Our Vision
Fletcher Moss Park and Gardens
Fletcher Moss is a “Much Loved” park (Fields in Trust 2019), extensively used by the local community. Because of its lovely and diverse gardens, café, and opportunities for both short and more extensive walks through meadows, woodland and along the Mersey, it is also a “Destination Park” with people coming from across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and beyond. It also attracts visitors from overseas who are visiting Manchester. It enjoys highly recommended status, rated 4.6 out of 5 on Tripadvisor.
The park is a haven for wildlife, with many species of plants and animals benefitting from the protected environment and range of habitats it offers. Some areas are recognised as having special status.
It contributes to peoples’ health, well-being and education about nature, the environment and the past.
The Friends of Fletcher Moss Park are keen to see the park develop further and to enhance the experience of everyone who visits. The Friends have identified key principles in the vision that they hold for the park.
The park should:
- Be a place where there is something for everyone to enjoy, with a wide range of areas accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
- Be a safe and healthy place, with clean air, clean water, and environment so that people, plants and animals can thrive. To become the most wildlife friendly park in Manchester.
- Be a place where the diversity of nature can be enjoyed, with opportunities to learn more about all aspects of the park, both formally planted areas and the woodlands and river.
- Be a place where there are areas to play and explore, areas for quiet enjoyment and relaxation, and opportunities for exercise.
- Acknowledge and celebrate the generosity, ideas and work of people past and present in providing, maintaining and enhancing this beautiful space.
Ideas linked to The Vision from the Friends consultation (FFMPPG members and Councilors):
| 1. Be accessible: a place where there is something for everyone to enjoy, with a wide range of areas accessible to people of all ages and abilities. | • Paths in good condition • A network of accessible paths suitable for all visitors, linked to loop round areas of the park • Routes signposted and interpreted • Take account of visitor numbers in planning |
| 2. Be sustainable: a safe and healthy place, with clean air, clean water, and environment so that people, plants and animals can thrive. | • Identify opportunities to enhance health and wellbeing and provide information • Provide suggestions, eg routes and distance of walks • Mental wellbeing – identify opportunities, eg, quiet areas for reflection and appreciation in nature • Ensure sustainability is central to planning • Ensure the needs of wildlife is prioritised in decision making • Review and seek solutions to sources of pollution • Identify risks and maintenance required to provide a safe environment, ensuring recognition of responsibilities |
| 3. Be an attractive place where the diversity of nature can be enjoyed, with opportunities to learn more about all aspects of the park, both formally planted areas and the woodlands and river. | • Demarcate specific areas, identify their characteristics and set out aspirations for these areas • Identify and cherish special features of each area, for example plants, wildlife • Accessible information on each distinct area of the park • Monitor and enhance environmental quality and diversity, eg. identify opportunities for new and existing planting areas |
| 4. Be educational and inspirational, with areas to play and explore, areas for quiet enjoyment and relaxation, and opportunities for exercise and for learning. | • Information on walks, with signposting • Nature trails“Discovery” walks with information online • Information boards up to date • Enhance Visitor Centre • Encourage use by schools and groups interested in nature • Identify any restrictions in specific areas with clear signage |
| 5. Acknowledge and celebrate people both past and present whose generosity, ideas and work have provided, and continue to enhance, this beautiful space. | • Information and events to celebrate the work of the Williamsons and Fletcher Moss in creating the park • Links to Emily Williamson and RSPB celebrated • Information on the volunteers and their role in the park, to enhance public engagement • Information for the public on how they can help care for areas and resources • Sharing of ideas and opportunities to enhance the park |
You can find the development plans for Fletcher Moss Park and The Old Parsonage below: