Heaton Park is probably the first place that springs to mind when you think of green spaces in Prestwich. With more than 600 acres of land to explore, it’s certainly worthy of being one of Greater Manchester’s best-known parks.
Yet on the other side of Prestwich, bordering the River Irwell, there's a park which offers you a slightly wilder experience. Managed by Forestry England, Drinkwater Park features a patchwork of native woodland and open meadows.
With different paths weaving through this green space it feels like a proper rural escape from the suburbs surrounding it. There are lots of routes to explore, riverside views to take in and wildlife to look out for.
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The park features several habitats for animals from the reservoir in the centre to the wooded areas. Frogs and toads breed in the park’s wetlands, while kingfishers, herons, foxes, rabbits and even the odd dear are among some of the creatures you can see there.
As well as being a popular spot for walking, Drinkwater Park is a great place for a bike ride as the National Cycle Network 6 passes through the site. Other activities which take place at the park include horse riding and fishing.
Hidden in a clearing among the trees are the remains of a building, Irwell House, which reveals some of the park’s history. The land itself was bought by Peter Drinkwater, a prominent Manchester textile mill owner in the 1790s and he would stay at Irwell House, built on the banks of the river, during the summer months.
The land, including Irwell House, was left to his daughters after Peter’s son died and it was then bought by Salford and Prestwich councils in 1902. Irwell House was then converted to a smallpox hospital due to its isolated position, but it was later abandoned and fell into disrepair.
In 1958 the house was damaged in a fire during a civil defence exercise and it was then demolished a few years later. Today you can still see the foundations of the building, the remains of a few walls and what’s left of the overgrown gardens as nature reclaims the site.
Whether you decide to try and find the ruins of Irwell House, or just take a leisurely stroll along the river, you’re guaranteed to feel a sense of escapism when you explore Drinkwater Park. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in nature and take some time out from daily life.
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