£1 million green boost for Salford and Manchester to connect communities through nature

A major investment has been secured to enhance green and blue spaces across Salford and Manchester, thanks to nearly £1 million in National Lottery funding.

Salford and Manchester are set to benefit from a £999,476 revenue grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, approved under the Nature Towns and Cities programme. The Community Greenways Project, a three-year initiative starting in late September 2025, will be jointly delivered by Salford City Council and Manchester City Council.

The funding, formally accepted by the City Mayor and Cabinet on 26 August, will support five key areas: empowering communities to manage green spaces, upskilling volunteers, mapping routes between green areas, developing long-term funding strategies, and improving collaboration through a new citywide forum.

The project will fund eight new jobs (four in each council) and commission micro-projects in partnership with organisations including the Royal Horticultural Society, City of Trees, Groundwork, the Canal & River Trust, Sow the City, and the GM Environment Fund. Two additional consultancies will be brought in to support delivery.

Salford City Council will serve as the accountable body, overseeing the full grant on behalf of both councils.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety in Salford, welcomed the funding:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring parks, canals and rivers to life. It will empower communities to shape the green spaces around them, improving biodiversity and wellbeing while tackling inequality in access to nature.”

The work will support strategic aims outlined in Salford’s Irwell River Park Movement Strategy and Manchester’s Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. It also aligns with the Greater Manchester 5-Year Environmental Plan and the emerging City Centre Movement Plan.

Planned activities include building a Greenspace Connectivity Strategy, supporting community-led designs, and laying the foundations for sustainable investment in urban nature.

Recruitment and procurement begin in August and September 2025, with the first project phases starting later that month.