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Projects in the Mersey Valley

The Mersey Valley Estate Team have been busy throughout the summer on a range of projects, working on Manchester and Trafford countryside sites helping to improve them for people and wildlife.

 

Bess Harthan 1905-2002

One of our most respected local naturalists

The seasonally changing display at the Mersey Valley Visitor Centre features the notebooks and artworks of Bess Harthan.

She wandered the Mersey Valley in search of all aspects of natural history meticulously recording in detail occurrences and objects on paper using words, drawings, paintings and photography. This invaluable record of the ever-changing wildlife scene is a fascinating insight into our local countryside.

 

People’s Art

When you are out and about in the Mersey Valley this Summer you may notice a group of young people working with community artists. First they will be exploring the Mersey Valley, and then, the exciting bit, they will design and produce some environmental art pieces based on their findings, to be placed around the Health Walk routes at both Sale and Chorlton Water Parks. Some sculptures will only last a very short time, others longer.

This is the first time that the Warden Service has worked with local young people and local community artists to host a Sculpture Project. This Project is funded by the Health Action Zone, The Institute of Design and Creativity, and the Joint Health Unit. We hope that the sculptures will be enjoyed by visitors, without detracting from the natural countryside surroundings of the Mersey Valley. We also hope that the young people involved in the project will gain an interest in and appreciation of the Mersey Valley themselves.

 

Dave's "how to make charcoal" course notes

a step by step guide to firing your own charcoal kiln, click the title above to go to the page

Countryside Furniture

We are using new countryside furniture to manage problems and to secure countryside sites for your enjoyment and safety. New barriers to deter offroad motor bikes have been constructed on various sites. These barriers also reduce the problem of illegal fly tipping.

The Woodland Products Initiative

Time has been spent transforming the by-products of woodland management into saleable items.

Selling the Mersey Valley

The Woodland Products Initiative is a new exciting project led by the Mersey Valley Countryside Wardens, in an attempt to sustainably produce saleable products. The material generated in managing community woodland is sawn, cut and chipped into logs, poles and mulch. Local garden centres will be selling these products to help us offset costs and give you the opportunity to take some of the Mersey Valley home!
The event on the 1st December will demonstrate this innovative project in action. As the project develops new product lines could include; posts and rails for fencing; charcoal for barbeques and art materials; willow hurdles; and planks and beams. Bird and Bat boxes will be made from locally grown wood to provide homes for wildlife. We are splitting logs and sorting them into separate bags of cherry, oak alder, silver birch etc. Those people who burn logs outside smoke-less zones will be able to enjoy the different aromas given off by each species.