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Seats

June 8, 2025 by Martin Rathfelder

Introduction.

Fallowfield Loop friends, casual users of the Loop and TfGM personnel have noted that there are few places where walkers using the Loop are able to sit down and rest. Seating for such breaks in journey are important both for more able users of the route and to help those who would like to use the Loop to increase their fitness, but are deterred by the lack of resting places. Sustrans have indicated they would support proposals for an increased number of seats on the Loop and the Friends of the Fallowfield Loop (FotFL) have undertaken to examine possible locations for additional seats. At the last FotFL meeting, a distance between seats of 1km was suggested as a suitable starting point.

Existing seating.

Early in the life of the Loop, FotFL applied successfully for grant funding for two metal benches and Sustrans personnel installed them. These are located as follows:

  1. About 500m from St Werburgh’s Road Metrolink station on the north side of the path.
  2. About 600m from St Werburgh’s Road Metrolink station on the north side of the path.

Later an additional bench was installed, funding and installer unknown, location:

about 120m north west of the Alston Road access point, at the path junction to Abbey Hey Lane.

There is also relatively close off route seating:

  • at the Station South premises (old Levenshulme station)
  • by the reservoir, between the Debdale outdoor centre and the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ Loop access;
  • within the Godfrey Ermen playing fields, on the north side of the Loop in Abbey Hey.

Proposed seating.

Based on the 1km distance proposal, the following possible locations have been identified::

  1. At the point where Platt Brook emerges from a culvert, just west of Bethnall Drive allotments.
  2. At the Carrington Road entrance to the Loop.
  3. At the Kingsway entrance to the Loop.
  4. At Levenshulme ‘quadrants’ – Crayfield Road/Kersh Avenue entrance.
  5. At the Nelstrop Road access to the Loop.
  6. At the grassed area opposite Shillingford Road.

Costs.

The original green painted steel seats were supplied by Marshalls. On request they have provided FotFL with a quotation of £1415, including delivery, for one Ollerton Festival seat in a similar style. Presumably there will be a beneficial reduction in price for an order of 6 seats. There will be an additional cost for installation of the seats, which will involve digging two suitable holes, burying the seat legs in quick setting cement and making good. This was done by Sustrans for the original seats, but may be done by another contractor for the new seats.

Thus, for 6 seats, an estimated cost of £10,000 seems reasonable. FotFL are not in a position to fund such a project themselves, so would need to find a grant funder, possibly TfGM, as part of their Bee Active/GM Moving project.

Conclusion.

The above information is intended to provide a basis for further discussion by involved parties: FotFL, Sustrans and TfGM.

R.J.Venes, 7/6/25.

Posted in Accessibility | Tagged , |

A Night for Nature

January 25, 2025 by rathfelder

7pm on 19th February at Station South

Posted in Conservation |

Map boards

January 19, 2025 by rathfelder

There were eight of these installed originally, with the aid of grant money. Those at the Debdale access point, Levenshulme Quadrants, opposite Sainsbury’s car park, the Sherwoood Street entrance, and just west of the Princess Road bridge are still in place and will be cleaned of a bit of graffiti before spring. The board at Athol Road is still there, but we removed the map soon after installation as it was regularly being covered in spray paint.

One board was placed on the building next to the cycle parking at St Werburgh’s Road Metrolink station, with Metrolink’s approval and help. The outer protective plastic sheet had been damaged in the past, but the map underneath was still legible. However, the whole board has recently been removed – apparently by Metrolink staff as there is no damage to the brick wall to which it was fixed. We will contact Metrolink to see if we can get it replaced! We would like to instal new maps in the boards, but Transport for Greater Manchester are not able to help fund this at the moment, so please let us know if you hear of any community grant opportunities.

In addition, we are investigating installing a map of the Levenshulme orchard, so people can identify the trees. They were never labelled when first planted, due to a fear of them being dug up and stolen. However, they are now mature enough for this not to be a concern. An example of the type of map we would like to display can be found at the community orchard in Debdale Park, on the south side of the lower reservoir.

Posted in Geography |

Big Weekend Litter pick 2024

March 18, 2024 by rathfelder

Posted in Litter picking |

The Big Weekend

March 7, 2024 by rathfelder

Over the weekend of March 16-17th and hopefully with your help, we aim to litter pick the entire Loop.  Spring is a good time to litter pick as the vegetation is still low and the footfall is yet to pick up.  This event is supported by Friends of the Fallowfield Loop, Sustrans and Keep Manchester Tidy and is part of the wider Great British Spring Clean sponsored  by Keep Britain Tidy and others.  

It has been a long time since there has been a large organised litter pick on the Loop, but even so I think you would agree that litter levels have been kept in check.  This is due to a small army of volunteers who get out under their own steam and do a bit throughout the year.  If you are one of them, thank you.  If not, why not contribute to the cause by coming out for an hour or two to help with The Big Weekend litter pick ?

The starting points are:  

Saturday March 16th 10.00am: Debdale Outdoor Centre car park

Saturday March 16th  2.00pm: The Quadrants, Levenshulme

Sunday March 17th 10.00am: Avian Drive entrance

Sunday March 17th 2.00pm: Sherwood Street, Fallowfield entrance

Registration will take place at the start.

Equipment will be provided.  There will be a mid-session break at which refreshments will be served.

We thank Keep Manchester Tidy who, as usual, have agreed to collect the bags of litter if we leave them at a roadside and then inform them.

Looking forward to seeing you then,

Charles Kinniburgh

Posted in Litter picking | Tagged , , , , |

Great British Spring Clean 2024

February 19, 2024 by rathfelder

We have organised a litter picking event on the Floop over the weekend of 16th – 17th March.  It will take place as follows:

Sat 16th March 10am : Start at Debdale Water Park car park

Sat 16th March 2pm   : Start at Quadrants entrance

Sun 17th March 10am : Start at Sherwood St entrance

Sun 17th March 2 pm : Start at Avian Drive entrance

This is part of the Keep Manchester Tidy‘s ‘Great British Spring Clean 2024’ campaign and Sustrans are aware.  We will provide equipment and refreshments. Let us know if you are coming!

Posted in Litter picking |

Improvements

November 19, 2023 by rathfelder

We are delighted to report that the stretch between St Werburgh’s Road Metro station and 50 metres east of the Withington Road overbridge has been resurfaced back to its original width. This looks a really good job and the view along the section has a very smart appearance, plus the work has eliminated the problem of tree roots dangerously distorting the path surface in this area. Similar work on a short section by Shillingford Road has smoothed over the ridges there too and the path made wider; but note that here, as the new surface is somewhat higher than before there is a bit of a drop to the grass on the road side of the tarmac.

In addition, and what we were not expecting, is the installation of lighting along this section. Generally the Friends are not in favour of lighting along the Loop due to possible wildlife impacts and the encouragement of anti-social behaviour. However, the installation is a ‘fait accompli’ and is not likely to be reversed. We think the lighting may be part of a ‘safer routes to school’ initiative for Chorlton High School. In addition to the new tarmac, some barriers have been removed. Unfortunately the removal of the one just to the east of the bridge over the brook between Yew Tree Lane and Princess Parkway has created a hazardous uneven surface, hence the temporary fencing at this point. Manchester City Council has released a draft re-design for the crossing over Wilmslow Road at Sainsbury’s/Sherwood Street. We will be discussing this at our November meeting.

Last week, Sustrans’ contractors carried out work on poplars in the Slade Lane to Errwood Road section, as they were reaching the end of their lifespan and showing signs of  decline. Most have been pollarded. There are a number of poplars of a similar age further west on the Floop and Manchester Tree Station have been commissioned to look at management options for these over the next few years. 

Work is almost complete in easing many of the access points along the length of the Floop, by providing a 1.5m clearance and improving turning space. However the design for some is still being worked on, and a few are proving difficult to ease.

Meanwhile the Thursday volunteer task force has been working on various parts of the route, cutting back the branches and brambles encroaching on the path in the worst sections and edging to get the path back to its full width. There was also a joint  workday in November with the group working with Sustrans employees on their staff Volunteering Day at Abbey Hey, to improve the maze, copses, peace garden and the open space .

ORCHARDS

Dick Venes reports that the only tree with any fruit left on it is the medlar in the Sherwood Street orchard. Medlars are closely related to apples. The RHS website tells us that the fruits are a curious delicacy, popular in medieval times but now not widely grown. Picked in autumn when still unripe, hard and bitter, the small golden-brown fruits must be stored for several weeks to ripen (or blet) until they are dark brown, soft, sweet and aromatic. They can then either be eaten (traditionally teamed with cheese and port) or, more popularly, used to make a fragrant amber jelly to accompany rich meats. They can also be used in sweet desserts.

Posted in Improvements |

The Orchard Project

October 2, 2023 by rathfelder

Autumn is a great season to be in an orchard, as the leaves start to turn, the fruit ripens, and nature feels like it’s starting to wind down. It’s time for us to pause, reflect, and literally savour the fruits of our labour.

You’ll find plenty of autumnal tips and advice on our website to help make the most of this season’s bounty: from knowing when to pick your fruit, to tasty recipes to try and how to run a community pressing day.

And don’t forget it’s Apple Day on 21 October! Do tag us on social media if you have any events planned – we love to share what’s happening at community orchards across the UK as it helps inspire others.

Support The Orchard Project

Posted in Community orchards |

Safer Streets Fallowfield Loop works

August 23, 2023 by rathfelder

The city council have got money from the Safer Streets fund to look at making improvements to the Fallowfield Loop. There will be improvements to the access points and resurfacing some parts of the route where tree roots have made the path bumpy.

This is their statement:

The access point improvements will make the Fallowfield Loop more accessible for all users including wheelchair users, people with buggies and people who use adapted bikes. This will ensure there is a 1.5m gap at all access points on Fallowfield loop. In a previous consultation, it was noted by residents and ward members that quad bikes, trail bikes etc are a nuisance and demonstrate antisocial behaviour in some areas on a nightly basis, which is the reason that the current ‘A’ frames or access restrictions were originally installed at several entrance points to the route.

While they may help with this issue, they also exclude a lot of people including those:

  • on mobility scooters,
  • on bikes whose mobility is limited if they must dismount,
  • who can cycle but cannot dismount because of their disability and are effectively using their cycle as a wheelchair,
  • pushing prams etc

We are aware that making the route accessible for all will also allow anti social users to access the route, so as part of the Safer Streets project, additional work is underway including:

  • Development of new signage on the route that includes location identification. We are currently working through options to help with identification along the route – a suggestion has been to incorporate What.Three.Words so users are able to see where they are and this information can be used by GMP in reporting of crimes and Anti Social Behaviour. GMP will then be able to use the intelligence to allocate resources to specific areas rather than just Floop
  • Funded 2 bikes for GMP to use on the route. This should help officers get access to the route much quicker than by foot
  • GMP to use Floop for additional mounted patrols plus training for mounted team.
  • Additional mounted patrols will be bolstered by presence when horses are being trained to act as a deterrent for antisocial behaviour/Crime.
  • The GMP drone team can support the local teams through dedicated patrols plus again use the route for training to add additional deterrent.
  • Funding some additional GMP resource when works have been completed. Some funding is available to fund additional resource to target the Floop once the new access points have been installed.
  • Resurfacing is planned on two sections of the route: St Werberghs – Withington Road in Chorlton and parallel to Shillingford Road in Longsight.
  • Work is expected to start in September,

Posted in Accessibility, Crime, Improvements |

July 2023 Newsletter

July 12, 2023 by rathfelder

NEXT MEMBERS’ MEETING:

Monday 17th July, 7.30pm, Union Chapel, Wellington Road, Fallowfield.

SAFER STREETS Funding/Community involvement at Station South.

The Friends of the Fallowfield Loop have now linked up with the Safer Streets Funding development worker, Anna Smith. Anna has a 7 hour a week contract (until the end of 2023) to undertake community development work in relation to The Fallowfield Loop.

Anna sums up her work: “Hi I’m Anna and I do the part-time role of Community Involvement at Station South. Every day is a little bit different in my job but it always involves people and often involves bikes – in their many shapes, forms and activities! Our proximity to the Fallowfield Loop is absolutely amazing for cycling and walking – and perfect for our beginner groups that we are teaching how to cycle. We offer rides for everybody at our newly formed cycling club at Station South – from learning to ride, to hitting up the hills and everything in between and it’s fabulous to have the FLoop to start and finish every ride. We are about to launch our bike hire on 22nd July as well as regular free bike loan sessions on the last Friday of each month. Come and cycle with us!”

Anna will be presenting an update of the work she has been doing as a guest speaker at our July meeting on Monday 17th.

STATION SOUTH

The folks at Station South have continued to develop their outside area and Ian Barker’s group’s efforts to grass over the old access path are showing signs of success. There are a good variety of events in Station South’s July calendar, which you can find at: www.stationsouth.co.uk/events/list/

STOP PRESS NEWS !

Manchester City Council has been confirmed as the buyer of the Station South building (975-977 Stockport Road) and adjacent land. It’s been a nail-biting few months since the owners of the building, Railway Paths Limited (RPL), put the building up for sale. While they’ve got a sturdy lease, the uncertainty of a new owner caused some obvious concerns. Thankfully, they’ve recently been informed that MCC has recognised the importance of Station South to Levenshulme and the wider community in Greater Manchester. With the support of the council, they have been assured that our tenancy will remain the same and their long-term tenure is protected, so that they can continue to provide a community hub in our local area.

ORCHARDS

Dick Venes reports: the orchard working group held a work morning in late May to clear the overgrown path and areas round the trees at the ‘Chervil’ orchard, a tough but satisfying job. They then moved on to cut back brambles at the Fallowfield orchard. A recent visit to all the orchards showed that most trees are bearing some fruit and a few are very heavy with apples and plums. However, the cherry trees, if they had any fruit, have been stripped almost bare by, presumably, wood pigeons. I recovered half a dozen red and yellow cherries from the Debdale orchard – they were edible but a bit tart. The trees have not suffered from human vandalism but the weight of a wood pigeon does cause damage to some branches!

An orchard survey form was completed for the Orchard Project, the national organisation that helped us install the ‘Chervil’ orchard trees and the gate to the orchard. Their recommendation was that we should ‘remove fruit in the first few years after planting so the energy can go into developing a strong root system. It feels very counterintuitive to remove fruitlets but is generally considered best for longer term tree health’. We have not done this with other orchards but will do so at Chervil, along with pruning soft fruit trees such as cherries at the other locations. While on orchards, Ian Barker has suggested we should rename the Chervil orchard – any suggestions? If you are interested in helping with orchard work please contact Dick Venes via email: richardvenes296@gmail.com (note change of address please!).

EDDIE JOHNSON’S TALK

FotFL Hon President Eddie Johnson gave an excellent illustrated talk on ‘The Fallowfield Line’ at the Union Chapel on 26th June. He covered the history of the route that is now the Fallowfield Loop walking and cycle way, with some great photographs covering both railway operations and showing how the areas along the Loop have changed. My favourite picture was one of Levenshulme station which showed a tripe works just north east of the station. The event was attended by over 60 people and their donations raised over £330 for Eddie’s chosen charity, the Macmillan Wellbeing Centre at Trafford General Hospital.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

A look back through the archives shows the Hon Secretary’s (then Costel Harnasz) report for the year 2002 to 2003. A significant highlight was the tarmacking of the route through Levenshulme station and beyond eastwards, which was celebrated with a pedalling picnic, set off by the Lord Mayor of Manchester and attended by six other Councillors. We also organised a health walk and several rides along the Loop and adjacent routes, plus two big clean ups and a ‘bramble bash’. We had a stall at the Manchester Show publicising Sustrans and FotFL.

A significant adverse event was the closing off of the original access at St Werburgh’s Road by the owner of a ‘ransom strip’ of land at this location. Despite the best efforts of the ‘Fallowfield Loop fairy’ to reopen this path several times and our own lobbying efforts, Sustrans were eventually forced into modifying the route to its current formation, although this did not happen for a couple of years – until then, the Chorlton end connection was at Chelsfield Grove. At the July 2003 AGM Rob Trueblood, driving force for the Loop construction and founder member of FotFL, stood down as Chair, without anyone else taking on the role. Sadly Rob is no longer with us, along with at least 6 of the 22 members attending that meeting.

LECTERNS

Hopefully some members will have noticed the newly pristine polycarbonate coverings of the maps at the Quadrants and the Sherwood Street entrance. FotFL have funded the purchase of new coverings so that the heavily graffitied ones can be removed and cleaned up or discarded if too badly damaged. The maps underneath are still in very good condition, although the lack of fading may be due as much to the covering of graffiti paint as the u/v resistance of polycarbonate. We intend to continue this refurbishment with those lecterns which do not get too much painting or fly postering.

JULY NATURE WALK

This month we have Dave Higginson-Tranter aka FungalPunk Dave leading our walk starting at The Quadrants on Sunday 23rd July at 10.30 am. In Dave’s own words this will be a: NOSEY NATURE POOTLE – a general walk looking to list 100 species in a couple of hours and to highlight the beauty of nature and how important it is to record what you see.

Posted in Community orchards, History |

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