If you happen to be in Manchester this summer, take a little time to go and appreciate the National Trust Castlefield Viaduct. The viaduct has been described as a Victorian-era steel viaduct transformed into a green ‘sky garden’ in the heart of Manchester.
For many years, local people and organisations have worked to find a future for Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester – a 330-metre steel viaduct, built in 1892 and closed in 1969. The National Trust have done a magnificent job, working with them to bring this Grade II listed viaduct back to life, transforming it into an urban park created by and for the benefit of local people.
We visited the viaduct at the beginning of March and although the plants were all looking very wintery and not much was in flower, it was still a beautiful place to spend some time and to listen to the birds singing. The National Trust team who were on site doing some weeding and tidying up, chatted about the water storage that they have on the viaduct to keep everything healthy through the summer.
This is an excellent example of an urban greening project that can fit beautifully into many towns and cities where derelict industrial spaces can be brought back to life. Are there any spaces in your town that could be restored like this? Maybe speak to your local Council and see what ideas they have for greening up your urban spaces.
