A new wildlife mural has been unveiled around the visitor centre at Clayton Vale nature reserve in Manchester. The stunning piece of art has been created to celebrate Groundwork Greater Manchester’s £1.2m restoration of the Medlock Valley, and the support it has received from partners, local schools and members of the community.

The colourful artwork depicts local plants and wildlife, including at-risk species such as butterflies, Great Crested Newt, and Willow Tit, and is wrapped around the entire visitor centre building. It was created by Yorkshire based artist Sam Porter, from Mural Minded, commissioned by Groundwork Greater Manchester.

Working alongside local residents, schools and community groups, the Medlock Valley Restoration Project aims to halt the decline of important species like Bats, Water Voles, Willow Tits, Great Crested Newts and Waxcap fungi by improving vital habitats along the River Medlock.

The visitor centre at Clayton Vale is owned by Manchester City Council and is well used by the local community, and as a base for the Medlock Valley Restoration Project team and its volunteers. The visitor centre is also used for delivering green skills training, such as Groundwork’s 6-week woodland workshop, which gives local people the opportunity to learn green skills that they can put into practice in the surrounding woodland.

Lou Smith, project manager for the Medlock Valley Restoration Project at Groundwork Greater Manchester, said: “Our new wildlife mural is stunning, and it will be a legacy to celebrate the community’s involvement in this hugely important and environmentally significant project.

“The project has already had a huge impact on the local community and is building deep connections, particularly between children and young people and the natural world on their doorstep. Our team has been working with several local schools a part of the restoration work. Their pupils often live within walking distance of the Medlock Valley, so these activities are helping them to engage and create a deeper appreciation and connection with nature.”

In June 2025, over 200 Year 7 geography students from Laurus Ryecroft Secondary School took part in a full day of river history and mapping, flooding and water quality testing, and field-based geography learning in a real-world context. By bringing students into the valley, the project aimed to create long-term guardians for local nature, building pride and responsibility in the landscape they call home.

Pupils from Propps Hall Primary School had a guided visit to the river, giving them an opportunity to take part in water testing and learn more about the species which live there. Groundwork was then invited to the school’s careers fair to talk about careers in the environmental sector. One girl commented that she’d never been to the Medlock Valley but now visits all the time with her family. A great example of how engaging with young people can have a ripple effect within the wider community.

In spring 2025, students from Rushcroft Primary, Hey with Zion CofE, Propps Hall, and a local nursery took part in a poster competition themed around “Your Favourite Thing in Nature.” Over 130 entries were received, with some fantastic depictions which included nesting blue tits, baby spring animals, bees and butterflies and flower-filled meadows. The diversity of entries showcased the appreciation, and the emotional connection, young people have with the natural world, and how deeply they value it.

Canon Burrows Primary School, Ashton has direct access from the grounds to a brook in the Medlock Valley, but their outdoor space had become incredibly overgrown and was inaccessible, limiting its use for pupils. The Groundwork team helped organise a clean-up event where volunteers worked with Groundwork’s urban rangers to clear the area, making it a safe space for pupils to learn and play. The school now regularly use their outdoor space in the river valley for forest school activities. It has improved pupils’ access to nature and has embedded the importance of environmental care into daily school life.

Lou Smith continued: “As part of this project, we have also employed two trainee urban rangers who we have put through our green skills training programme. Some of these valuable skills are also being passed on to the community through a wide range of activities so that they feel empowered to take ownership of this valuable natural asset, and the wildlife within it, to secure its future longevity and resilience.”

The £1.2m Medlock Valley Restoration Project is Groundwork Greater Manchester’s biggest project. The 18-month project runs from May 2024 to December 2025 and builds on Groundwork Greater Manchester’s Resilient River Valleys project.

This project is funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. The project is being led by Groundwork Greater Manchester, and supported by its partners – The Conservation Volunteers, City of Trees, Mersey Rivers Trust, Canal and Rivers Trust, along with Manchester, Oldham and Tameside councils.

To get involved, visit Groundwork Greater Manchester, email greatermanchester@groundwork.org.uk or call 0161 220 1000.