How Green Spaces are Boosting Wellbeing in Greater Manchester

• Nature-based activities such as gardening have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Building on this evidence, Sow the City’s community project at Castlefield Viaduct is turning disused urban space into a nature hub.
• Participants from Working Well: Support Succeed are benefiting from the initiative by gaining confidence, skills, and social connection through its workshops.

In A.D. 305, Diocletian became the first Roman emperor to willingly give up the throne.   

He retired to a sprawling palace on the Dalmatian coast, near the present-day Croatian city of Split, where, by all accounts, he tended to his vegetable gardens.

Later, when asked whether he might return to steady the ship of state, Diocletian supposedly dismissed the idea out of hand:

“If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he would never dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Indeed, a large body of research suggests that spending time in nature can benefit a person’s overall mental wellbeing, including reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Looking after a garden, as Diocletian did, has also been linked to positive outcomes. A recent study by the University of Sheffield found that, in addition to helping people connect with the natural world, regular gardening can improve physical health, provide a strong sense of community, and encourage healthy eating habits.

But how can people who live in nature-deprived towns and cities gain access to green spaces?

To mark National Allotments Week, we spoke to the Working Well: Support to Succeed team and the Manchester-based social enterprise Sow the City to find out about an innovative project they’re running at the Grade II listed Castlefield Viaduct, which, funnily enough, is right next door to an old Roman fort…

A greener Manchester, one seed at a time

The viaduct’s green turn began in February 2023, when Sow the City partnered with the National Trust to launch ‘In Our Nature Garden’.

The initiative drew on environmental psychology research from the University of Derby to create a natural haven amid steel spans and cast-iron columns.

The plot features a pond, various wildlife habitats, and a medley of bee-friendly plants – from foxgloves and cranesbill to ragged robin and geum – giving visitors the chance to swap the hustle and bustle of the city centre for a more tranquil setting.

Although the project was only supposed to run for six months, its success led the site to reopen in 2024, this time with a new space for community workshops, craft sessions, and other DIY activities.

The aim is to empower people to enjoy the wealth of nature, develop their own green skills, and pass on useful horticultural knowledge, such as seed sowing and propagation, to others.

Among those benefiting from the space and accompanying expert guidance are participants from a local tailored support programme.

Green spaces and wellbeing

Working Well: Support to Succeed has helped thousands of Greater Manchester residents build skills, confidence, and community connections by offering support in areas like digital skills, money management, health, volunteering, and career advice.

It works closely with local community organisations to make sure the help is easy to access, culturally sensitive, and delivered in trusted neighbourhood spaces.

The Castlefield Viaduct workshops have proven to be a great match for the programme’s goals, with several groups taking part over the past year.

To begin with, the viaduct gardens and places like them serve as ideal gathering spots, where people from different backgrounds can meet one another, make friends, and form lasting communal bonds.

On the wellbeing front, natural environments have been shown to produce a whole host of mental health benefits. For example, immersing oneself in nature has been linked to a reduction in stress hormone levels and improved immune responses. What’s more, those who frequently interact with green spaces tend to exercise more, which in turn can decrease the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Accessible green spaces also contribute to cleaner air, decreased urban heat, and greater biodiversity, while boosting local economies and investment.

It’s no surprise, then, the latest Working Well: Support to Succeed cohort found themselves agreeing with Diocletian’s appreciation for the simple things in life.

One participant reflected: “I loved today. It was incredible to see nature in the city. We got to explore the place with knowledgeable people who taught me a lot.”

Another said: “It was a great day. We got to chat about what we would grow back home and what we could grow here. I enjoyed planting seeds, too.”

Proof enough that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives. We help people and businesses across the UK to develop, grow and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber.

Contact us today to find out more.

Working Well: Support to Succeed is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The city-region's allocation, managed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and delivered by The Growth Company, will provide support for up to 8,872 residents between January 2024 and March 2026.