Manchester is going wild – and setting the standard for cities all over the United Kingdom.

With its rivers, canals, parks and trees, Manchester is a magnet to all sorts of creatures which go unnoticed by many people living and working there. Urban nature lovers will no longer have to look exclusively to the countryside for their nature kicks, when they realise there is wonderful wildlife bounding all around them.

In the past couple of years, badgers and otters have been reported in the city centre and the peregrine falcon, the world’s fastest creature, nests on roofs of tall buildings.  Many kinds of plants and animals live in the wider city, side by side with thousands of people.

Now, with My Wild City, we will have opportunities to learn more about the importance of Manchester as a home and a corridor for many species to move around and breed.

My Wild City is a partnership between the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Manchester City Council and its partners, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Together we will develop and deliver an exciting new 10-year vision for biodiversity in the city, but to do this we need your help.

If you live, work, study or volunteer in Manchester, we want to hear from you. By completing our short survey, you will be helping to shape the way we protect wildlife in Manchester. Click the survey link here to take part: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSY3JPG

The project will lead to a greater understanding of the city’s wildlife, along with more nature reserves being designated, better land management for wildlife and greater access to nature for local people.

The public will be invited to get involved in this bold new venture, in events and on social media. Activities will be in response to people’s thoughts on urban nature in Manchester.

Some of the results will be a new, stronger strategy for biodiversity in Manchester and a Manchester Festival of Nature in Heaton Park, on June 29th this year.

My Wild City will inspire and engage people – children, students and adults to get involved in practical actions in their gardens, parks and key wildlife corridors to improve the wildlife value of the entire city.