Seeds of change

It’s February. It is still winter. But things are moving. Signs of life reviving can be seen. In the woods, the snowdrops. Some of the birds are pairing up for spring. Life looking forward.

And the people who care for these fields and meadows at Chadkirk are looking forward too. 

At Chadkirk we have been very fortunate. Time, money, energy, skills, expertise have been expended in the past to give us our glorious meadows. In particular, the Coronation Meadow is a rare local gem. Since 2005 it’s biodiversity has been enhanced and managed. Now that work has moved into a new phase.

In the winter months, the diggers did their work, scooping out material from the ponds and scrapes. The earth excavated has been spread in the meadows nearby. Soon seeds will be scattered onto the soil. Rich mixes of seeds, carefully selected, will germinate in spring. 

Together this work on ponds and meadows will enhance the rich biodiversity of Coronation Meadow and Chapel field. 

To enable this to happen, many groups have been working away, working together. Our local Countryside Officer. Natural England. Greater Manchester Ecology Unit. Stockport Hydro. Friends of Chadkirk.

Stockport MBC applied for funding. Natural England provided the grant. Our local Countryside Officer provides the link to enable this to happen. Another small but vital link in the chain: Friends of Chadkirk have paid for the seeds to be sown in the spring (with the help of a grant from Stockport Hydro).

It’s in the nature of ecology that everything is connected, so while this project is about protecting and enhancing habitat for our Great Crested Newts there will be so many benefits.

And the management plan is for 25 years. Looking forward. Change for the better. In 2047 Great Crested Newts breeding at Chadkirk, the Coronation Meadow flourishing, lapwings nesting and so much more. A gem now and a jewel for our future.