The Manifold Valley and why we set up the Community Action for Nature

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, there is concern that all is not well, and the valley is losing its biodiversity. Local residents and fishing groups are concerned that insects, fish, birds and plant life that were regularly seen on the river are becoming scarce.

Manifold Community Action for Nature (ManifoldCAN) wants to celebrate the nature of the valley, but also understand the challenges, and to find positive solutions that work for both nature and the local community.

By coming together, sharing experience, learning about the nature in the valley, and getting involved in a wide range of practical activities, like citizen science river monitoring, river bank restoration, litter picking, and other nature conversation activities, we can make a huge difference in helping keep the Manifold Valley beautiful.

We also plan to create an information hub for nature based activities in the valley, as there are already some amazing nature conservation projects in the valley (many of them always looking for volunteers!). By bringing them all together, we hope to make it easier to find out about them, and to get involved.