IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Allanson Road, MANCHESTER, M22 4HN

A sculpture of a heron by Philip Bews http://www.bewsgorvin.co.uk/index.html was installed on the banks of the Mersey at Northenden in March 2010 Image It has since been enclosed within fencing.

The M60 Motorway crosses the floodplain of the River Mersey in the Northenden/Didsbury area to the south of Manchester. Sluice gates in the levees of the river allow controlled flooding and draining of a designated area. Tunnels such as the one pictured were built into the embankment of the motorway during its construction to enable passage of the flood waters.(see Image)

In the Didsbury/Northenden area high levees have been constructed to contain the River Mersey and prevent flooding. At times, however, it becomes necessary to flood designated areas hereabouts to stop the river over topping its banks or to control flooding further downstream. These sluice gates (and another set further upstream at Didsbury) control the water flow into and out of the flooded land at these times. ( See also Image)

On Mill Lane, Northenden. I don't know how old the sign is.

A grey heron standing near the bottom of the weir at Northenden. (It can be seen in Image]). During the nineteenth century, the increase in industry along the banks of the Mersey caused it to become one of the most polluted rivers in Europe and wildlife was virtually wiped out. It is only relatively recently that fish have been once again been able to survive in the river. The heron is one symbol of the improvement to the river's water quality since the 1980s. Of course it could also symbolise the decline of the local industry. http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=25467717&displayclass=bigger for more photos of this heron

A grey heron wades in the fast flowing waters near bottom of the weir at Northenden. (It can be seen in Image]). The heron is one symbol of the improvement to the river's water quality (and hence fish stocks) since the 1980s. During the nineteenth century, the increase in industry along the banks of the Mersey caused it to become one of the most polluted rivers in Europe and wildlife became virtually extinct. It is only in recently decades that fish have been once again been able to survive in the river. Of course the presence of the heron could also symbolise the decline of local industry. http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=25467717&displayclass=bigger for more photos of this heron

A grey heron standing in the fast flowing waters near bottom of the weir at Northenden. (It can be seen in Image]). The heron is one symbol of the improvement to the river's water quality (and hence fish stocks) since the 1980s. During the nineteenth century, the increase in industry along the banks of the Mersey caused it to become one of the most polluted rivers in Europe and wildlife became virtually extinct. It is only in recently decades that fish have been once again been able to survive in the river. Of course the presence of the heron could also symbolise the decline of local industry. http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=25467717&displayclass=bigger for more photos of this heron