Rob Trueblood: A true friend of Greater Manchester's nature, honoured

He was a teacher and a trade unionist. But his love of the outdoors left a legacy for his local community.

Today (Sunday) a simple tribute was unveiled to Rob Trueblood. A plaque was installed next to six willow saplings already planted in his memory at Springwater Park in Whitefield.

Rob played a key part in assisting the setting up of a group of volunteers whose work at the country park has helped create an urban oasis in the shadow of the M60. The River Irwell and River Roch merge there and, during the seasons, sand martins, kingfishers, grey wagtails, dippers, kestrels, buzzards, and little egrets are among the birds which breed, feed, and hunt in its grassy fields and clough.

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The land, just a mile and a half from Junction 17 of the motorway, one of the busiest in the region, has been reclaimed by nature after it was once an industrial site. Scattered through the woods are ruins of bleachworks buildings - cobbled paths and stone pillars which were once an ornate entrance. But a symphony of birdsong can be heard in its woods every day.

In 2016 Rob had the vision to write to Bury Council's Greenspaces Officer, Paul Robinson suggesting a Friends of group be set up for Springwater Park. He wrote: "I went over to have a look and - OMG x 100 !- couldn't believe how much balsam there was lining the access road and along the Irwell, not to mention the giant hogweed ....so there's a job for some time to come."

He added there were two distinct user groups. One was 'those who drive in down the very rutted track off Lily