Zero Waste Manchester (Bee Network and Unicorn Grocery)

• Near Royton, Tandle Hill Country Park has woodland, open grassland and views across Greater Manchester towards the Pennines. It is a handy option for a walk without travelling far from Oldham and Rochdale.
• Hollingworth Lake Country Park, near Littleborough, combines a reservoir, woodland and surrounding hills. The circular lakeside route is popular with walkers, while nearby paths lead into the wider countryside. North-west of Bolton, Rivington Pike and the surrounding West Pennine Moors offer woodland, reservoirs and open hill walks. The area can be busy, particularly at weekends.
• Jumbles Country Park, near Bolton, has a reservoir, woodland paths and picnic areas. It is a good choice for a shorter countryside visit, with routes through trees and along the water.
• At Compstall, near Stockport, Etherow Country Park sits beside the River Etherow and a former mill pond. Its woodland, water and meadows attract birds and other wildlife.
• Bramhall Park in Stockport offers woodland, open lawns and walking routes around the historic estate. For a longer riverside outing, explore parts of the Mersey Valley, which follows the river through green spaces and parks south of Manchester. River paths can become muddy or flooded, so check conditions before setting out.
• Near Altrincham, Dunham Massey includes a historic estate, parkland and woodland managed by the National Trust. The wider landscape supports wildlife, including deer.

Manchester’s Bee Network 

Manchester tram

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s joined-up public transport network, bringing together buses and trams, with local train services being added in stages. It can make car-free trips to parks and nature spots easier—but routes, fares and service details can change, so check the app or site before travel.

Many trips can  take you near to nature sites, without need for a car:

• Heaton Park: Take a Bee Network bus or tram towards the park and check the best stop for your entrance.
• Chorlton Water Park: Local buses serve the Chorlton area; plan your last leg carefully, as it may involve a walk.
• Fletcher Moss: Travel by bus or train towards Didsbury, then walk to the gardens.
• Hollingworth Lake: Bee Network services can help with journeys towards Littleborough, though the final walk and service frequency depend on your starting point.
• Dovestone Reservoir: Plan this trip carefully: public transport options and the walk from the nearest stop may vary.

Unicorn Grocery (a locally-owned supermarket)

Unicorn Grocery is a thriving food co-operative that is owned by its staff (who get paid a real living wage). All items are vegan (2500 foods) and fresh produce is from its own farm.

It also offers organic beers and eco-refillable beauty and household items, sold in plastic-free packaging. Salads and olives are sold in reusable tubs, and there’s even a soup cup deposit scheme.

Get discounts with the loyalty card. Prices are good (due to no shareholders and local produce). A few items cost more (like homemade flapjack). The ‘Good Stuff’ apple logo indicates favourite companies.

If buying plants or flowers, read up on pet-friendly gardens to know what to avoid. For tinned foods, rinse/remove lids (or pop ring-pulls over holes) then step on cans to pinch the inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped at recycling points.

And the good news is that Unicorn Grocery has a free Grow a Grocery guide to bring the same to your town!