One day, whilst browsing Google Maps, I'd noticed that there was a large area of green land and a lake by Salford Quays. I'd driven passed the marked 'Ecology Park' many times over the years - but how did I not notice it, and why hadn't I been there before!
Today, around two years after first noticing the area, I felt compelled to spend my Sunday afternoon visiting this ecology park. After I'd finished eating a Sunday Roast (nom, nom, nom!) at my grandparents, I rushed home, fetched my bike from the shed, pumped up the tyres and set off to find the park.
Located in the middle of an industrial estate, surrounded by warehouses and factories and neighbouring a filling station for petrol tankers, lies Trafford Ecology Park. I rode around on my bike for around 30 minutes looking for the place; never suspecting it to be shielded behind a convoy of trucks and lorries - the drivers of which were sleeping in their cabs.
Upon finding the entrance, I'd immediately seen the sign stating the opening times; Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. It was closed. I was disappointed, not just for the fact that it was closed, but that I'd not be able to visit the park without taking some time off work. I'd spent too long trying to find the place just to head back home, so dismounted, chained my bike to the gate and shimmied over the fence and into the park.
I'd just entered a park filled with the opposite of what you'd expect to find in an industrial estate; there was large variety of birds, trees, plants, insects - there was a lake, a pond, bridges and wild rabbits! I knew I was going to spend a while here exploring - and I had the whole park to myself.
From what I gather, the park is generally used by schools to visit - there was a hut for bird watchers, they allow fishing the in the pond, but there was also another building which seemed like it should be a cafe / visitors area. It was nice to be in there, wandering around, which I did for a few hours and then climbed out of the park and started to make my way home.
On the way back, I cycled around the industrial estates a bit more, exploring areas that I wasn't familiar with. I find it really interesting that the whole area is (or was) connected by a rail line that I believe was originally funded and constructed by the businesses in the area many years ago as their own transport network for their goods. It's still used to date by a few companies, but on an infrequent basis - much of the line has been left to become overgrown or has been covered with stones.
During my ride home, I came across an abandoned warehouse which contained a massive gas cylinder. There are pictures of this and of various things through my whole day in my Opera Community albums.
My Opera
