← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

The Meadows

1 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

53.48399, -2.26779

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
☕Salford Museum and Art Gallery Cafe — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
☕Salford Museum and Art Gallery Cafe — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingCaféParking· Paid

Best for

10 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Rock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow +39 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Rock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow +39 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Butterfly-bush, Sea-buckthorn, Giant Hogweed +50 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Butterfly-bush, Sea-buckthorn, Giant Hogweed +50 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, Western Honey Bee, Green Shieldbug +33 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, Western Honey Bee, Green Shieldbug +33 more · last seen 2026

Free

Family friendly

Good match

café

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Cheshire Ring Canal WalkWalking route

Named route

Medlock Valley WayWalking route

Named route

Irwell Sculpture TrailWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Irwell Sculpture Trail (spur)Walking route

Named route

Trans-Pennine Trail (Ashton-upon-Mersey to Stockport)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

284 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 60Cycling route

Named routeRef 60National Cycle Network

Greater Manchester regional route 85Cycling route

Named routeRef 85Regional cycle route

Broughton CyclewayCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Media City LinkCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Link between Trans-Pennine Trail and Bridgewater WayCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Swinton GreenwayCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

🚵

Mountain biking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Philips Park Waterdale TrailMountain bike route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Philips Park Figure 8 trailMountain bike route

Named route

Wildlife to spot

18,757 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

18,757 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds44 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Rock Dove · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Carrion Crow · Magpie · Woodpigeon +39

Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
MagpiePica pica
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Great TitParus major
CootFulica atra
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
RobinErithacus rubecula
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RavenCorvus corax2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
Mergus merganser merganserMergus merganser merganser2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

summer

2025

Grey Squirrel · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Hedgehog · Noctule +1

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
NoctuleNyctalus noctula
Nathusius's PipistrellePipistrellus nathusii

🐝

Insects36 species

autumn

2026

Common Red Soldier Beetle · Western Honey Bee · Green Shieldbug · Eristalis pertinax · Eristalis tenax +31

Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2025
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2025
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva
a weevilCurculionidae2025
Bradycellus verbasciBradycellus verbasci2025
Monotoma longicollisMonotoma longicollis2025
Omonadus formicariusOmonadus formicarius2025
Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2025
Rust-red Flour BeetleTribolium castaneum2025
Clambus simsoniClambus simsoni2025
Sericoderus brevicornisSericoderus brevicornis2025
Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus2025
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2025
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum2025
Atomaria lewisiAtomaria lewisi2025
Ptenidium pusillumPtenidium pusillum2025
Omonadus floralisOmonadus floralis2025
Monotoma picipesMonotoma picipes2025
Ephistemus globulusEphistemus globulus2025
Rhinoncus pericarpiusRhinoncus pericarpius2025
Bembidion tetracolumBembidion tetracolum2025
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2025
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Coenosia tigrinaCoenosia tigrina2025
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Common Rose FusehornArge pagana2025
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2025
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2025
Chrysotoxum festivumChrysotoxum festivum2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025

🌿

Plants53 species

wintersummerautumn

2026

Butterfly-bush · Sea-buckthorn · Giant Hogweed · Oxford Ragwort · Coltsfoot +48

Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Sea-buckthornHippophae rhamnoides2025
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
Oxford RagwortSenecio squalidus
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Black SpleenwortAsplenium adiantum-nigrum
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria2025
Ivy BroomrapeOrobanche hederae2025
Southern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissa2025
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2025
Summer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivum
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Sea SpleenwortAsplenium marinum
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Narrow-leaved RagwortSenecio inaequidens2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
DogwoodCornus sanguinea2025
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
Hare's-foot CloverTrifolium arvense2025
White MelilotMelilotus albus2025
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2025
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum2025
Black NightshadeSolanum nigrum2025
Small-flowered Crane's-billGeranium pusillum2025
Hedera helixHedera helix2025
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata2025
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2025
White DogwoodCornus alba2025
SpindleEuonymus europaeus2025
Hoary MustardHirschfeldia incana2025
FirethornPyracantha coccinea2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Greek MallowSidalcea malviflora2025
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2025
Cherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasus2025
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium2025
HornbeamCarpinus betulus2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa2025
Wild CarrotDaucus carota2025
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2025
Common Evening-primroseOenothera biennis2025
Lamb's-earStachys byzantina2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2025
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2025
Hard RushJuncus inflexus2025
Meadow Crane's-billGeranium pratense2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

18,757 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds44 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Rock Dove · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Carrion Crow · Magpie · Woodpigeon +39

Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
MagpiePica pica
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Great TitParus major
CootFulica atra
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
RobinErithacus rubecula
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RavenCorvus corax2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
Mergus merganser merganserMergus merganser merganser2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

summer

2025

Grey Squirrel · Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Hedgehog · Noctule +1

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
NoctuleNyctalus noctula
Nathusius's PipistrellePipistrellus nathusii

🐝

Insects36 species

autumn

2026

Common Red Soldier Beetle · Western Honey Bee · Green Shieldbug · Eristalis pertinax · Eristalis tenax +31

Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2025
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2025
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva
a weevilCurculionidae2025
Bradycellus verbasciBradycellus verbasci2025
Monotoma longicollisMonotoma longicollis2025
Omonadus formicariusOmonadus formicarius2025
Notiophilus biguttatusNotiophilus biguttatus2025
Rust-red Flour BeetleTribolium castaneum2025
Clambus simsoniClambus simsoni2025
Sericoderus brevicornisSericoderus brevicornis2025
Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus2025
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2025
Nut Leaf WeevilStrophosoma melanogrammum2025
Atomaria lewisiAtomaria lewisi2025
Ptenidium pusillumPtenidium pusillum2025
Omonadus floralisOmonadus floralis2025
Monotoma picipesMonotoma picipes2025
Ephistemus globulusEphistemus globulus2025
Rhinoncus pericarpiusRhinoncus pericarpius2025
Bembidion tetracolumBembidion tetracolum2025
Cartodere nodiferCartodere nodifer2025
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Coenosia tigrinaCoenosia tigrina2025
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Common Rose FusehornArge pagana2025
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2025
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2025
Chrysotoxum festivumChrysotoxum festivum2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025

🌿

Plants53 species

wintersummerautumn

2026

Butterfly-bush · Sea-buckthorn · Giant Hogweed · Oxford Ragwort · Coltsfoot +48

Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Sea-buckthornHippophae rhamnoides2025
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2025
Oxford RagwortSenecio squalidus
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Black SpleenwortAsplenium adiantum-nigrum
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria2025
Ivy BroomrapeOrobanche hederae2025
Southern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissa2025
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2025
Summer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivum
Scots PinePinus sylvestris
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Sea SpleenwortAsplenium marinum
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Narrow-leaved RagwortSenecio inaequidens2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
DogwoodCornus sanguinea2025
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
Hare's-foot CloverTrifolium arvense2025
White MelilotMelilotus albus2025
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2025
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum2025
Black NightshadeSolanum nigrum2025
Small-flowered Crane's-billGeranium pusillum2025
Hedera helixHedera helix2025
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata2025
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus2025
White DogwoodCornus alba2025
SpindleEuonymus europaeus2025
Hoary MustardHirschfeldia incana2025
FirethornPyracantha coccinea2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Greek MallowSidalcea malviflora2025
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2025
Cherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasus2025
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium2025
HornbeamCarpinus betulus2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa2025
Wild CarrotDaucus carota2025
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2025
Common Evening-primroseOenothera biennis2025
Lamb's-earStachys byzantina2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2025
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2025
Hard RushJuncus inflexus2025
Meadow Crane's-billGeranium pratense2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 David Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Useful places within 5 km

🌱Alexandra ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Crescent MeadowUrban park100 m→✦Peel ParkHistoric site500 m→🌱Peel ParkUrban park500 m→🌱Peel ParkUrban park500 m→🌱The MeadowsUrban park100 m→

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