News

Mayfield Park: Manchester opens its first park in 100 years

0 381

Featured image: Creative Commons


Manchester has opened its first city centre public park in 100 years. With its pastures another milestone for the cities green regeneration.

Mayfield Park, nestled in between Piccadilly Station and Mayfield Depot, opened its doors and realised a long-held ambition held to see the site of the birth of the industrial revolution begin a new life, as the site of Manchester’s green.

6.5 acres of land, it’s lined with 120,000 plants – 140 of which are trees, public toilets and ‘festival-grade’ turf all feature under the shadow of the ‘Depot Mayfield’ sign, visible from the Mancunian Way. 

A play area will perhaps be the star of the show for many younger visitors, including seven slides, a climbing wall, balances beams, a roundabout and sunken trampolines.

The River Medlock surrounds the space which is home to several trout and one of the slides takes users over the river. 

The park represents a milestone in reviving an area of town previously left behind by property developers, with the area forming part of a 25 acre neighbourhood that is being delivered by the Mayfield Partnership, a joint venture between developers “U+I” and “Manchester City Council”. 

While reaction has been positive so far, many wonder if this is enough at this stage with green deprivation setting in more with every new tower added to the Manchester skyline.

This is not a fact lost upon Bev Craig, Manchester City Council leader, who told the Manchester Evening News: “Symbolically, it shows that we have 143 parks and green spaces in Manchester, and our tree coverage is [above average] but people don’t feel that in the city centre. That’s because of the nature of development in a post-industrial city.”

With the after-pandemic want for more green space, Mayfield will only fuel the need for more.

About the author / 

James Swindell

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Malcom, Little Strange and Daisychain @ Deaf Institute review – exhuming noughties indie

    By Ruby Henry-Dicks Featured image: Rohan Walsh On a rainy December evening, headliners Malcom play their second sell-out headline show this year; supported by bands Daisychain and Little Strange at the Deaf Institute. First up is Daisychain, the Mancunian four-piece tackling teenage angst and love one song at a time with their tracks ‘Stay’ and…

  • Festive places for students to visit this winter

    By Georgia Robinson Featured image: Adrianos Falkonakis Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens Spending time outdoors this time of year might not feel intuitive, but if you can stand the chill then a stroll around Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens is a great way to embrace the season. Between acres of woodland and an abundance of flora and…

  • New Year’s Eve in Manchester: Where is Hot to Go?

    Featured image: WendyWei.pexels With the most anticipated night of the year right around the corner, the big question is looming: where are you going to celebrate it? Whether you dread it or count down the days, are new to the Manchester nightlife scene or are a regular, we’ve got your New Year’s Eve plans sorted….

  • Fashion predictions for 2025

    By Georgia Robinson Featured image and gallery: Ruby Sharp Get one step ahead of your 2025 aesthetic and plan your outfits for the new year with this guide to all the trends we expect to see next year. Why not jazz up your wardrobe with trending accessories or browse Depop and Vinted for a pre-loved…