Our work in Greater Manchester

Castlefield Viaduct  

In 2022 we opened Castlefield Viaduct sky garden in Manchester city centre as an urban oasis for people and nature. Visitors told us they wanted the sky garden to be permanent, and we are working on extending its length and making it a through-route. Castlefield Viaduct has become a hub and a catalyst for communities, partners, opportunities and action – across the city-centre and city region. 

The Viaduct hosts a programme of seasonal events connecting people to nature and heritage. We've also been working beyond the Viaduct to inspire communities to come together and create green urban spaces of their own. One example is the garden at the Guidance Hub in Cheetham Hill, sited in one of the most diverse areas of the UK. 

Cultural programming 

The National Trust provides a year-round programme of events and activities for all across Greater Manchester. This includes seasonal festivals Blossom & Bloomtown in the Spring, Mosschester exploring Manchester's mossy history, events at Castlefield Viaduct and more.

In 2024 and 2025 the National Trust’s Sky Gardening Challenge encouraged residents to welcome nature into Manchester's skyline. Complete with resources, a balcony garden guide and loads of inspiration, gardening novices and planting pros took to the challenge to garden their balconies and window boxes across the city region. In a competition, residents were awarded prizes for their fantastic and creative entries.

Station Sanctuary 

In Spring 2026, we celebrated the launch of Station Sanctuary community garden, the first garden of its kind at a Greater Manchester train station. The garden has been created by Network Rail, Sow the City, MASH and the National Trust with support from TfGM, Manchester City Council, the Bee Network and United Utilities. Manchester Piccadilly is the biggest station in the region with over 3 million travellers passing through every month. The garden is a place for people to relax, and a stepping stone for pollinators and other wildlife in the centre of the city.

The garden was co-designed by Sow the City and women who use Manchester Action for Street Health (MASH)’s services. The station community and other groups will maintain the garden.

Nature Towns and Cities 

Salford and Manchester have been jointly awarded funding from Nature Towns and Cities to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all. As well as funding new roles, the grant will enable a programme of commissioned micro-projects with eight specialist partner organisations. These include the RHS, Sow the City, City of Trees, GM Environment Fund, Groundwork and the Canal & River Trust. 

The project will empower communities, supporting local groups to take ownership of green spaces, upskilling volunteers and building on current accredited training schemes and resources. It will map connective green space routes working in parallel with Cyan Lines and Irwell River Park, secure innovative financing and improve knowledge sharing

Nature Towns and Cities is a national initiative launched in 2025 and created by Natural England, the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The National Trust team in Greater Manchester will support and advise in the region. 

Cyan Lines 

Cyan Lines is a partnership project that aims to connect Greater Manchester’s blue and green spaces into a high-quality network of walking and cycling routes for residents, for visitors and for nature. The vision is to develop a network of over 100 miles of ‘Cyan Lines’ routes over ten years, starting with the city centres of Manchester and Salford, and delivering a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient city for the future. National Trust is a founding partner and key collaborator of the Cyan Lines initiative. 

The project will connect people with nature through walking, wheeling and cycling routes that create a new ‘green grid’ for the city. Cyan Lines is also a city-wide regeneration project for green and natural spaces. A huge pipeline of new opportunities, new connections and missing links will be unlocked through a series of Cyan Lines projects.

Easy Come Easy Grow 

Easy Come Easy Grow Mcr CIC (ECEG) are a group of residents in Newton Heath, North Manchester working together to create positive change. They provide a space where local residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can participate in gardening, environmental education and social activities.  

The origin of Easy Come Easy Grow Mcr was Nature Neighbourhoods, a partnership project between the RSPB, WWF and the National Trust. Under the guidance of Sow the City and the support of Manchester City Council, Canal and Rivers Trust, Co-op, the National Trust and others, the group have gone from strength to strength. Our Greater Manchester team worked with the group to finalise their action plan for nature and continue to support their work in Newton Heath. 

Green and Blue Spaces Action Network 

At the request of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, social enterprise Sow the City launched a network to connect community groups and organisations working to improve green and blue spaces in the region. The National Trust is proud to host this network at Castlefield Viaduct and contribute to discussions that support communities to take action.