Restoring Philips Park: Breathing Life Back into an Ancient Woodland

Philips Park, a 70-hectare nature reserve at the heart of Greater Manchester, is one of the region’s most treasured natural spaces — and one of its oldest. Much of this site is classified as ancient semi-natural woodland, a rare and precious habitat that has quietly supported wildlife for centuries. Like so many of the UK’s woodlands, however, Philips Park has felt the strain of time, urbanisation, and invasive species.

That’s why the Philips Park Ancient Woodland Restoration Project marks such an important step forward in our sustainability journey. Over the next 12 months, we’re working with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to carefully restore this woodland, improving conditions for the species that call it home and ensuring it continues to thrive for future generations.

“As a business, we’ve always taken our environmental impact seriously, from maintaining ISO 14001 standards and using sustainable energy to recycling all our waste and supporting tree-planting projects around the world. At the same time, we’ve been looking for a way to make a difference closer to home, so identifying a Manchester-based project to support became a key priority.” – Daniel Foster, Managing Director, 34SP.com

Understanding Before Acting

The first step in restoration is understanding what’s already there. Using bioacoustic recorders, surveys will be carried out to monitor bird species across targeted areas of woodland. These technologies help build a detailed picture of the site’s biodiversity, revealing patterns in species presence, abundance, and activity that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Guided by Nature, Grounded in Action

The survey insights will directly inform practical restoration work. Our Manchester-based team will be joining Lancashire Wildlife Trust volunteers on-site throughout the year, working on various tasks, from thinning overgrown areas to removing invasive plant species that threaten native flora. Establishing healthy ground vegetation and rebalancing the woodland structure will improve conditions not just for birds, but also for bats, insects, and the ecosystem as a whole.

Community and Collaboration

This project will be delivered by the skilled team at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, supported by our team at 34SP.com, strengthening our shared commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

We’re delighted to add this project to our ongoing commitments to sustainability – the Wildlife Trust, founded in 1962, now manages over 1,288 hectares of protected habitats across Lancashire, Manchester, and North Merseyside.

“Improving our environmental impact is more than just a tick box exercise for us. Rather than just giving money, it is important that we also give our time and help to make positive changes. We are all very excited to get hands on and help to make a difference at a local level which is why this project is such a perfect fit.” – Laura Seaton, Customer Experience, 34SP.com

Our wider commitments to sustainable hosting and business

Our sustainability work combines environmentally conscious hosting with positive community impact. From renewable-powered data centres and full hardware recycling to climate and habitat projects through Ecologi, we’re reducing our footprint and restoring nature. Independently verified partnerships with The Green Web Foundation, as well as a long history of having worked with the Woodland Trust, keep our efforts focused. In addition, UK hiring, Living Wage pay, and a values-led team ensure we “do the right thing” for customers and the planet.