On Sunday nights, Happy Valley fans have been glued to their TV screens to catch the latest installments of the BBC One drama. It has returned for a third and final series almost seven years after the second season aired.
The gritty police drama stars Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood and James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce, the man who raped her daughter. Siobhan Finneran also plays Catherine’s sister Clare Cartwright in the Sally Wainwright drama, which has viewers gripped.
The show is set in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, however has taken in filming locations across the North West - with one scene even filmed in Bolton.
READ MORE:
Yet nestled between Hazel Grove and Bramhall is Greater Manchester’s very own Happy Valley - and no, it’s nothing like the one on TV. This Happy Valley is a small nature reserve, hidden behind Bridge Lane.
As its name suggests, it's a valley lined with areas of ancient woodland and marshy grassland. Flowing through it is Ladybrook, a stream which starts its journey in Cheadle and flows all the way to Disley.
The area was made a nature reserve in 1999 and a group of volunteers, Friends of Ladybrook Valley, help to maintain the site. According to the group, the name originated from the late 1800s to early 1900s when valleys were commonly referred to as happy, most likely a place where workers could enjoy the outdoors.
Today the nature reserve is home to a wide variety of habitats and wildlife, from small mammals such as moles and shrews to a range of birds including kingfishers and herons. The 17-hectare valley contains areas of ancient woodland, the Great Reddish Woods, and in the spring you’ll find the ground blanketed with bluebells.
Happy Valley is a tranquil place to go for walks, with trails you can follow along the brook - although be prepared as it can get muddy when the weather is wet, so wearing wellies is advised. The brook is crossed by a series of picturesque stepping stones , which is a popular feature with adventurous dogs.
Although this nature reserve is quite small, you can easily extend your walk by going to Bramhall Park. Happy Valley is also part of the Ladybrook Valley Interest Trail, a route through South Manchester which follows the brook from Cheadle to Disley.
For more of the latest What's On news, click here.
READ NEXT:
- The winter walk in Greater Manchester inside the M60 with a countryside feel
- Manchester barber from iconic Happy Valley scene talks 'crazy' experience of cutting Tommy Lee Royce's hair on camera
- The beautiful Peak District villages you can visit for just £2
- Life in real Happy Valley street where Sergeant Catherine Cawood lives
- The prettiest villages near Greater Manchester to visit in 2023
