National Trust announces plans for ambitious urban sky park for Manchester

National Trust announces plans for ambitious urban sky park for Manchester - National Trust

Work gets underway on a project to breathe new life into the Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester today (NT Images)

Plans to create a new urban sky park for Manchester to bring more green space and nature to the Castlefield area of the city are a step closer to reality with work about to get underway.

Due to open in July, the National Trust is aiming to turn the imposing 330 metre steel viaduct built in 1892 into a temporary park in the sky and create a meeting place to benefit people and nature that celebrates the industrial heritage of Castlefield.

Originally built to carry heavy rail traffic in and out of the Great Northern Warehouse, the station closed in 1969. Since then it has stood unused with National Highways undertaking a essential repairs and regular maintenance to keep it safe.

The pilot phase of this project will see a green space created to stretch half way across the elevation of the viaduct. Trees, flowers and shrubs will be planted to soften the hulking, grey steel work of the industrial structure to help attract wildlife.

Made possible thanks to working in collaboration with National Highways Historical Railways Estate Team, supported by Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, the local community, businesses and supporters the project will be open for 12 months.

During this time visitors will have the opportunity to not only explore part of the structure, but to find out more about the viaduct’s heritage, the city’s long relationship with plants and trees and have the opportunity to learn some urban gardening tips.

A section of the viaduct will be left untouched to provide a sense of how nature has reclaimed the space since the site was closed to the late 1960s. It will also have several new features including installations, a community space to hold events and other native planting.

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust says: “This is a hugely significant moment in our plans for creating a unique green space to benefit the surrounding community and to bring more nature to people's doorsteps. The project is also a fantastic way to celebrate our industrial heritage, bringing it to life for the 21st Century. The pandemic showed us the importance of our local parks and gardens, but it also highlighted significant inequalities in access to green space in urban areas like Manchester.”