A wooden fish sculpture that once overlooked a dried-up pond with only algae for company now surveys a thriving wetland habitat in Wythenshawe Park's Nan Nook Woodlands, thanks to a £40,000 restoration project funded by local business The Cardinal Partnership.
The project, a collaboration between The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Manchester Parks, has transformed a series of silted and dried-out ponds connected by artificially straightened drainage channels into a vibrant wetland ecosystem.
From Drainage to Wetland
Historic artificial drainage had caused the Nan Nook wetland to lose its water-holding capacity, with water rapidly channelled through the area. The main pond featured a redundant dipping platform and wooden fish and frog sculptures that appeared forlorn over the degraded habitat.
The restoration involved "re-wiggling" straight drainage channels into meandering streams and installing leaky dams to slow water flow. Ponds were reprofiled to remove silt, and overgrown trees were felled to allow light to reach aquatic plants.
Biodiversity Boost
Nearly 1,000 native woodland and wetland plants were introduced to kickstart the ecosystem. The Cardinal Partnership staff participated in a volunteering day, planting many of these species in wet, muddy conditions.
According to Jenny Bennion of The Wildlife Trust, "Biodiversity and natural flood management have both been ticked." The project also prioritised community access, with plans for pond dipping sessions for local groups and a new interpretation board highlighting species now inhabiting the area.
Citywide Rollout
Manchester City Council used the project as a trial to assess the effectiveness of such restoration efforts. Its success has inspired plans to roll out similar projects across the city.
The wooden fish sculpture now "has a huge smile on its face," Bennion added, as it overlooks a restored habitat full of water, native plants, and life.
