Bringing the local community together to help look after nature in the Manifold Valley.
The Manifold Valley is a beautiful area in the Peak District, within which the Manifold River meanders, from its source in the moorlands near the village of Flash, down through meadows and limestone outcrops, until it flows into the Dove River at Ilam.
It is rich in wildlife, including curlews nesting on the moors, barn owls flying over flower-rich meadows, and white tailed crayfish in the Manifold River. However, while at first glance the valley is beautiful, local residents, fishing groups and visitors, are concerned that the valley is losing its biodiversity. Manifold Community Action for Nature was set up to bring people together, to celebrate and protect the nature that we have, and to help increase biodiversity.
Together we aim to:
Celebrate the fantastic nature of the valley.
Understand issues and challenges threatening nature in the valley.
Share experience and knowledge.
Access funding to help make changes.
Get involved in practical activities that help us understand and look after nature.
What we are doing, and how you can get involved
With over 150 supporters within the local community, we have been active for just over a year, undertaking citizen science through the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Nature in Your Neighbourhood project, and sharing information and conservation volunteering opportunities with the community, including Himalayan Balsam Pulling, the Morridge Hill Country Landscape Recovery Project, National Trust volunteer opportunities in the Manifold Valley, and the RSPB's South West Peak's Wader Warden programme.
We would love you to be part of our enthusiastic and friendly group, whether it's joining in with practical conservation work, events and workshops; helping organise and run nature workshops and events; sharing what we're doing via social media, and much more! There are lots of opportunities to share knowledge, learn new skills, and have a fantastic time getting to know the nature in the valley! Get in touch to find out more. Plus, join our mailing list to keep up to date with what we are doing.