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What to do

Philips Park - 2006-03-19 Orchard Josies GDaughterGreen spaces in the Medlock Valley can be used for playing games, working out, stretching your legs or simply sitting back relaxing. They can also be good places to learning about our environment and history, and to meet other people who share your enthusiasm and interests.  There's there's something here for everyone!


Recreation

Zip Slide Philips ParkThere's plenty to do, play areas in Philips Park, river walk at Clayton Vale use your imagination and race a stick down the river!  Many events take place during the year most of which are free check out the Events Calendar.


Walking

There are excellent opportunities for walking and orienteering. There are numerous routes to explore through Clayton Vale, Philips Park and in the surrounding 'urban countryside', suitable for people of all ages and abilities connecting with SportCity, the city centre and alongside the canal towpath towards Droylsden and Ashton.

There are several walking maps for Philips Park available to download on this website, themed around health, history and wildlife.

The Events Calendar on this website contains details of free, guided health walks along the Medlock Valley. There is also a walking group at Manchester Velodrome that can help you find your feet and get started.


Cycling

Cycling at Clayton Vale

The Medlock Valley are great places to discover by bike. Neighbouring Sportcity is home to National Cycling Centre at Manchester Velodrome, and the area is also part of the National Cycle Network, which provides accessible routes across the city.


Football

Philips Park 5-a-side pitchEver since Victorian times, Philips Park and Clayton Vale have been a popular place for playing football. Even more so today, with neighbours Manchester City Football Club based opposite at SportCity! Philips Park's mutli-sports court and informal 5 a side pitch at Dreyfus Memorial Park within the Vale offer plenty of room for ball skills - whether you're simply out for fun, or training hard as a member of a local club or team.

If you wish to use any of these facilties for football matches then please contact East Area parks to book the sites.

 


For information about Sports Development, visit the City Council website.


Volunteering

Philips Park Wardens

Volunteers play a vital and inspirational role in the management and improvement of Manchester's urban countryside. If you are interested in the environment, and would like to help by attending meetings and work days, or maybe organising events and activities.

Activities include path clearance, balsam pulling, hedge cutting and woodland management.  Together with helping out friends groups at events there is always something to do.

A variety of people volunteer from school children, local people to businesses using the environmental day as a team building challenge.

What to know more or get involved then please contact us at the Medlock Valley Project 0161 220 1000, ask for Jo Fraser.


Children's Play

Childrens playarea

Philips Park provides two play areas for young children: one near to the Lodge on Stuart Street, the other on the Showfield. The play areas are designed to meet the different needs of toddlers and juniors. Manchester Leisure prides itself on creating play environments that are inclusive and offer multi-sensory experiences to help develop motor activity and encourage interactive and imaginative play, in a safe environment.


Inclusive Play

Enabling children to play together benefits the whole community. If any child is prevented from playing it diminishes the play experience for all.

Our desire is that all children are able to access play, without discrimination by over-cautious applications and guidance. All children need and want to take risks in order to explore limits, gain new experiences and develop their capacities from a young age. Children with disabilities have an equal if not a greater need for these opportunities

It is Manchester Leisure's intention to deliver equality for disabled children alongside their non-disabled peers, and this is achieved by making play areas for all children more accessible. We aim to provide enhanced play areas allowing opportunities through positive action and a 'can do' approach.

For more information about children's play areas visit the Manchester Leisure website at www.manchester.gov.uk/leisure