Mayor’s Green Spaces Fund breathes new life into more than a hundred community spaces

Project name

Project description

Between Us – Transforming Spaces Together, Salford

‘This project aims to expand on some work we've been doing in the community in Rock Street, Higher Broughton. This area hosts a small green space which we have run community sessions from & alleyways that are subject to littering and fly tipping. We have been working with this diverse community to use these spaces but have lacked the funding to make real change. After consulting with residents, we'd like to work with the community to improve the green space and alleyways, making them 'green' with growing spaces, habitat increasing environments & social areas with the communities voice at the heart of changes made.’

Chorlton Park Sponge Meadow, Manchester

‘The Sponge Meadow is a seasonally adaptable habitat and is our response to the current climate and biodiversity emergencies. This will transform an area of Chorlton Park which suffers from flooding during wet periods resulting in restricted access through the park and a loss of connection. The outcome will be year-round accessibility for the community and generate a unique habitat space to increase biodiversity within Chorlton. We will engage people, focusing on our most deprived areas, in the design and development of the space. This involvement and encouraging the use of the space, will increase understanding and appreciation of nature.’

Touchstones Potager Garden, Rochdale

‘We will create a new public garden in the heart of Rochdale, at Touchstones Museum and gallery. We will co-design and co-create this wonderful new space with our partners at Petrus and community members experiencing homelessness, inspiring long-term guardianship.

Designed to be attractive and inviting year-round, we will plant hundreds of new trees and sustainable flowers, plants and herbs, boosting biodiversity in our urban setting. Accessible paths and seating will ensure everyone can enjoy nature.

Connected to Touchstones' stories and collections, the garden will also offer creative engagement opportunities celebrating our local natural history.’

The Secret Garden, Bolton

‘There is an unused, overgrown space on the school site bordering a main road. With the support of volunteer parents, and this funding we will turn this area into a community garden for children, families, and community members. Led by five skilled volunteers, people will grow produce to be picked by the community, educational sessions will be held to help promote healthy food production and the garden will support butterflies and bees supporting biodiversity, and sustainability. We will introduce composting to enhance soil health and reduce waste. The initiative fosters a closer-knit, healthier community whilst providing accessible green space.’

The Green Rooms, Trafford

‘Our 'Green Rooms' project at Gorse Hill Studios aims to transform our under-used outdoor spaces into vibrant, accessible green areas that engage the community and enhances biodiversity. The 'Garden Rooms' will feature a sensory garden, vegetable patch, and wildlife habitats, while the 'Green Theatre' will provide a multifunctional outdoor learning and performance space. The Rhubarb Community Cafe, run by volunteers and young people, will serve produce grown on-site, providing work experience and nurturing community connections. Linked to our local allotment, these spaces will support horticultural therapy, environmental education, and local events, promoting well-being, sustainability, and a deeper connection with nature.’

Cleaner, Green and Safer Canals, Manchester

‘Our project will bring communities together to take action to make the canals in central Manchester cleaner, greener and safer for everyone. We will work with people who live in the city to improve green and blue spaces at locations between Lock 87 and 88 on the Rochdale Canal and between Lock 1 and Lock 3 on the Ashton Canal. Our project will empower local people to care for and use the canals on their doorstep, for everyday physical activity, active travel. And to connect with nature.’

Bankfield Community Growing project, Bolton

‘The aim of this project is to restore this growing project to its former glory. The site has unfortunately fallen into considerable disrepair and has become unsafe for our volunteers. Due to the culturally diverse nature of our community, the knowledge and skills brought from all over the world offer an exciting prospect to grow more exotic vegetables and plants alongside native vegetation. increasing biodiversity in our community. And offering a safe, friendly environment for everyone to access, share ideas, and come together as a community.’

Re-Greening Gorton Monastery, Manchester

‘The Re-Greening Gorton Monastery project aims to transform the exterior grounds of Gorton Monastery into vibrant, sustainable green spaces. This includes constructing a Willow Wall, installing planters, establishing a composting system, creating a Memory Garden, introducing beehives and bird tables, and establishing a community kitchen garden. The project will enhance biodiversity, promote community engagement, and provide accessible green space in one of the top 10% deprived areas of Manchester and an area with the greatest need of quality greenspace. The project will empower Gorton communities to get involved with nature, reducing loneliness and isolation and improving mental and physical health.’

From Coal to Colour: Bringing biodiversity to Wigan's colliery streets through Pemberton Green Spaces, Wigan

‘The project enhances greenery on an urban highway in a busy residential area of Wigan’s previous mining districts. A large industrial estate and terraced houses lacking front gardens means the area is dominated by brick, tarmac and litter. Through community volunteers, the project will add trees and plants, providing colour and food and shelter for wildlife – all things requested by our community. The project will also bring overgrown vegetation under control. Together, these help the space feel more cared for, inspiring pride in the community and benefitting some of the most deprived homes in the borough.’

Sale Moor Urban Gardens (SMUG), Trafford

‘The Sale Moor Urban Gardens project (SMUG) will develop a biodiversity trail through Sale Moor connecting three existing green spaces, allowing insects and other pollinators to move between them. SMUG will develop gardening skills in participants at all ages and abilities linking young and old and across family groups. It will also provide a range of tools for community members to use on projects linked to the spaces SMUG works on and other green spaces in the community to encourage biodiversity, individual well-being and transferable skills in the community itself.’

Desmond's Garden, Rochdale

‘The Green Stadium Programme at Rochdale AFC aims to transform the concrete surroundings of our stadium into welcoming green spaces. By installing planters and sensory gardens around key areas, we will create vibrant, accessible environments for our diverse community, including older people, children, adults with disabilities, asylum seekers, and military veterans. This initiative will enhance the matchday experience for 3,000 visitors and improve the daily route for locals using the stadium's pathways. Our project will promote community engagement, biodiversity, and wellbeing, with volunteers from our programmes maintaining the gardens year-round.’

Sunnyside Community Green Space and Allotment Project, Bolton

‘Our project transforms an unused green space in Radcliffe into an open-access allotment for diverse community activities, available five days a week. It offers recreational, financial, physical, and mental health benefits, fostering community cohesion and integration. The site preserves and increases biodiversity, supports nature conservation, and provides education and food growing to mitigate the cost-of-living crisis. We will also create a grass roof on an existing storage container. This project aims to enhance residents' quality of life through engagement with nature and sustainable practices.’

Brinnington Covid Memorial Gardens, Stockport

‘Following our unsuccessful previous applications, we were determined to make this happen and secured alternative funding for the first phase of the project.

We will transform an unattractive, mostly concrete space into a Covid Memorial Garden and multi-use green space. A unique place where people can reflect, remember loved ones lost and take a moment for their own wellbeing.

The area will be used to host activities where people can learn new growing techniques, learn more about nature, and work together to ensure there are enabled to nurture and maintain their environment for future generations.’

Stories from the Clough, Manchester

‘The project will focus on the rich and diverse history of Boggart Hole Clough, telling contemporary and historical stories through the eyes of the local community using the ‘Old Rose’ garden as a backdrop for this. The park has been neglected over the years, and many have felt unsafe entering the space from the Rochdale Road entrance.

The community would like to reclaim the garden to create alternative and accessible access to the park, have a space to enjoy outdoor wellbeing activities learn about caring for nature, and bring people together to enjoy the uniqueness of Boggart Hole clough.’

Greenwell Space, Stockport

‘We intend to convert the hard landscaped grey Merseyway shopping centre into a lush, green, biodiverse hub that promotes an array of wellbeing benefits to the local community. We are incredibly passionate about adding greenery to our shopping centre due to consistent feedback on the lack of local greenspace within the main retail area.

Our location is in an IMD 1 area which highlights the urgent need for accessible greenspace for wellbeing support. We believe the scheme will improve mental health through creating meaningful connections with nature by holding wellbeing workshops with professionals, social prescribing and volunteering.’

Blooming Mosley Common, Wigan

‘Mosley Common is a public open space and is open at all times of the day as there are no barriers to prevent access. We plan a programme of activities 4 hours a week for as long as possible – run by Blooming Mosley Common, a group of volunteers. We would like to have a project of planting, pruning, maintenance and cleaning the green spaces in and around the village of Mosley Common. We are growing a pre-existing eco committee for St Johns church, to expand out into the wider communities. We have support of local volunteer networks.’

Hinds Lane Greenway, Bury

‘The project will enhance nature and biodiversity in this area by improving access along an overgrown but well used cycleway and walking route linking Bury through to Radcliffe from Wellington Street /Hinds Lane Bury to Water Street Radcliffe along the river Irwell corridor and the Manchester Bolton Bury Canal as they meet along the paths.

We plan to tackle invasive non-native plants such as giant Hogweed and scatter wildflower seeds, place bird and bat boxes, clear paths and remove Water Soldiers from the canal to improve wildlife habitats and provide a green corridor for nature.’