A new community garden is to be created at Salford Quays as part of a wider revamp of the waterfront’s green corridors by Salford City Council.

The garden will be built on land south of Salford Watersports Centre and it is hoped it will become a useful asset for the Quays community with Salford Ranger Team and volunteers to sustain it over its lifetime.

It will be created by a team of the council’s rangers, landscape architects and local volunteers and will consist of four planting beds that have been designed to bring colour and community interest to the unused space.

Work is also set to start on revitalising two tree-lined walkways off The Quays at Huron Basin and adjacent to the Watersports Centre with both corridors in need of regeneration after a full inspection found many of the 35-year-old trees were significantly dying or diseased.

The work at Huron Basin will see 35 trees removed and replaced with 24 trees from six more suitable species that will be more evenly spread out to allow more space for people to walk along the waterfront.

Due to the way they are planted, we will also minimise the risk of tree crown damage and their future susceptibility to disease. At the Watersports Centre, we will remove 23 of the 42 trees, including dead or dying ones, that have grown together to such an extent that they are now competing for life and nutrients.

Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning and Sustainable Development said: “The tree-lined walkways along the Quays waterfront are an iconic and cherished feature of the area for residents and visitors alike. After 35 years of growth, we now need to ensure that they are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

“This project will ensure the continuation of the waterfront’s green corridors and deliver a colourful new community garden which we hope will become a much-loved green space that is nurtured by a passionate team of volunteers.

“We understand that residents may be concerned to see trees felled, however, this is unfortunately essential if we are to have healthy green corridors along the waterfront and the new species will require less maintenance as they have increased resistance to disease and climate change.

“The result of these works will be that come spring, we will have a revitalised, more open green corridor in the Quays with freshly bloomed trees that will be a real asset for the area in the years ahead.”

Work on the projects will begin on Monday 24 January and last for approximately eight weeks. It will be undertaken by the council’s Landscape Team and the works at Huron Basin has been funded from Section 106 contributions collected from the developments at Salford Quays to improve the future sustainability of the area’s green infrastructure.

More information on the project is available here.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *