of Manchester’s urban landscape.
In fact, Manchester is home to more than 160 parks and green spaces, covering over 1,000 hectares of public land. Around 58% of the city’s area is made up of green and blue infrastructure, including parks, gardens, waterways and other natural areas.
Trees also play an important role. Around 19% of Manchester is covered by tree canopy, with the council aiming to increase this to 22% by 2050 through plans to plant an additional 64,000 trees.
These areas do more than give people somewhere to spend time outdoors. They provide habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife, help reduce urban temperatures and contribute to healthier neighbourhoods.
Local communities also play a part in keeping nature thriving. Community gardening, planting projects and volunteer initiatives help look after existing habitats and bring more greenery into neighbourhoods.
There’s still work to do to protect these areas and make room for more nature as the city continues to grow and that’s something worth building on!
