Our Part of the Tame Valley

The map shows the areas we cover from Shepley Road in Audenshaw to Mill Lane in Haughton Green. It is largely in private ownership, including Landcare, the Duchy of Lancaster, Highways England and the Canal and River Trust. Some is owned by Tameside Council.

The friends group was oficially formed in February 2021 with the aim of tackling issues in the valley such as broken fencing and stiles, missing signage, badly worn footpaths, litter, and tree maintenance issues.

Improvement in the valley will be acheved through volunteers and bidding for funding.

Get Involved

If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Tame Valley (whatever time you can give to help with litter picking, footpath renewal or nature and conservation work will be greatly appreciated) email the us at friendsoftamevalley@gmail.com

Our Committee

Officers

Denise Ward

Chair

I'm proud and honoured to be elected as the first-ever Chair of the Friends of the Tame Valley.

Working with colleagues and volunteers from Denton, Audenshaw and Hyde, together with our MP Andrew Gwynne, I really do believe we can help to enhance this wonderful jewel in our community.

We all know this part of the valley has been a bit neglected and parts of it needs lots of TLC. Many of our residents already do a fantastic job with litter picking, for which we are grateful. We can all bring whatever skills we have to this Group, and help to make this a wonderful countryside area for all to enjoy.

I’m so excited with this project and hopefully we can apply for much needed grants to help our group achieve its aims. Thank you for your support so far... once lockdown is over, I can't wait for us all to get stuck in.

Andrew Gwynne

Secretary

It's great that we now have an established Friends Group for the parts of the Tame Valley that sit outside of Tameside's Local Nature Reserves in Haughton Dale and Hulme's and Hardy Woods.

Most people will know me as the Gorton and Denton (formally Denton and Reddish) MP, but I am also a local lad, and grew up (mostly) loving the Tame Valley. I say mostly, because Jet Amber Fields - then fairly newly laid out as open space - was where Egerton Park High School did their 'cross country' in PE. That was definitely not a happy memory!

But it's also where I came to play with my school mates, and now, as a resident of St Anne's Road, where I've brought my own children and now grandchild to enjoy the open space. And it's been a godsend in lockdown.

But I've also seen the fabric of the area deteriorate over the years and I want to do something about that. Rather than moaning, it's something we as a community can help to fix. That's why I was determined to work with Cllr Denise Ward to set this group up, and I've been amazed at the reaction. Thank you to so many for joining us, and if you haven't joined yet, we will welcome you too. Now let's make the Tame Valley the best it can be!

Stephen Martin

Vice Chair

I have lived in Denton all of my life, growing up down the valley, mostly in Denton Woods and around Reddish Vale. Later in life, following my retirement, I discovered Whittles Meadows and Jet Amber.

In 2021, I started doing a weekly litter pick down the valley, quickly moving onto balsam bashing (which is very addictive!), tree planting and wild flower seed sowing with the local school children.

I also undertake River Guardian work, which we developed into invertebrate encounters for local children in summer 2023. The children (and adults) loved it! It was great watching the curiosity of their local area grow.

I have also taken up spraying the Japanese knotweed with fellow committee member Chris, after successfully completing our training and obtaining licences to undertake this task.

I hope that Friends of the Tame Valley volunteers will continue to inspire the younger generation to carry on with this great work to conserve and protect our local environment, so that when I'm sitting watching the sun's last rays reflecting my life and on the river, I will know that all of our effort was worthwhile.

Chris Clarke

Treasurer

Awaiting Bio

Bryony Evens

Assistant Secretary

I live in Denton and often walk in the Tame Valley, especially Jet Amber Fields, in all weathers. It's great to be involved in the activities our group do to improve the area, especially litter picking and balsam bashing. I joined the committee to help out with getting more grant money in so we can improve paths and other things, and to help with some of the fun activities we put on, like the treasure hunt in summer 2023, and some walks I'm planning. It's a great way to get out and meet other local people too.

Committee Members

Steve Marsland

Committee Member

I was born, live and work in Denton, as many generations of my family have, enjoying the Tame Valley that’s just a short walk from anywhere in our town.

I’ve been the headteacher of Russell Scott Primary School for many years and introduced hundreds of children to the Tame Valley, Jet Amber fields in particular, as an outdoor classroom. I’ve seen first-hand the excitement and the smiles on faces that being in the outdoors surrounded by nature can bring, especially for townies! It’s particularly important now when children and their families have been locked in their homes for so long to get out, get some fresh air and explore….and its free.

Children and young people are the future, particularly in looking after our planet from global warming to climate change that we have made such a mess of up to now.

The Tame Valley is closer to home and something that our community can make a real difference to that will affect them directly throughout their lives.

My aim will be to introduce as many children and their families as we can to the joys and importance of the Tame Valley and its open spaces, encouraging them to take direct action in preserving it now and into the future. In a town where air pollution, micro plastics in the Tame and particulates in the air is a major concern the Friends of Tame Valley can be the catalyst of environmental change and awareness by showing the town what an asset they have on their doorstep and how they can get involved to look after it.

Rob Hardman

Committee Member

I grew up on Hyde Road in Denton and my parents would frequently take us walking through the valley and I would also explore the area with friends or on my own. I now live on Cemetery Road in Audenshaw and often take my youngest daughter and the dog for walks.

It's a fantastic space and I look forward to helping improve it to a standard residents deserve and that the group will be able to develop new features and lasting improvements that will be enjoyed by many generations to come.

I have been Secretary of Manchester Civic Society since 2011 and hope my experience will be useful to the group. I also hope the Friends will be able to uncover a lot of the valley's industrial heritage and history as I believe links to the past are important for education and to enhance and explain the character of the valley.

Allison Gwynne

Committee Member

Awaiting Bio

Anna Whitfield

Committee Member

I've lived in Denton for 15 years, 13 on Fir Road, and two now on Nasmyth Avenue. This section of the Tame Valley has been everything from a playground to a sanctuary over that time.

"As soon as my twin boys could walk, this was where we'd go. Every inch has a nickname, from Conker Corner, to the Hidden Pond. I'm a member of a local church and a Youth and Community Worker by trade so participaton and community building are deeply rooted in me.

"I'm hoping to serve and encourage the work of Friends of Tame Valley, and model to my boys the importance of getting stuck in to safeguard the good things we have around us.

Emma Barber

Committee Member

I am a relative newcomer to Denton having moved to the area in 2016. Easy access to The Tame Valley and countryside beyond was a big part of the attraction for me in moving here but when I eventually started exploring The Valley to see it so unloved was disheartening.

In both my home and work life I am passionate about protecting nature’s capital for future generations so when the group started in 2021 I was really keen to get involved. I’ve been able to support with litter picks as part of volunteering activities through work and recently spent a couple of hours Balsam Bashing - which isn’t as scary as it sounds. As you can see from my profile picture I love Hedgehogs and have helped get several to local rescues, my car has even got a ‘Hedgehog Ambulance’ in the boot.

Everyone in the group is very down to earth and friendly and I would say to anyone thinking of joining us to give it a go.

Woz Andrew

Committee Member

My name is Warren Andrew or Woz for short. I've lived in and around the Tame Valley for over 45 years. I'm a lifelong angler and spent more than 20 years fly fishing our local River Tame from the confluence with the Goyt where they form the River Mersey to the headwaters above Denshaw.

I'm extremely passionate about our local river, fish, aquatic insects, and the wildlife surrounding our riverine environment. I work full-time as a Project Manager with the Mersey River Trust, an environmental charity to improve our rivers for people, wildlife, and the environment.