The River Croal and ponds in Queens Park are being given a new lease of life after Bolton Council teamed up with local volunteers and United Utilities.
The river and ponds were once a haven for wildlife and even today are home to ducks, coots, moorhens, herons and beautiful but elusive kingfishers.
But over time the ponds had become blocked by silt and overgrown by weeds, reducing their value for wildlife and leaving them looking less attractive for visitors to the park.
Carefully removing the silt and weeds has created a healthier, cleaner habitat that will support an even richer range of plants and wildlife.
New features made from the silt and weeds will naturally regenerate over time, attracting even more life and biodiversity to the park.
Work has also started on cleaning the River Croal where it runs through Queens Park, helping to restore its natural beauty for wildlife and visitors.
Shopping trolleys, car tyres and other debris have been removed.
About half of the river in the park has already been cleaned and the rest is expected to be finished over the next few months.
Earlier this year Queens Park was awarded a prestigious Green Flag award, recognising it as one of the best parks in the country.
The coveted awards are the international quality mark for parks and green spaces and it was the ninth time Queens Park has been handed one.
It followed 12 months of particularly hard work when the council and friends group completed several improvements to the park.
They included new litter bins, new planting, repairs to signage and benches, and the installation of the park’s first duck feed machines.
A new sensory garden is also expected to be complete by the autumn.
About £100,000 has been secured for further developments that include reinstating the historic fountain and additional improvements to the children’s playground.
Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Environment, Cllr Richard Silvester, said:
“Bolton is rightly proud of its parks and green space and Queens Park is one of the jewels in the crown.
“I personally walk through the park most days and it has been thrilling to see its rejuvenation and improvement.
“I want to especially thank the fantastic volunteers of the Friends of Queens Park, whose efforts are so valuable, as well as the River Rangers from United Utilities.
“I’m looking forward to spotting the new wildlife along the river and in the ponds.”
Ruth Crawford of the Friends of Queens Park, said:
"Members of the Friends of Queens Park were pleased to join the river clean-up initiative, as we share a deep commitment to making a positive impact on the environment.
“This was a great opportunity to help restore a section of the river’s natural beauty and biodiversity within Queens Park.
“Through a few of us working together, we hope this has inspired others to take action, proving that even small efforts can make a difference to the local area.”
Dave Greenwood from United Utilities added:
“Our River Rangers were delighted to support the clean-up. It was a team effort and it’s fantastic to see a group of like-minded people coming together and having such a positive impact.”