The National Trust is readying to reopen Manchester’s sky park Castlefield Viaduct this weekend.
The beautiful green space, built on top of the Grade II-listed viaduct with staggering views across Manchester city centre, has been closed for a short time while a new community workshop space was built.
The 330m steel Victoria viaduct is now readying to welcome back visitors from Saturday 10 February.
The elevated sky park has been open since July 2022 as a temporary pilot project, though the National Trust is hoping to make the project a permanent attraction for Manchester.
Since its launch, it’s welcomed more than 85,000 visitors, some through community activities in and around the city.
The charity has worked on transforming the previously-abandoned Castlefield Viaduct to increase access for all to nature, history and beauty in urban areas.
With its new workshop space, created with Sow the City, members of the public will be able to have a go at green-thumbed activities and learn horticultural skills like seed sowing and propogation.
The workshop has a huge workbench that can be modified for wheelchair users, mini greenhouses, soil, water and power.
Manchester’s Castlefield Viaduct sets to re-open after the winter months. Credit: Mark Waugh
Nancy Scheerhout, National Trust Head Gardener for Castlefield Viaduct, says: “We’re delighted to have worked with our partners, Sow the City, to bring this new workshop space to the viaduct.
“It will provide us and our community partners with a dedicated area to get more people involved in, and benefitting from, green activities. We’ve made the space as sociable and hands-on as possible, and we have plans to add interactive compost that people can see and hear!
“As a conservation charity dedicated to connecting more people with nature, we know the importance of increasing simple and everyday interactions with nature to enrich lives. Offering ‘green workshops’ and activities in the space, alongside our partners and friends, we can encourage small space growing in the city.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow people’s confidence and skills in creating their own greenspace, improving the environment, their wellbeing, and their skillset in the process.”
National Trust head gardener Nancy Scheerhout at Castlefield Viaduct. Credit: Mark Waugh
Jon Ross, Chief Executive of Sow the City, says: “We’re passionate about enabling more people to get involved with growing, engaging with urban nature and learning new skills and this space will support the communities we work with to do just that.
“This is the second space on the viaduct we’ve been involved with designing and installing, and we can’t wait to see people using the space and have a go ourselves!”
The rest of Castlefield Viaduct features four ‘partner plots’ operated by Hulme Community Garden Centre, City of Trees, Castlefield Forum and Sow the City.
The gardens have been planted to created year-round flora displays, and upcoming events will include the return of the city-wide ‘Bloomtown’ blossom trail this spring.
National Trust head gardener nancy and Kate Picker visitor operations and experience manager Manchester’s Castlefield Viaduct sets to re-open after the winter months.
Nancy continues: “As we head into our second spring on the viaduct, we’ve learned so much from this unique urban site and have developed our planting schemes for 2024 with those in mind. Planting at height, in the middle of a city centre, and in steel containers, means the team and I keep a close check on how things are bedding in and how life on the viaduct is evolving.
“We’re excited to welcome the public back and showcase great horticulture. For me, a garden only truly comes to life with people in it and engaging with nature. We’re looking forward to the many joys of spring.”
Entry onto Castlefield Viaduct will remain free when it reopens to the public this weekend. Members of the public can visit, without booking, every afternoon from 12.30pm and all day on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
There’s space for up to 10 people in the new community workshop, and local groups and communities are invited to reach out by emailing [email protected] to book their spot.
A young BMX star from Trafford finished on the podium in the 2025 World Championships
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester native placed on the podium at the 2025 BMX World Championships in yet another display of our region’s sporting excellence.
12-year-old Leo Rowlands from Timperley in Trafford was one of the several promising BMX riders representing Team GB at the World Championships in Copenhagen, which kicked off at the end of July.
Back in 2023, Geordie-born Kieran Reilly became the UK’s first champion at the UCI BMX Freestyle Worlds in Glasgow, and this year, London’s Beth Shriever claimed a trio of world titles.
Combine that with the incredible achievement of the talented young lad coming third overall in his own category, and it really was another brilliant performance from Great Britain.
Credit: Supplied
Penning a proud statement online, local outlet Altrincham Today wrote: “HUGE congratulations to Leo Rowlands, who has just claimed WORLD No. 3 at the BMX World Championships in Copenhagen.
“The Year 7 [aged 11-12] Altrincham College student, who’s been racing since age 6 and trains at Bruntwood Park BMX Club in Cheadle, came through a field of over 140 of the world’s best riders to reach the final and secure his spot on the podium.
“Already North Champion and UK National No. 2, Leo will be going for the British Championship title in Kent this month.”
Joining in sharing their pride and praise on social media, his home college in Alty, along with Rowlands’ fellow students, simply added: “Incredible performance, Leo!”
The comments underneath both posts are filled with other parents and fellow locals passing on their congrats. You love to see it.
Credit: Family Handout (supplied)
As for his regular cycling haunt, Bruntwood Park BMX Club also went on to add: “Yesterday, two riders reached the top of the sport for their age, and it is with great pride that they bring home the club’s first W plates from a World Championships.
“First up, Leo Rowlands, who put down a stunning lap in the Male 12s final, working his way back from dead last out of the gate to make a brilliant podium and take home W3.”
They went on to credit all of their rising talents, including another promising young and already multi-title-winning champion in Lexi Waite, who fought her way back from a slipped gate to finish in fifth.
Bruntwood signed off by adding: “What an incredible achievement from both of these outstanding riders, and we cannot wait to have these guys back with their W plates!”
There’s plenty of cycling history being made here in Greater Manchester, and we’ve no doubt there’s more to come.
Popular airline to give long-distance friends ‘well deserved’ reunions with FREE flights
Emily Sergeant
A popular airline is set to give long-distance friends the chance to reunite by offering free flights.
That’s right – Loganair has launched an exciting new competition and is calling on the public to help track down some of the country’s longest distance friendships across its network, as the award-winning regional airline looks to bring one deserving duo back together with complimentary flights.
Whether it’s childhood best friends who now live hundreds of miles apart, or university flatmates who haven’t seen each other since graduation, Loganair says its latest ‘Season of Connections’ campaign is a celebration of friendship that endures, no matter the postcode.
As the UK’s leading regional airline, Loganair prides itself on connecting communities across the UK, whether that be from remote islands or bustling business hubs like Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, and its extensive network of flights allows passengers nationwide to explore a wide range of destinations.
This competition – which is launching this week on the airline’s Instagram and Facebook channels – aims to do just that, and all without the lucky winners having to spend a penny.
The ‘Season of Connections’ competition invites people to share their story and explain why their long-distance friendship deserves a long-overdue reunion.
The winning pair will receive return flights to each other’s city, helping bridge the gap.
Loganair is giving long-distance friends ‘well deserved’ reunions with free flights / Credit: Loganair
It follows the huge response to Loganair’s Christmas giveaway last year that offered one lucky winner a year of free flights across Loganair’s extensive network, and now the airline is hoping to bring another memorable reunion to life – this time between two friends kept apart by distance.
“This campaign is all about celebrating the real, meaningful connections that define our lives, and demonstrating the role regional travel can play in bringing people together,” commented Lyn MacDonald, who is the Head of Marketing and Brand at Loganair.
“Whether it’s been months or years since friends last met in person, we want to help make that reunion possible.”
The competition runs until Sunday 17 August, and to take part, all you’ll need to do is visit Loganair’s Instagram or Facebook pages and follow the link in bio to submit your story.
The winning friends will be announced later this summer, with their reunion taking place in the autumn.
Featured Image – Priscilla Du Preez (via Unsplash)
Daisy Jackson -
8th February 2024 
