Across the Manchester Ship Canal from Ordsall, and next to Cornbrook Station is Pomona, a huge area of disused land with an incredible past, from stunning gardens to working docks.
"Pomona is steeped in history, from the origins of its name, Pomona the Goddess, to the area's social history - as Cornbrook Pleasure Gardens, a green area for the people of Manchester, the Pomona Palace, and as The Guiness Dock in the 1900s" says James Walsh of the Manchester Ship Canal World Heritage Group
"Since the working docks closed down, natural succession has formed a large area for wildlife" he adds "a habitat where ecologists have recorded and documented over one hundred bird species, including Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Skylark, Sand Martin and Reed Bunting, and over one hundred and fifty flora species, including rare Bee Orchids
"To find such rare species in such an urban environment is a very unique experience" he explains "And the potential for this area of land, located on the Trafford/Manchester side of the Manchester Ship Canal, as an Eden Project type nature reserve and wildlife area, could be a huge economic boost to the whole of the Salford and Manchester area. It could be an eco-tourism attraction, if managed appropriately."
Unfortunately, land owner Peel Holdings has other plans for the area, which usually involve concrete and profits, and its bulldozers have been captured on film tearing up the rare flora and habitats.
"This is likely so that the area can't be classed as one of ecological interest and thus protected" stated the organisers of a Protest Picnic held on Pomona last Friday, which included a bird watching workshop by James Walsh and other creative eco events.
"Peel are intent on making flats on the land eventually" they added "Manchester City Council are on a drive to make a greener city but they are working with Peel to create flats on the Cornbrook side of the site - but there are no imminent plans in place for the part they're currently tearing up - which begs the question: why are they?"
The area was originally marketed as the city's countryside `with no need for a train ride', but it is now in imminent danger of destruction.
With a bit of imagination the whole area could have become a magnet for tourists. Across the water, on the Salford side, was the graffiti wall and palace which featured some incredible art, until Salford Council decided to attempt to make it into an `aspirational walkway' for MediaCityUK - which currently looks ten times worse than it did before. Now there are only two private walls left on which the graffiti artists create (see previous Salford Star article – click here).
On the Pomona side, what is now `beautiful and idyllic', could also become concrete and sterile as the Media City effect takes hold.
"There was a great turn-out for the Protest Picnic event" said James Walsh "And this reflects the strength of feeling that the local community has for this special area and its wildlife."
For a full history of Pomona and more photos see the Skyliner.org - click here
See also the Salford Star `Ordsall Beach' photo shoot on Pomona starring Nigel Pivaro and friends in printed issue 8 page 31 - click here for the PDF (large file)
Main photo of Protest Picnic by Steven Speed
Other photos courtesy of James Walsh
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
