Walkden’s Parr Fold Park celebrates new walking and cycling routes with free day of live music and activities

A free day of live music and activities is coming to Walkden’s Parr Fold Park to celebrate new and improved walking and cycling routes.

The new transport links connect residents of Boothstown, Walkden and Worsley with RHS Garden Bridgewater, providing 6.2km of new or upgraded walking and cycling routes, 4.6km of which are traffic free, including a link along the north towpath of the Bridgewater Canal.

Happening on Sun 8 Sep, Make Tracks, which is a collaboration between Salford City Council and From The Other (the team behind Sounds from the Other City), will fill Parr Fold Park with music courtesy of Greater Manchester musicians and DJs.

The event will be hosted by powerful soul vocalist Yemi Bolatiwa, and her band Yemi Bolatiwa & The Jam Jivers will be performing on the park’s bandstand alongside vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ada Grace Francis, and the world music, jazz-fusion, neo soul, hip-hop, rock, and afro-inspired NGUVU.

Steelpan soloist Zola Steelpan and ukelele band The Streetgate Strummers will be busking on the park’s pathways, and Manchester favourite DJ Jenna G will be behind the wheel of a travelling disco leading a procession of skaters, dancers and attendees on a journey around the park.

Along with the music, there’ll be workshops inviting the public to decorate or fix up their bike, planting and gardening tips from the RHS and Friends of Parr Fold Park and beginner skateboarders can pick up tricks from Projekts MCR. There will also be food and refreshments available at the Pavillion cafe

RHS Garden Bridgewater is also offering 50 free tickets for people to enter the gardens on the morning of Make Tracks for a free tour, followed by a guided history walk led by Suzanne Hindle through Worsley to Parr Fold Park, or a group cycle led by Bee Pedal Ready from RHS Garden Bridgewater to Parr Fold Park where guests can then join the party. To grab a free ticket, all you have to do is register here.

Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, says: “Salford City Council is fully committed to playing our role in helping achieve national NetZero goals and we are immensely proud to celebrate this addition to our continuously expanding Bee Network. The RHS Cycling and Walking Links scheme provides 6.2km of new or upgraded walking and cycling routes linking local communities to RHS Garden Bridgewater in Worsley and to other facilities, including Parr Fold Park, Walkden train station and Boothstown Marina.

“We are delighted to host an exciting event that brings people together for a day filled with music, entertainment and activities. As well as being enjoyable for all, Make Tracks will offer an opportunity for people to find out more about the many advantages of active travel. Together, we can embrace a greener future for Salford.”

You can keep up to date with event updates here.