The Werneth Low Country Park Joint Management Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the Greenspace Development Officer's report, and a pond restoration project. The committee will also be asked to appoint a chair and deputy chair for the municipal year 2025/26.

Pond Restoration and Creation Project

The committee will be asked to consider a report from the Greenspace Development Manager regarding a pond restoration and creation project at Werneth Low Country Park. The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) has identified an opportunity to restore and create ponds in the park, with funding specifically aimed at creating and improving habitats for great crested newts.

The report states that the GMEU is acting as the Habitat Delivery Body for Natural England, and that all works and maintenance will be funded through Natural England. The GMEU will also arrange and deliver the works with a trusted contractor who specialises in this type of work. According to the report pack, detailed location maps are available in the presentation.

Greenspace Development Officer's Report

The Greenspace Development Officer's report will inform the committee of activities undertaken within the Country Park since the last meeting on 12 February 2025. The report covers several areas:

• Maintenance of Sites: A formal site inspection was completed in May 2025 to assess maintenance issues and risks. The wood yard has been used for on-site composting and to 'heel in' tree saplings for later planting. The Hyde War Memorial Trust purchased a replacement Rowan Tree for the one near the Cenotaph that was damaged in storms. Tameside Council's Street Cleansing Team has continued to empty bins and remove litter, with support from the Fly Tipping team. Greenspace Volunteer Mike completed approximately 245m of mixed species hedge laying. Vandalism occurred at the end of April, damaging fences and a dry stone wall, but the Cheshire Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association helped rebuild the wall. Tree inspections were completed in July, and contractors will be brought in to remove trees posing a risk due to disease or damage. The Council Countryside Estates Team has been spraying Japanese Knotweed¹.

• Public Events: The Cheshire Branch Dry Stone Walling Association ran a course in May 2025, and the Lancashire Branch ran one in July 2025. A 'Bio-Blitz' was completed by The Greater Manchester Ecology unit on Wednesday 6 August 2025 to identify and record species, using previous records taken by Alan and Norman Bamforth. There have been continued requests for filming at Werneth Low, and a procedure is being considered for managing these requests, with fees potentially going to the Hyde War Memorial Trust.

• Hyde War Memorial Trust Update: The café is operating every Sunday run by Volunteers from Hyde War Memorial Trust. The Visitors Centre and Café have continued to support other events and activities. The Trust is planning to renovate the Visitor Centre, incorporating essential repairs and upgrades. The Trust was accepted to receive seeds from the Green Legacy Hiroshima project and will attempt to propagate them. The Trust has received a specialist inspection report on the Cenotaph from 2023 and will progress recommended repairs. There has been a boundary encroachment onto Trust land alongside Mottram Old Road, and the Trust will work with TMBC on necessary repairs.

• Werneth Low Country Park Greenspace Volunteer Service: The Greenspace Volunteers have continued to meet every Tuesday, completing essential tasks and weekly litter picking. In August, a group of corporate volunteers joined for a day of litter picking. Himalayan Balsam² removal has been a priority.

The report includes an appendix detailing specific projects completed by the Greenspace Volunteers, such as felling ash trees infected with Ash Die Back³, making 'leaky dams' in Baron Fields streams/wetlands, hedge cutting, planting a Rowan tree near the Cenotaph, oak tree coppicing, hedgelaying, Himalayan Balsam removal, ditch renovation, and repairing fencing.

Appointment of Chair and Deputy Chair

The committee will be asked to select the Chair from Tameside MBC and the Deputy Chair from Hyde War Memorial Trust for the municipal year 2025/26, in accordance with a decision made on 5 August 1986.