Why Here? The history of green spaces in Manchester City Centre

We will take a walk around the pockets of greenspace between the expanding high-rise blocks and bustling streets of Manchester City Centre and look into the history and archaeology of these areas. We'll see how they developed over time, from a Roman military fort, through medieval markets and industrial infrastructure to become places filled with life in the 21st century. 

We'll discuss why these places have been set aside as parks or city gardens and the benefits to both humans and nature that they bring. We'll use historic mapping and photos to illustrate the changes that have shaped each place and find out how they are providing a lifeline to the many species that call the city home. We'll also do a bit of heritage and nature spotting along the way!

The walk will be led by Sarah Cattell, one of the historic environment specialists at Natural England, who has been an archaeologist in the city for over 15 years.