Residents and businesses across Greater Manchester can now have
their say on ambitious proposals to protect green spaces and
support the natural environment for generations to come.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is inviting
people to give their views on the city-region's first Local
Nature Recovery Strategy, which has been developed to address the
loss of nature and biodiversity across Greater Manchester in
recent decades.
Nature in Greater Manchester comes in all shapes and sizes – from
urban parks and gardens to rivers and canals, nature reserves and
wilder upland areas. A healthy natural environment is fundamental
to Greater Manchester's sustained economic growth, as well as the
health and wellbeing of everyone living and working in the
city-region.
It provides us with the soil we grow our food in, the air we
breathe, the water we drink, and the land on which we live and
work. Everyone benefits from nature – and when all this is added
together, Greater Manchester gets £1bn of benefits from the
natural environment each year.
But nature is being lost around the globe and locally in every
area of Greater Manchester. The severity of the situation facing
us was recognised by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy , and the GMCA declared a
biodiversity emergency in 2022.
Despite these challenges, nature can recover – particularly when
it's given a helping hand. Working closely with local partners
from across the city-region, the GMCA has developed the first
Greater Manchester Plan for Nature. The plan
will be the foundation for nature's recovery in Greater
Manchester, outlining how we can make space for nature where it's
needed most. It sets out a vision for us all working together to
deliver a resilient network for nature across the city-region,
connecting and enhancing wild spaces so that people and nature
can thrive.
Councillor , Greater Manchester Lead for Green City-region,
said:
“Nature is fundamental to the success of Greater Manchester, but
it is abundantly clear that it needs our help. We can all do more
to improve the state of nature across the city-region and protect
green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
“A range of projects are already beginning to put nature at their
heart, from the restoration of wilder areas in our uplands and
lowlands to nature-conscious design in new housing and commercial
developments, in our civic squares and parks, and along our
streets. All of these demonstrate the positive impact we can have
when different organisations, community groups and individuals
come together to help nature recover.
“But we need to do more, which is why we declared a biodiversity
emergency. Our new plan for nature will sit at the heart of our
drive for nature recovery, providing a roadmap for how we can all
work together to help nature recover and where we need to focus
our efforts to have the biggest impact. I would urge all
residents to have their say here so we can help our nature
recover together.”
People can join one of our in-person drop-in sessions to speak
with one of our experts and have their say on how nature recovery
should be prioritised across the city-region. They can also view
our draft plan for nature and give feedback online: www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/lnrs.
The drop-in sessions will be held at the following venues:
- Town Hall Atrium, Wigan: 18 Nov, 1pm-4pm
- Number One Riverside, Rochdale: 19 Nov, 12pm-4pm
- Central Library, Manchester: 20 Nov, 11am-3pm
- Stockport Town Hall: 22 Nov, 9.30am-1.30pm
- Spindles Shopping Centre, Oldham: 26 Nov, 1pm-4pm
- Salford Suite, Civic Centre, Swinton: 29 Nov, 1pm-5pm
- Library Community Room, Tameside One: 4 Dec, 11am-3pm
- Sale Library, Trafford: 6 Jan 2025, 11am-2pm
- Moss Bank Café, Bolton: 7 Jan 2025, 10am-1pm
- Mill Gate Shopping Centre, Bury: 8 Jan 2025, 1pm-4pm
