Heal the Lost Island— Pomona Island Natural Restoration Scheme

Heal the Lost Island P O M O N A I S L A N D N AT U R A L R E S T O R AT I O N S C H E M E t Manchester, UK

Wenli Yu The University of Sheffield 1

SITE INTRODUCTION Green Space in Manchester

Location: Juction of Manchester and Salford Area: 12000m2

Salford

Manchester is the second-most populous city in the UK. With the Industrial Revolution starting in the 19th century, Manchester began to expand rapidly and became the world's first industrialised city.

In contrast to London's large urban parks, Manchester's central area has very limited public green space. Since more people work and live in the city centre, the demand for public green space is increasing. Green infrastructure in Manchester city centre takes up only 14%, and most of them are historic (Countryscape 2015). The effects of climate change, such as the heat island effect, will also be exacerbated by the lack of adequate green infrastructure.

Pomona Island is a brownfield located on the border of Manchester city centre. It was once part of the Manchester docklands and became a recreational place after being landfilled in the 1970s. As a rare large island along canals and rivers, Pomona Island plays an important role in alleviating floods and heat island as well as preserving biodiversity.

“Manchester’s green spaces and its public spaces have a fraught history and haven’t always been successful. They’re few in number, they haven’t always felt safe, they haven’t always been attractive, and yet they are essential to an urban environment. Manchester has very fine public squares, but the potential to do more is there. The city lacks actual green space.”

Manchester Trafford

—— David Thame (Property Expert)

St. Georges Park -Grassland dominated

North Entrance Path Under Cornbrook

In 2015, a regeneration masterplan was approved including developing over 2,500 -home on Pomona Island.

The 22-acre site bought by Peel L&P has been renamed Manchester Waters and was comprised of twelve development plots (Whelan 2020).

Cornbrook Entrance Pomona Island - Non-grassland dominated

There is no doubt that the construction will lead to the loss of most of the wildlife.

The project will propose a practical, long-term development plan for Pomona Island. The project will improve landscape ecological benefits and be a more inclusive human-nature interaction space.

Hopefully, in the future, when there is an opportunity for Pomona Island to be revitalised, this scheme will provide a good idea.

Ordsall Park -Grassland dominated Ducks

Moorland The main differences between Pomona Island and the surrounding parks is the non-grassland-dominated space, large areas of herbs and shrubs shape unique structural diversity that can support more biodiveristy.

Aerial Photo from Google Map, 2019

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WIDER CONTEXT Pomona Island is shaped by River Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal. It is in the middle area of Manchester City Centre(2.5km), MediaCity(2km), Trafford Park and College District, and also the connection point between the city centre and the Salford Quays.

Manchester Cathedral

City Council

Industry Museum Salford Quays

MANCHESTER

Green infrastructure in Manchester city centre takes up only 14%. Canals and rivers networks are crucial to reduce urban heat island.(Countryscape 2015).

Pomona Island is one of the few large green spaces along the river. The networks can link the city centre to the communities through green corridors and provide habitat for wildlife.

Piccadilly Park

SALFORD

Urban Heritage Park Manchester University

M

K 2.5

MediaCity UK

Ordsall Park Hulme Park

M

2.5 K

2KM

Manchester Metropolitan University

Old Trafford

The Vimto Park

St. Georges Park Green Infrastructure

TRAFFORD

Hullard Park

Nansen Park Symour Park

Main Park Other Green Space Green Corridor

FLORA AND FAUNA Transportation system around the Pomona Island — railway, tram lines, bus lines and walkway are developed.

Pomona Island is 1.3km long, two tram stations have been set up here- Pomona Station and Cornbrook Station. Even for tourists, they can switch to TRAM after arriving at any train railway station. It is easy to arrive the Pomona Island boundary by public transport.

Pomona Island is critical to biodiversity, however, due to many plants were removed, the number of communities has been greatly reduced.

Manchester Victoria Station

About 125 wildlife species and 150 plant species have been recorded here by 2015. Species such as Lapwing, Skylark and Reed Bunting are in decline across the whole country. For migratory species. e.g. Whinchat, Pomona Island is a great resting place on the migrant trip. For plants and Birch, Reed and fruit trees, there are also many flower species, e.g.

Northern Marsh (Dactylorhiza purpurella).

R= 2KM

Manchester Piccadilly Station

Cornbrook Station

Manchester Oxford Road Station Connectivity

Pomona Station

Railway Tram Line R= 1KM

Bus Line Railway Station Tram Station Bus Stop

Birds Species and Habitat Specie Name

UK Conservation Status

Habitat

Food

Lapwing

Red

Invertebrates/ Grains

Skylark

Red

Linnet

Red

Reed Bunting

Amber

Whinchat

Red

House Sparrows

Red

Kingfisher

Amber

Starling

Red

Song Thrush

Red

Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Fresh Water/ Wetland/ Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Wetland/ Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Garden/ Wetland/ Farmland/ Wetland Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Wetland/ Farmland/ Woodland/ Garden Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Woodland/ Wetland/ Garden Grassland/ Farmland Woodland/ Wetland Grassland/ Farmland/ Moorland/ Woodland/ Garden

Invertebrates/ Seeds/ Grains Insects/ Seeds Invertebrates/ Seeds Insects/ Seeds/ Berries Invertebrates/ Seeds/ Fruits Fish/ Aquatics insects/ Shrimps Invertebrates/ Fruits Invertebrates/ Fruits and berries

Red is the highest conservation priority. Amber is the next most critical group. Species on the green list are the least critical group.

3

SOCIETY Residential / Commercial Residential

55% Hope community to repond to climate change

Office/ Commercial Industy

98% Employed 80% Healthy 30~33 Average Age

SWOT ANALYSIS Close to Trafford, Salford and Manchester with a beautiful skyline.

• Connect with the blue infrastructure.

• Over 150 existing species, including endangered species.

• Developed transportation network create high accessibility.

• Rich and long-term history and cultural heritage.

• Rich sunshine makes life alive better.

S

Tramlines make the island isolated and entrances are unnoticed.

• Materials left over from the industrial age have been haphazard.

• Waste from industry and polluted soil.

• The lack of road connection from the outside to the riverbank leads to an uncomfortable experience.

• Lack of facilities and plants management and maintenance, lead to low landscape attraction.

• Low community participation.

• Partially unsafe dark spaces.

• • •

O

+

PUBLIC COMMENTS

•

W

•

£25k~30k Family Annual Income

2/3 Visit natural environment more during lockdown

POPULATION DATA

•

High biodiversity protection and education value.

High value on adapting to climate change.

Large acreage provides sufficient space for various activities and makes it potential to be a landmark.

Policy support on ecology conservation.

40% Living Alone

99% Think nature is necessary to both environment and mental health

(Data from Digimap, OS Map, Census)

• • •

1/3 Mental Issue

•

The impact of polluted soil and water on living creatures.

The embankment is non-ecological, reducing landscape resilience.

New estate development ignored ecology and wildlife, destroyed the connectivity of the habitat patches.

Climate change.

Conclusion People living around Pomona Island are mainly young office workers, and a large proportion of people live alone. Although they have a pretty good health state, nearly a third of them suffer from psychological problems, such as stress and loneliness. Especially during the epidemic, lockdown had prevented outdoor exercise. Opinion surveys show that residents express positive views about the role of the natural environment. Therefore, based on the social status, national policy and the natural condition of the site, the design theme is proposed with both natural restoration and human well-being support.

T

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POLICY

DESIGN STRATEGY

British Conservation Alliance Policy Response to England Tree Strategy (British Conservation Alliance 2020)

Human Wellbeing

The England Tree Strategy (2020) aims to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025, and increase woodland coverage from 10% to 12% by 2060".

The Nature Recovery Network aims to reshape 500,000 hectares of habitat to connect land and marine wild ecosystems. In terms of biodiversity, forest density and ecological resilience, a natural oriented woodland restoration process are more recommended than artificial planting.

Nature Restoration

in the England Tree Strategy, there are no wildfire prevention measures, so the government should evaluate and manage the potential fire risk, e.g. making use of more native tree species.

Vision Manchester Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy 2015-2025 (Manchester City Council 2015) The main aim of the strategy is that Green and Blue Infrastructure with quality will be an integral part of the city and all citizens will be able to fully enjoy the use of space by 2025. The main objectives include:

By making full use of the natural resources with extra artificial modification, Pomona Island will eventually become an environmentally friendly, harmonious and healing paradise that supports wildlife living and human recreation.

1. Improve the quality and function of the existing Green and Blue Infrastructure.

2. Make Green and Blue Infrastructure a key factor in urban development.

3. Improve the connectivity of the city Green and Blue Infrastructure network.

4. Enhance public understanding of Green and Blue Infrastructure.

Aims 1. Encourage spontaneous vegetation to develop different woodland spaces combined with new planting.

2. Increase the diversity of plant communities and provide an attractive spatial experience for citizens.

3. Design various environment that suitable for different animals to promote biodiversity.

Environment Plan for Greater Manchester 2019-2024 (Greater Manchester 2019) The plan aims to transform Greater Manchester into a clean, resilient and low-carbon urban environment by building smart, sustainable infrastructure. Main relevant objectives include: 1. Accelerate the process of achieving carbon neutrality.

2. Improve air quality to meet the WHO standards as soon as possible.

Vegetation Strategy Maximize and encourage spontaneous vegetation, while integrating new planting to develop new environments and enhance the attraction of existing vegetation landscapes.

4. Protect, maintain and improve the natural environment for the benefit of the public.

Activity Strategy

5. Enhance urban self-resilience to climate change.

Rewilding and Ecosystem Service (Houses of Parliament 2016) Natural Capital is the part of the natural environment that benefits human, such as clean air and water. But the Natural Capital in Britain is in decline, so rewilding will be a crucial way to replenish it.

Rewilding can help restore damaged land and recover biological communities. However, sometimes, the factors required for rewilding may conflict with local policies, such as mammal stocking. Therefore, rewilding measures need to be adjusted according to the actual practice.

Develop physical activities based on sports games and sensory experience based on vegetation spaces, colours, and flavours to provide residents with exercise opportunities and natural psychotherapy.

Spatial Strategy Based on the existing spaces, design and keep the difference of spatial openness at the horizontal level, and develop and manage the vertical structure diversity at a vertical level.

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L A N D S C A P E D E S I G N S TA G E a

North- east Entrance

A recommended one-way tour route

Spontaneous birch woodland

Fruit Trees

AA. Ball game court

GG. Pond

l we

H Meadow edge H.

Ir

r ive

R

I

FF. Canal walkway

Planted Oak Woodland

Oak street tree

Pond

Planted Oak Woodland

I Apple trees H.

Woodland edge

Perennial Meadow

H

BB. Birch woodland

Oak woodland

G

Cherry tree

Wetland Apple tree

Cafe House Canal Walkway CC. Grassland

EE. Oak street

Leisure Plaza

Cornbrook Entrance

Wetland Perennial meadow

E D Cherry Array

DD. Cherry trees

el

Irw

r e v

Ri

Open Grassland

Rowing House

Ball Game Courts

A

1:2000 MASTERPLAN

Children Playground

C Football Playgrouand

South-west Entrance

Spontaneous Birch Woodland

ip h S r te s e h c n a M

l a an C

B

Tram Line Viaduct

Urban Major Road

F

DESIGN BRIEF The low-maintenance spontaneous vegetation intervention and the design of new woodland are the two key aspects of the project. In general, spontaneous woody and shrubs have better ecological services and lower maintenance costs than anthropogenic woodland (Robinson and Lundholm 2012). Birch is an early succession species that can seed by wind (Rebele and Lehmann 2016), since there are many birch trees on the site, so the design encourages the spontaneous growth of birch woodland. However, oak is a late succession species whose seeds are heavy, and It usually takes decades to form spontaneous oak woodland. Since not many oak trees on the site, therefore, oak woodland is established by anthropogenic planting in the project. Besides, the perennial meadow design is mainly based on species communities adjustments, cooperating with the management plan. At the same time, many paths are cleared in woodland as shrub-dominated edges which are going to be an area with extremely high biodiversity value (Wiström and Nielsen 2014).

The activity organisation is based on the vegetation spaces. In addition to providing physical sports facilities, it is also crucial to provide enough opportunities for interaction between humans and nature. Colourful plants are believed to be good for cultivating people's positive emotions, green vegetation is considered the same way outside the flowering (Hoyle et al. 2017). The open, semi-open and closed horizontal spaces have different plant communities and palette while supporting animals with different living habits. When people walk through the site, they can feel the changes in light and shadow and appreciate the plant landscape of different colours and smells. Ten years later, when the mature woodland is formed, the higher vertical spaces that are not disturbed by the human can support more flying animals to multiply.

The project is like a natural healing paradise to support both biodiversity and the people's physical and mental health, combining new landscapes creation and spontaneous landscapes development. When working with a satisfactory management plan, Pomona Island is expected to become a representative of the integration of society and ecology in the city.

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DESIGN PROGRAMMING LANDSCAPE TYPOLOGY

CIRCULATION

Moorland

Wetland

Exsiting concrete road

Main road

Shrubs/Herbs mixture

Birch woodland

Expanded waterside walkway

Minor walkway

Trees/Shrubs mixture

Oak woodland

Grassland

Fruit trees

Concrete ground

Perennial meadow

Birch tree

Oak tree

⑤ Finally, create woodland

edges in birch and oak woodland.

Visual channal link to urban transport

Woodland edge is key to biodiversity and spatial experience

Modify and narrow the main road.

Featured riverside landscape

Connect North-east to South-west.

① Add new connection and

modify exsiting road.

① The site is half- shrubs

④ Plus-in all circulation, then form all landscape typologies and spaces.

and Herbs, half- moorland, with some trees along the canal as well as two areas of concrete ground.

Path to connect waterside walkway and main road Pond Three new areas requires earthworks.

Transfer concrete to grassland

Birch spontaneous growth

Transfer vegetation to open plaza

Enlarge open space

③ Plus-in the main

New oak woodland

landscape typology zones.

circulation as frame, then form the real landscape typology zones.

Meadow

Fruit tree

Open grassland

Expand edge Real planted oak woodland area

Wetland Spontaneous birch woodland area Sport space with Tree/ shurb

② Design minor walkway

through the whole site.

Sport courts

② Give a proposed

Walkway through woodland

Riverbank naturalistic planting Open Plaza

Real spontaneous birch woodland area ③ Final circulation network

Sport space with Tree/ shurb

provide various tour routes.

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SECTION AA' 1:150 Section Line Perspective ①

A

A'

In the bird breeding conservation in birch woodland, bird boxes will be set up on trees. Visitors are allowed to walk only along the wooden walkway outside the breeding season. Several bird viewing houses give people a higher place to interact with birds. During the breeding season, activities are not allowed in the conservation area to avoid disturbing.

Bird Viewing House in Birch Woodland

Open Grassland

Canal

PERSPECTIVE- ① Birch Woodland Edge

The maintained woodland edges in spontaneous birch woodland provide a path for visitors and support more biodiversity. Species that are rare in woodland will quickly be seeded here, such as Violets and Primroses. And also feed the blue butterflies, house sparrows and other animals.

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SECTION BB' 1:150 Section Line Perspective ②

B B'

The Irwell River is an excellent spot for rowing, therefore a rowing service house will be built on the riverbank. The wide grassland provides visitors with great views and space for picnics and other activities.

Birch Woodland Background + Grassland

Rowing House

Platform + River

PERSPECTIVE- ② Leisure Plaza

This is an open plaza on the riverside, where visitors can interact with the aquatic birds gathering around the bank and sit in a flowered pergola surrounded by Wisteria and Meadow Sage with a cup of coffee. The curved terrace provides space for watching performances or teaching activities.

9

SECTION CC' 1:400 Section Line Perspective

The newly planted oak woodland grows slowly in the early stage. But mature oak woodland tends to be denser than birch woodland. A portion of the clearing fields was leftover in both oak and birch woodland which will form semi-open grassland later, not only to provide different woodland spaces but also to provide more sunlight for ground-level plants and animals. The Sustainable Urban Drainage system (SuDS) combined with planting, mulch, soil and drainage pipes have a good buffer effect on rainwater.

③

C C'

Semi-open Soace in Oak Woodland

New Planted Oak Woodland

Main Road + SuDS

Semi-open Grassland in Birch Woodland

Bird Breeding Conservation

PERSPECTIVE- ③ Wetland/ Oak Woodland

Enter from the north-east entrance, different landscape are on two sides of the road. The left side is a new wetland where aquatic plants and animals are growing here. The right side is perennial meadow shaped by vegetation community adjustment leads visitors to walk into the dense oak woodland.

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KEY SPECIES SELECTION

(The selection reason for specific specie please see "Rational" in the Management Tables in the next page.)

Perennail Meadow

Woodland Edge Ulex europaeus Common gorse

(Photo by Richard Steel)

Jasminum nudiflorum Winter jasmine

(Photo by Gardener's World)

Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife

(Photo by Gardener's World)

Salvia pratensis Meadow sage

Prunus spinosa Blackthorn

Solidago canadensis Canada goldenrod

Ilex Holly

(Photo by Ronfh Peggy)

(Photo by Gardener's World)

Brassica napus Rapeseed

Salvia nemorosa Woodland sage

(Photo by Gardener's World)

(Photo by Tilo Hauke)

Shrub

Annual

Perennial

Wetland Aster amellus Italian aster

(Photo by RHS)

(Photo by Gardener's World)

Arbor

(Photo by RHS)

Scabiosa ochroleuca Pincushion flower

Phragmites australis Common reed

(Photo by Graham Calow)

(Photo by Hayefield)

(Photo by RHS)

(Photo by Gardener's World)

Typha minima Dwarf bulrush

Betula pendula Silver birch

(Photo by Gardener's World)

(Photo by Phil Formby)

Dactylorhiza purpurella Northern Marsh-orchid

Narcissus Daffodil

Iris sibirica Siberian Iris

Tree (woodland/ fruit tree)

Arbutus unedo Strawberry tree

(Photo by First Nature)

(Photo by RHS)

Utica dioica Nettle

Helianthus Sunflowers

Rubus fruticosus Bramble

(Photo by Garden Organic)

(Photo by Gardener's World)

(Photo by Woodland Trust)

Quercus robur English Oak

(Photo by Oliver Smart)

Malus domestica Apple tree

(Photo by Auntie Dogma

Prunus 'kanzan' Cherry 'Kanzan'

(Photo by Gardenia)

Flower Colour/Time of Some Species Principles Dec.

1. Priority should be given to native species, except overcompetitive species that may cause colonisation; Appropriate introduce alien species, except invasive species.

Nov. Oct. Sep. Aug.

2. Select colourful and different flower-shaped species, especially those with larger flowers and produce pollen, nectar, seeds and berries.

Jul. Jun. May.

3. Select species that support birds nesting.

Apr.

4. Mainly select perennial species and add later flowering species.

Mar. Feb. Jan. Ulex europaeus

Lythrum salicaria

Brassica napus

Salvia nemorosa

Jasminum nudiflorum

Iris sibirica

Salvia pratensis

Helianthus

Solidago canadensis

Aster amellus

Scabiosa ochroleuca

Narcissus

Dactylorhiza purpurella

Malus domestica

Prunus 'kanzan'

5. Select species that will be easier to adapt to future climate change.

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H A B I TAT M A N A G E M E N T P L A N a 2021

VEGETATION 1. To shape a stable mixture of mature plants at different stages gradually, and to maintain the good healthy condition of vegetation.

VISION To maintain habitat diversity by establishing a long-term management plan for vegetation communities as well as keeping spatial diversity.

Ultimately to achieve mature and stable habitats for wildlife, with exemplary ornamental value.

AIMS

WILDLIFE 2. To keep the long-term ecological balance of the desirable living environment to support biodiversity.

2023

Most of the spaces will open, except the newly planted Oak woodland and partially spontaneous Birch woodland. The support stuff of Oak trees can be removed, but weed control and irrigation are still needed regularly.

3. To maintain the diversity of horizontal landscape, increase the attraction of vegetation.

2040

TIMELINE

2025

All spaces will open, and the bird boxes will be set up in Birch woodland as well as inaccessible conservation.

The first animal statistics will be conducted. Species adjustment in the wetland will start.

2030

ACTIVITY

Clear the site, new roads and infrastructure will start to be built. And new vegetation will start to be planted. The ball game courts will open at the end of the year.

A stable birch woodland system will be gradually formed (Řehounková et al. 2018), and the focus of management will be to maintain the spatial structure and keep the eco-balance condition. The second animal statistics will be conducted.

2035

Oak trees will begin to form mature woodland and Oak seedlings will start to colonize unmanaged Birch woodland. Proper actions should be taken to keep Birch woodland. The third animal statistics will be conducted.

Herbs will begin to die and new planting work will start. Birch canopy will begin to block the sun, and thinning can begin. Oak seeds will start to invade birch woodland (Řehounková et al.

2018). Replace reeds to reduce the reedbed if necessary.

PARTNERSHIP Management Contractors

Roles of Stakeholders: Funds sources for project establishment: Heritage Fund (common fund), Carbon Landscape (wetland fund)

Landscape Managers

Tripartite Collaboration

Facility

Voluntary management group for clearing, planting and guidance: University students, Friends of the Earth Manchester, RHS

Animal Paid Workers

Paid Workers

Social

Woodland planting and management: Woodland Trust (tree), RHS (shurb and perennial)

Nature Volunteers

Partnership

Volunteers Activity

Stakeholders Funds

Paid workers for facilities maintenance: Salford City Council, Mancester City Council

Vegetation

Perennial vegetation planting and management: RHS (perennial meadow), Carbon Landscape (wetland) Wildlife mornitor and evaluation: The Wildlife Trust (invertebrates), RSPB (bird only) Tripartite collaboration organisation and support: Nature Greate Manchester, Landscape Managers Academic support and education acticities: University of Manchester, University of Salford

Academic Support

RHS: Royal Horticulture Society

RSPB: Royal Society for the Protection of Bird

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NATURAL SUCCESSION

Section Line

SECTION -1 1:250

1

Spontaneous Birch Woodland

Grassland

Oak Street Trees Grassland

YEAR 1

MANAGEMENT ACTION

Link to Species Selection Principle: 1

Action

Rationale

Monitor:

An irregular mowing way can maintain the grass in different height to support more inveterbrates. Also mowing can remove shrub and birch tree seeldings to keep the grassland be open and neat for human.

Monitor the number of bird species in Red List Lapwing and Skylark prefer open space with as an criteriar to evaluate the management sunshine which give them more insect food plan, e.g. Lapwing, and Skylark.

(Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2018).

Hygiene: For the tidy environment.

Regular garbage cleaning.

Transplant oak street trees with support and irrigate regulary.

Set up bird boxes.

Remove tree support.

YEAR 15 Open grassland makes Song thrush and white wood butterfly like hunting easier for woodland edges close Skylark and lapwing. to grassland.

Song thrush

House sparrow likes woodland shrubs.

House sparrow

Swift likes nesting rely on man-made structure.

Swift

Skylark Lawping

Done by who

Once a year

Salford City Council

Year 5-10

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Friends of the Earth Once a week Manchester/ University Students

Rationale

Time

To ensure new trees grows healthily enough to be competitive. The birch seeds can be taken by wind and the birch grows faster than the oak.

Control weeds and competitive species around the new plants. And remove invasive birch seedlings.

Oak Processionary can damage oak tress by eating leaves and can cause skin and respiratory Check the branches and leaves of plants diseases. regularly to see if there are bark tearing, diseases and insect pests in early stage, e.g. To ensure new trees become strong enough for oak trees, pay attention to check the Oak to support itself, and protect new trees from Processionary. herbicides.

Year 1-5

Check the tree shelter and support stuff of new trees, replace any damaged items.

Year 1-3

New Planted Oak Woodland Protection:

First bird statistics.

Time

Vision: To develop closed woodlands gradually with age diversity, structure diversity and maximizing biodiversity benefits.

Action

Mowing the grassland in an irregular way.

5

Closed Woodland (Section 1/2/3):

YEAR 5

Remove tree support.

4

Vision: To maintain the grassland an open and tidy space with sunlight for human and animals activities.

Mowing the grassland in an irregular way every year.

Existing birch trees will seeded itself.

3

Open Grassland (Section 1):

Mowing:

Plant new cherry trees with support and irrigate regularly.

2

The poor soil and soil compaction may can't support new tree (Del Tredici 2014), so it is necessary to provide nutrients for growth.

Year 1-5

Done by who

Woodland Trust / Manchester City Council

Irrigate them in dry season and apply nitrogen Year 1-3 fertilizer. Check the soil further if the plant are not growing well.

Spontaneous Birch Woodland: Keep certain area of open spaces on ground level to let sunlight in (Forestry Commission Thinning can be done every 15-20 years if the 2015).

Year 15 canopy are too dense.

Woodland Trust The oak tree, as a typical late species, will Remove Oak seedlings. gradually replaces the birch in the later stages of Year 10-15 natural succession.

Deadwood: The deadwood can shape the microclimate and shelter for invertebrates and birds. It Friends of the Earth Make the deadwood that does not affect the provide can nurture fungi and other microorganisms Year 10-15 Manchester/ University health of the environment die out naturally, also provide food for insects (Forestry Commission Students or pile them up to form a shelter after cutting to 2015). in winter.

Monitor: White wood

Replace new bird boxes.

Clear invasive oak seedlings.

Thinning some birch trees.

House Sparrow and Starling prefer Monitor the number of bird species in Red List Swift, woodland with nesting places. as an criteriar to evaluate the management plan, e.g. Swift, House Sparrow and Starling.

Shelter: Provide nests for bats, starlings. Swift boxes can Set up bird and bat boxes at a height above be hung on structures. The height is to make sure of flying.

4m on the mature trees.

Year 5-10

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Year 3-5

Volunteers (e.g. Friends of Pomona) 13

NATURAL SUCCESSION

Section Line

SECTION -2 1:250

2

Spontaneous Birch Woodland

Spontaneous Birch Woodland

Woodland Edge

MANAGEMENT ACTION

2

3

4

5

Woodland Edge (Section 2): Vision: To keep the woodland edge as open shrub-dominated spaces with sufficient sun and nesting opportunities to support biodiversity.

Action

YEAR 1

Link to Species Selection Principle: 1

Rationale

Time

Done by who

Vegetation structure control:

Build raised walkway through the woodland.

Create new woodland edges and plant new shrubs and herbs.

Existing birch trees will seeded itself.

YEAR 5

The open woodland edge can provide more sunlight and nesting opportunities (Forestry Check and clear tree seedlings, keep the Commission 2015). Sunlight gives more plants Year 1-3 shrub dominated structure of woodland edge. a place to grow, e.g. Jasminum nudiflorum, thus providing seeds for insects like butterflies. Year 5/10/15 Prune the shrub branches or remove some Shrubs help more birds and insects build their plants If they are too dense and block the nests, e.g. House sparrow.

Year 5/10/15 path.

The prune is to maintained a tidy and safe path Every 3 years Coppcing shrubs to less than 500mm and for pedestrians. The coppicing is to promote herbs to less than 100mm. more sunlight to arrive at the ground so that biodiversity can be kept here.

Control or remove excessive invasion of marginal shrubs, e.g. Achillea grandifoliabyon Achillea grandifoliabyon is competitive than can be used to inhibite Rubus fruticosus.

Rubus fruticosa.

Vegetation species adjustment: Reynoutria japonica is non-tive and will quickly crowd out native vegetation.

Clear invasive weed species, e.g. Reynoutria Year 1 japonica.

Sun-loving species can produce more food for birds and insects , e.g. the sunflower seed Year 1-2 Add sun-loving species to the edge of the is good food for Linnet and Skylark, and the woodland. e.g. Prunus spinosa, Helianthus.

Whinchat like the berries of Prunus spinosa.

Year 1-2 Increase thorn scrub-shrub, e.g. Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa.

Waste Material: Pile up the waste materials in winter as shelters, e.g. reeds

First bird statistics.

Existing birch trees will seeded itself.

Remove invasive species.

Gatekeeper butterfly likes eating Rubus fruticosus.

Starling

Song thrush and Whinchat likes Linnet like nesting in eating berries. gound level shrubs.

Lapwing

Whinchat

Once a year

Royal Horticultural Society/ University Students

Friends of the Earth Manchester

Set up bird boxes.

YEAR 15 Starling also likes living in woodland.

Many birds like nesting in the leaves gaps of thornyscrubs , e.g., Linnet.

To help invertebrates survive in winter and ecourage fishes to produce larvae.

Manchester City Council / Woodland Trust

Lapwing and skylark don't want to be disturbed in breeding season.

Skylark

Linnet Gatekeeper

Song thrush

Thinning some birch trees.

Replace broken bird boxes.

Replace the dead herbs and maintain the path edge.

Inaccessiable conservation area during bird breeding.

14

NATURAL SUCCESSION

SECTION -3 1:250 Perennial Meadow

Section Line

3

Planted Oak Woodland

Street

MANAGEMENT ACTION

3

4

5

Perennial Meadow (Section 3): Action Vegetation Species Adjustment: Clear invasive weed species and colonised species, e.g. Reynoutria japonica, and Rhododendron ponticum.

Increase colourful and flower-early species with big flower head, e.g. Iris sibirica, Narcissus.

Increase seed production species, e.g.

Brassica napus, Helianthus.

Plant oak trees with support and irrigate regulary.

2

Vision: To make the meadow become the most colourful open field in the site with food sources for animals.

Wetland

YEAR 1

Clear invasive plants and add new perennial species.

Link to Species Selection Principle: 1

YEAR 5

Time

Reynoutria japonica is non-tive and will quickly crowd out native vegetation (Forestry Commission 2015). Rhododendron ponticum can produce countless seeds and then quickly colonise the field.

Year 1

Species with big flowers can attract pollinators.

The flower-early species can extend the ornamental period (Kühn 2006), e.g. Narcissus flower from March to May.

Year 1-2

Brassica napus can provide oil-rich seeds which is Linnet favourite food, Helianthus seed are liked by Skylark and Linnet.

Year 1-2

Steppe species are better adapted to poor and dry conditions (Köppler et al. 2014).

Vegetation Structure Control: It allow sunlight arrive the ground and support invertebrates andbird nesting, e.g. Song Thrush Coppicing meadows once a year and keep the can nesting and hunting here. structure at different heights in spring.

Monitor: Bumblebees are good pollinators. Many species Monitoring the number of animals are critical are on priority conservation lists. to biodiversity, e.g. bumblebees.

Year 15

Replace large areas of dead plants every 1015 years and introduce new species, e.g.

Salvia nemorosa and Scabiosa ochroleuca.

Create wetland and plant reed.

Rationale

Done by who

Royal Horticultural Society / University Students

Once a year

Salford/ Manchester City Council

Year 5-10

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Wetland and Pond (Section 3): Vision: To maintain a good environment quality to support the diversity of aquatic animal and birds that feed on fish.

Action Vegetation Species Adjustment: Cut meadow once a year.

Clear invasive birch seedlings.

Mature oak trees will seeded itself.

Remove tree support.

Add new species, e.g. Urtica.

First bird statistics and water monitor.

YEAR 15 Bat likes living in the Kingfisher likes boxes which are easy standing on a shurb perch when hunting. to be found.

Linnet likes oil-rich seeds particularly.

Bumblebee and Flower beetle are good pollinators.

Linnet

Bat

Bumblebee

Kingfisher

Reed is the most common habitat for reed bunting.

Reed bunting

Flower beetle

Replace the dead herbs.

Replace broken bird boxes.

Cut invasive birch seedlings.

(Animal Photo Sources: Skylark, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Linnet, Song thrush from: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ Bumblebee, Gatekeeper, Wood white from: https://butterfly-conservation.org/

Prune the enormous Replace all reed if there is thick deedbed. willow branches.

House sparrow, Starling, Whinchat, Reed bunting from: https://ebird.org/home Flower beetle from: https://www.britannica.com)

Remove the competitive species, e.g.

Himalayan balsam.

Cut Typha if they invade in large numbers in the future.

Rationale Himalayan balsam and Typha can cause reeds to decline and then affecting the habitat of the reed bunting.

The seeds of the Urtica species are food for many birds and invertebrates, and the stinging structure can protect the forager from outside attack.

Time Year 5-10 Year 5-10

When the plant communities stabilizes, Utica Year 3-5 dioica can be added appropriately.

Reedbed managemengt: To ensure reedbed at different level to control the invasion of shrubs after the reedbed Cut certain area of reeds to maintain the exposure (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2018). Once a year reeds at different heights and ages.

The continuous accumulation of reedbed may Replace all the reeds if the reedbed is too lead to the overgrowth of reed and destroy the Year 15 high. ecological balance.

Edge care: Edge shrubs and herbecaus can support more living insects as food for Reed Bunting. They Remove but preserve some shrubs and can also provide pershes for Kingfisher when Every 3 years herbecaous at the edge of the wetland. hunting.

Manage the edge shade so that less than 1/3 of the plant exceed the bank, e.g. prune dense willow branches.

Monitor:

Done by who

Avoid shade preventing sunlight from entering the water.

Year 10-15

Kingfishers prefer living in cleaning water Monitor water quality, or monitor the habitat, so it can be an key indicator for water number of indicator animal communitires, e.g. quailty (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2018). kingfishers communities.

Year 5-10

Carbon Landscape

Carbon Landscape

Salford/ Manchester City Council

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 15

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Forestry Commission., (©2015). Improving your woodland [online], the Royal Forestry Society. [Viewed 20 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.rfs.org.uk/media/441708/2-improvingyour-woodland.pdf Grün Berlin, (2013). Natural-park Schöneberger Südgelände [online], Grün Berlin. [Viewed 10 Janurary 2021]. Available from: http:https://gruen-berlin.de/projekte/parks/suedgelaende/ ueber-den-park Hargreaves Associate., LDA Design., (2016). Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park [online], Landzine. [Viewed 15 Janurary 2021]. http://landezine.com/index.php/2016/07/queen-elizabetholympic-park-by-hargreaves-associates/ Hoyle, H., Hitchmough, J. and Jorgensen, A., (2017). All about the ‘wow factor’? The relationships betweenaesthetics, restorative effect and perceived biodiversity in designed urban planting. Landscape and Urban Planning. 164, 109-123.

Köppler, M.R., Kowarik, I., Kühn, N. and von der Lippe, M., (2014). Enhancing wasteland vegetation by adding ornamentals: opportunities and constraints for establishing steppe and prairie species on urban demolition sites. Landscape and Urban Planning, 126, pp.1-9.

Kühn, N., (2006). Intentions for the unintentional: Spontaneous vegetation as the basis for innovative planting design in urban areas. Journal of Landscape Architecture, 1(2), pp.46-53.

Landscape Architects of Bangkok, (2016). The Metro-Forest Park [online], Gooood. [Viewed 15 Janurary 2021]. Available from: https://www.gooood.cn/2016-asla-the-metro-forestproject-bangkok-by-landscape-architects-of-bangkok.htm Manchester City Council., (2015). Manchester’s Great Outdoors- a Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy for Manchester [online], Manchester City Council. [Viewed 19 Janurary 2021].

Available from: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/6314/manchester_green_and_blue_strategy Marsden, S. and Walsh, J., (2016). Pomona Island: ducks, docks and urban greenspace [online], Stuart Marsden's conservation research group. [Viewed 15 Janurary 2021]. Available from: http://stuartmarsden.blogspot.com/2016/04/pomona-island-ducks-docks-and-urban.html Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park., (2019). A Biodiversity Action Plan for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 2019 – 2024 [online], Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. [Viewed 15 April 2021]. Available from: https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark. co.uk/-/media/biodiversity-action-plan_final_low-res.ashx?la=en Rebele, F. and Lehmann, C., (2016). Twenty years of woodland establishment through natural succession on a sandy landfill site in Berlin, Germany. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 18, pp.182-189. Řehounková, K., Lencová, K. and Prach, K., (2018). Spontaneous establishment of woodland during succession in a variety of central European disturbed sites. Ecological Engineering, 111, pp.94-99.

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