The chocolate box village hidden between the M60 and inner city Manchester

Just a few yards from the roar of HGVs and cars thundering along Hyde Road there's a hidden corner of inner-city Manchester that's steeped in nature and history. Gore Brook Valley in Gorton is home to a butterfly garden, historic pubs, grand old parks, a grade-II listed church, a watersports centre, 200-year-old cottages and handsome Victorian terraces.

But unless you're local you might not even realise it's there. Vicky and Chris Kennedy run Debdale Nature Centre in Debdale Park with fellow volunteer Andy Parsons.

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"People drive down Hyde Road and see all the run-down shops and they have no idea what's actually here," said Chris, 45 over a brew in the portable cabin which doubles up as the visitors centre.

"We're about three miles out of the city centre. About 300 yards over there is one of Manchester's busiest A roads and the M60 is on the other side of the reservoir. But you wouldn't know it sat here."

Outside a ring-necked parakeet - one of a flock of the exotic birds which has made their home in the park - picks at a few nuts from a bird table that's linked to a r ound-the clock YouTube live feed. A poster outside the visitor centre lists some of the other species spotted in the garden, including woodpeckers, goldfinch, sparrowhawks and tawny owls.

"We were here at 4.30am on Sunday to record the dawn chorus because it was International Dawn Chorus Day," says Vicky, 38. "It was so loud. There are so many birds here, so much wildlife. It was quite surreal actually."

Chris and Vicky took over the nature centre last March and quickly set about turning into a thriving community hub.