Our new woodland week of the week is Priory Gardens in Trafford.
Priory Gardens, once home to co-founder of Manchester Royal Infirmary Hospital Dr. Charles White, is now a small mature woodland adjoining meadows. The area is great for bird watching and fungi spotting and is linked to Sale Water Park via an overpass where public toilets can be found.
There is a self-guided circular 4km walk route that takes in the wildlife and history of Sale Water Park and Priory Gardens. It passes along Barrow Brook and Broad Ees Dole before heading into Priory Gardens, via the underpass. Once here walkers can enjoy the tranquility of mature woodland or explore a number of trails around the meadow. The return loop guides people along a mature beech avenue and over the M60 footbridge to the southern section of Sale Water Park.
The gardens can be accessed by Dane Road or through Sale Water Park and there is on-site parking for 20 cars (access restricted by 6'6" barrier). It is close to the Dane Road Metrolink station and on the 99 and 260 bus routes.