▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Wildflower Meadow Wildflower Medlock River Newts Library Manchester © 1980s the during arches to View Library Manchester © mid-1900s during arches to View been tipped on was in current use as a landfill site. site. landfill a as use current in was on tipped been hospital and nunnery, and turned the site into a a into site the turned and nunnery, and hospital Droylsden and Manchester. and Droylsden 1966 the entire area of Clayton Vale had either either had Vale Clayton of area entire the 1966 purchase buildings, such as the smallpox smallpox the as such buildings, purchase urbanised areas including parts of Failsworth, Failsworth, of parts including areas urbanised green fields that are really picturesque.” really are that fields green In the 1920s larger scale tipping began and by by and began tipping scale larger 1920s the In In 1907 Manchester Corporation began to to began Corporation Manchester 1907 In Castlefield. It is an important river draining many many draining river important an is It Castlefield. Medlock, which winds among trees and and trees among winds which Medlock, kilometres before merging with the river Irwell at at Irwell river the with merging before kilometres especially near the borders of the the of borders the near especially help their search. their help Clayton Vale during the 1800s. the during Vale Clayton & Oldham into Manchester, it runs for 21 21 for runs it Manchester, into Oldham & grasses, flowers and insects. and flowers grasses, described as having “pleasant walks, walks, “pleasant having as described free coal on the tip, taking shovels and picks to to picks and shovels taking tip, the on coal free Street Power Station were all established around around established all were Station Power Street The River Medlock flows west from Tameside Tameside from west flows Medlock River The through the spring and summer to encourage encourage to summer and spring the through Wildflowers” where Clayton Vale was was Vale Clayton where Wildflowers” people, desperate for coal, went in search for for search in went coal, for desperate people, Print and dye works, Bradford Colliery and Stuart Stuart and Colliery Bradford works, dye and Print River the wooded areas. We leave many areas uncut uncut areas many leave We areas. wooded the booklet called “Manchester Walks and and Walks “Manchester called booklet During the miner’s strike in the 1920s, local local 1920s, the in strike miner’s the During Our meadows are as important for wildlife as as wildlife for important as are meadows Our Times during 1859 were produced in a a in produced were 1859 during Times (due to the steep sides on the south of the river). the of south the on sides steep the to (due hope to improve facilities for fishing in the future. the in fishing for facilities improve to hope Meadows Extracts from the Manchester Weekly Weekly Manchester the from Extracts Vale in order to extend the ash tip”. ash the extend to order in Vale small wooded valley or hollow) and Clayton Alps Alps Clayton and hollow) or valley wooded small of their reedbeds which are locally scarce. We We scarce. locally are which reedbeds their of cottage and divert the footpath at Clayton Clayton at footpath the divert and cottage names, including The Dingle (a nickname for a a for nickname (a Dingle The including names, ponds are Sites of Biological Importance because because Importance Biological of Sites are ponds and bats. and landscape setting, accessible for everyone. for accessible setting, landscape kingfishers can often be seen. be often can kingfishers it is necessary for us to demolish the the demolish to us for necessary is it Over the years it has been know by a number of of number a by know been has it years the Over minibeasts, fish and water birds. Two of the the of Two birds. water and fish minibeasts, bluebells as well as putting up boxes for birds birds for boxes up putting as well as bluebells was to attract wildlife and create a pleasant pleasant a create and wildlife attract to was with fish, and wildlife such as herons and and herons as such wildlife and fish, with stated: “The time has now arrived when when arrived now has time “The stated: with a variety of wildlife including frogs, toads, toads, frogs, including wildlife of variety a with woodland wild flowers such as wild garlic and and garlic wild as such flowers wild woodland were also improved and developed. The aim aim The developed. and improved also were improved water quality, the river was restocked restocked was river the quality, water improved Corporation and Electrical Department Department Electrical and Corporation haven you see today. today. see you haven There are four ponds in Clayton Vale all teeming teeming all Vale Clayton in ponds four are There Friends of Clayton Vale have planted many many planted have Vale Clayton of Friends oaks were planted. A path network and ponds ponds and network path A planted. were oaks But it is not all bad news, recent restoration has has restoration recent news, bad all not is it But the Chief Engineer for Manchester Manchester for Engineer Chief the recently returned back to the green green the to back returned recently Ponds of the trees. With the help of local schools, the the schools, local of help the With trees. the of 250,000 trees, such as willows, poplars and and poplars willows, as such trees, 250,000 support a fish population. fish a support On 16th July 1919 a statement by by statement a 1919 July 16th On turned into a municipal tip and more more and tip municipal a into turned to improve safety and ensure the future health health future the ensure and safety improve to 1982. Over a 10-15 year period, approximately approximately period, year 10-15 a Over 1982. an extent that the river stopped being able to to able being stopped river the that extent an These include: These later was it countryside, of area an time, we are carrying out extensive management management extensive out carrying are we time, purchased and began reclamation of the land in in land the of reclamation began and purchased banks, these decreased the water quality to such such to quality water the decreased these banks, general household waste. household general wildlife. for habitats different Originally history. throughout changes As many of the trees were planted at the same same the at planted were trees the of many As a barren landscape. Manchester City Council Council City Manchester landscape. barren a on the river with factories & waste tips lining its its lining tips waste & factories with river the on Station. It later became a municipal tip for for tip municipal a became later It Station. Clayton Vale offers a number of of number a offers Vale Clayton many experienced has Vale Clayton Woodland Woodland Tipping ceased in the 1970s, leaving behind behind leaving 1970s, the in ceased Tipping The Industrial revolution exacted a heavy toll toll heavy a exacted revolution Industrial The tip for the ash cinders from Stuart Street Power Power Street Stuart from cinders ash the for tip Environment & Wildlife & Environment History Visiting the Vale Welcome Things to do People Main Entrances Contact Information: Clayton Vale local nature reserve is Health Walks Clayton Vale is managed and cared for by a • Edge Lane • Bank Bridge Road • To organise a group visit, make a booking located in the heart of the Medlock Monday 1.30pm and Wednesday 10.00am variety of people, including volunteers and paid for an event or report a problem, contact Valley in east Manchester. The Vale Clayton Vale Centre, Edge Lane workers. The Friends of Clayton Vale volunteer time and energy to help look after the area Car Parking: Manchester City Council on covers approximately four square Contact NHS PACE team on 0161 681 0940 (visit www.friendsofclaytonvale.org.uk). Parking is available at the Bank Bridge Road 0161 223 8278 for more information. miles of urban countryside that you The Medlock Valley Project leads on improvements entrance in front of the arches. Parking at • To report a security incident, contact Park are free to roam and enjoy at your to the Medlock Valley and Manchester City Clayton Vale Centre is limited, though there is Security on 0161 223 3678 or Greater East Manchester’s Fishing own pace. Council’s Leisure Department is responsible for facility for parking nearby at the Bay Horse Pub Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 (in Fishing is a popular activity at the pond near all of the city’s parks and open spaces. The park (with permission). There is also on-street parking an emergency dial 999) Countryside the Iron Bridge. Please respect the site and its wardens liaise with the community and organise around the Vale. • To find out more about Clayon Vale, contact wildlife and remember to dispose of rubbish events with schools and local groups. the Medlock Valley Project Officer on responsibly. By Bus: 0161 220 1000 Clayton Vale Nature Walks & Bird Watching The 217 and 218 buses (Manchester to For all other information visit Tameside General Hospital) alight at www.medlockvalley.org.uk Pathways around Clayton Vale allow you to take Chatsworth Road off Edge Lane. Buses 236, a gentle stroll along the river or to admire the 237, 216 (Manchester to Ashton) alight at view from above the Vale. Watch out for wildlife Edge Lane, followed by a 15 minute walk to including butterflies, dragonflies, squirrels and the Vale. Visit www.gmpte.com for timetable many different birds.