Come along to our Love Your River Irk volunteer working party on the River Irk at Harpurhey Ponds in Harpurhey, north Manchester.  Activities will include pulling up Himalayan Balsam and litter picking. 

10am to 1pm.  All equipment and gloves provided.  Please wear clothing suitable for the weather conditions and strong shoes or boots. Long sleeves and trousers recommended. 

Meet at 10am by the blue painted footbridge over the River Irk on the Lower Crumpsall Recreation Ground side of the river. 

Street parking on Waterloo Road (around M8 5XF) or Factory Lane (around M9 8EA). 

Nearest bus stop is next to Lower Crumpsall Recreation Ground on Waterloo Road (opposite Etherstone Street) on the Bee Network bus routes 56, 116 and 156. 

Nearest tram stop is at Abraham Moss (1.2km walk).  

River Community Gathering at Film Screening: "Rave On For the Avon" ?✨

An invitation from the Film Director, Charlotte Sawyer

Dear friends

Come along to a river community gathering this Sunday at 5pm in Liverpool. 

I'd like to invite you to celebrate the power of community and citizen science at a documentary screening in Liverpool Sunday 18th May 5pm. This uplifting gem of a documentary explores our connection to nature in this modern world: "Rave On For The Avon" and The Rivers Trust have partnered with the filmmakers at screenings across the country. Bring your friends and family to show them how citizen science and campaigning can make a difference.   Details below.

This inspiring film explores people's love and connection to their favourite swimming spot, blending stunning visuals with a great soundtrack. It’s a celebration of how creativity and passion can bring people together for a vital cause—protecting our rivers, lakes and oceans. Rated ★★★★ by The Guardian

"Rave On For The Avon" is screening at Liverpool's FACT Cinema on Sunday 18th May at 5 PM. 

There will be a Q&A following the screening with Director Charlotte Sawyer who is from Liverpool and lives in Bristol, plus John Sanders from Mersey Rivers Trust talking about the work of the Mersey Rivers Trust and the Catchment Monitoring Co-operative community groups active in the Mersey.

https://www.eightysita.com/post/wild-swimming-documentary-at-the-liverpool-fact-picturehouse-cinema-sun-18th-may

You can watch the trailer and learn more using this link. Please book in advance, you can also book the tickets here: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/013/HO00015599/green-screen-rave-on-for-the-avon-panel-with-director-charlotte-sawyer

#RaveOnForTheAvon

LEARN MORE: https://linktr.ee/raveonfortheavon 

FOLLOW THE FILM ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/raveonfortheavon/

As part of Keep Britain Tidy's annual "Great British Spring Clean", please support our litter pick event on Friday 4 April along the River Irk around Harpurhey Ponds and Harpurhey Reservoirs.  #GBSpringClean

10am to 12.30pm.  All equipment provided, including gloves.  Please wear strong shoes/boots as it may be wet/muddy and dress for the weather.  All welcome!

Meet at 10am at the footbridge over the River Irk at Lower Crumpsall Recreation Ground and Harpurhey Ponds.  Road access from Waterloo Street, Lower Crumpsall (M8) and from Factory Lane or Harpurhey Road, Harpurhey (M9), north Manchester. 

Also supporting our "Love Your River Irk" and "Plastic Free Mersey" programmes.

Many of our free volunteer events and training courses are now shown on our Eventbrite page to help us better manage these activities.  Please see our Eventbrite link below: 

Mersey Rivers Trust Events - 4 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

Mersey Estuary & Coastal Forum - Community Meeting at Crosby (Waterloo Community Centre)

Thursday 5 December, 7.00 - 8.30pm

The Mersey Estuary & Coastal Forum aims to bring together interested parties, local community groups and individuals to discuss activities that improve the environment and support local communities.  The Forum connects with local groups along the coastline and estuary in Liverpool City Region, Warrington and Cheshire West, and is part of the wider North West Coastal Forum and Turning Tides partnership.   

We are holding a meeting for local people and community groups across the Mersey Estuary and Coastline.  This will take place on Thursday 5 December 2024 between 7pm and 8.30pm at Waterloo Community Centre, 26 Great Georges Road, Crosby, L22 1RD.

This is a great opportunity to find out more about what is going on in and around the Mersey estuary and coastline, share details of your own activities and plans, and look at opportunities for collaborative working.  

Tea/coffee and mince pies will be available from 6.45pm for a 7pm meeting start. 

There will be time for informal networking after some short presentations about current or planned activities.  

The short presentations will cover topics including:

• Development of the Mersey Estuary and Coastal Blueprint
• Citizen Science and other environmental monitoring activities
• Litter picking and anti-littering campaign activities
• Priorities for the Mersey Estuary and coastline in draft local nature recovery strategies

If you or your community group would like to give a short (max 10 minutes) presentation or update (with or without slides), please contact Clare Bullen by email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All are welcome and we hope you will be able to join us for this free event.

Event funded by the Defra Coastal Partnerships Network

Mersey Rivers Trust is inviting farmers and growers in the Alt and Crossens river catchments to our latest engagement workshop on Wednesday 13 November 2024 between 10am and 1pm at Mere Brow Village Hall, The Gravel, Mere Brow, Lancs, PR4 6JX

A hot lunch will be provided from 12 noon, plus tea/coffee during the morning.

We will have some short presentations plus Q&A sessions covering topics including:

• Latest updates on farm grants, including Sustainable Farming Incentive
• Relevant policy updates from Defra, Natural England, Environment Agency and other government agencies
• Water resources management, water storage and abstraction licensing in the Alt and Crossens catchment
• An update on the Lowland Peat Agriculture Pilot Project in the Alt-Crossens
• Future engagement with farmers and growers

There will be time over a hot lunch to catch up with neighbours, other farmers and growers, as well as have discussions with staff from NFU, Environment Agency and Mersey Rivers Trust.

The event will be registered for BASIS and NROSO points.

To assist us with the catering, please can you let us know if you will be attending by sending an email with your name and contact details to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any dietary requirements and/or access needs please do also let us know in your email.   

We hope you will be able to join us for this event!

River Weaver Floating Pennywort Removal - Saturday 17 August, Winsford

Come along to help remove the invasive, non-native plant Floating Pennywort from the River Weaver at Winsford, Cheshire. This event is organised by the Angling Trust and Paddle UK, working with other partners including Mid Cheshire Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Club and Mersey Rivers Trust.   

Please register in advance if you wish to volunteer by following the link below: 

Volunteer Floating Pennywort Removal Event | River Weaver | Winsford - Angling Trust

No prior experience necessary.  Volunteers are needed on both the land and on the water (if you are a competent paddler with your own SUP, canoe or kayak).  

Join us at Riverside Park, Macclesfield for a load of family friendly activities and learning more about your local wildlife!

Discover what lives beneath the surface of rivers and ponds with our River Safari and Pond Dipping activities. Learn about the local flora and fauna through guided walks, which you can register your attendance via our Eventbrite page. As well as arts & crafts and face painting! 

Come and join us for our next volunteer working party at Harpurhey Ponds, Manchester on Thursday 8 August as part of our work to improve the environment around Harpurhey Ponds and the River Irk.  Meet by the footbridge over the River Irk. 

Please wear long sleeves and trousers due to nettles and brambles plus strong shoes or boots.  We will provide all equipment and work gloves.   No experience necessary - all welcome ! 

Part of the Love Your River Irk programme with Groundwork GM and Manchester City Council.

Welcome to the Queen's Park nature Walk!

Join us for a relaxing stroll through the beautiful Queens Park on Thursday August 8th 2024. The walk will start at 10:00AM outside the Café in Queens Park, Crewe,

Explore the natural beauty of the park, learn about the local flora and fauna, and enjoy some fresh air with fellow nature enthusiasts. This event is a great opportunity to unwind, connect with nature, and meet new friends.

To sign up for this event please register via the Eventbrite link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queens-park-nature-walk-tickets-887623254047?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle. We can't wait to see you there.

Join us on Tuesday 6 August for a FREE family fun event at Lower Crumpsall Recreation Ground & Harpurhey Ponds on the River Irk, Manchester, M8 5XH

Part of the #LoveYourRiverIrk programme with Groundwork Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council.

We will be working alongside the Bollin Valley Partnership top clear invasive himalayan balsam and help with scrub clearance @ Riverside Park, Beechwood Mews, Tytherington, Macclesfield SK10 2SL.

No previous experience is required!

There is free parking and facilites onsite.

For more infomation and to sign up to this working party use this eventbrite link - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/balsam-bash-and-wetland-clearance-tickets-942044308887?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Join MRT, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and local partners for a day of citizen science on Saturday 13th July at Lunt Meadows as we attempt to record as much wildlife as possible in 24 hours.

The event will feature a variety of stalls and activities ran by the Lunt Meadows team and brilliant wildlife experts, including:

• moth trapping
• small mammal surveys
• bird walks
• wildflower identification
• pond dipping
• dragonfly surveys
• minibeast hunt

For more information, visit the LWT website: https://bit.ly/3KTNv68

Our annual Mersey Rivers Week takes place from Sunday 30 June to Saturday 6 July

We have several FREE events taking place during the week:

• We kick the week off with our stall at the Manchester Festival of Nature at Heaton Park, Manchester on Sunday 30 June
• Volunteer litter pick and litter survey on the River Irk at Hendham Vale/Smedley, Manchester on Tuesday 2 July
• Volunteer Balsam Bash on the River Bollin at Bow Lane in Altrincham on Wednesday 3 July (booking through Eventbrite please)
• Volunteer Balsam Bash on the Sankey Brook at Sankey Valley Park, St Helens on Thursday 4 July
• Volunteer litter pick and plastic pollution survey on the Mersey Estuary at Spike Island, Widnes on Friday 5 July
• We finish the week with our public "Bioblitz" event on the River Bollin at The Carrs Park in Wilmslow on Saturday 6 July