On August 26, 2023 from 10 am to 12 pm the Manchester Conservation Commission will be holding the second event in a series of “Conservation Walks” at the Valley Cemetery in downtown Manchester.
A true Manchester hidden gem, the Valley Cemetery is located just a block from Elm Street and was built in 1840. The cemetery was designed to be a living, “garden cemetery” that should be enjoyed by members of the community on a daily basis. The original cemetery included a chapel, bridges, gazebos, and numerous walking trails that were all well maintained and was a place for families to have picnics and enjoy a day at the park.
Throughout the 1900s the cemetery fell into a state of disrepair and neglect and had become a place to avoid. However, efforts have been underway since the early 2000’s to reclaim this green space in the heart of Manchester. The Valley Cemetery is now listed in the U.S. Register of Historic Places and members of “Valley Volunteers” volunteer every other Saturday to clean the cemetery and to painstakingly restore many of the headstones.
Join the Manchester Conservation Commission, members from the Valley Volunteers, and representatives from the Manchester Department of Public Works for an informative exploration of this urban greenspace and learn about the history of the cemetery from historians and the efforts of local volunteers to take back the cemetery and restore the garden park that it once was. We will also learn about the challenges and victories of the Valley Volunteers group and how you can help their efforts.
This will be a walking tour of the cemetery and will include some paths that go down into the lower parts of the cemetery. While not steep, participants should wear appropriate footwear and bring sunscreen and bug repellent. Participants will also get to explore the inside of the chapel that is slated for restoration.
Participants should park on Pine Street near Grove Street and then walk into the main cemetery entrance. The Conservation Tour will meet just inside the gate.
The tour will depart promptly at 10 am and should take no more than two hours. We anticipate having Spanish interpretation available and multiple Manchester Transit routes pass within close proximity to the Cemetery.
WHO: Manchester Conservation Commission, Manchester Department of Public Works, and the Valley Volunteers Group
WHAT: Conservation Walking Tour of the Valley Cemetery
WHERE: Park on Pine Street near Grove Street and walk into the main cemetery entrance. The group will meet just inside the gate.
WHEN: Saturday, August 26, 2023, 10 am to 12 pm.
For more information or to register please email: conservationcom@manchesternh.gov
The Manchester Conservation Commission, in partnership with the NH Nature Conservancy, welcomes the public for a free educational tour of one of Manchester's unique conservation areas. Join us at the Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail on Sunday July 23 from 10am-12pm.
The Manchester Cedar Swamp is a gem of conservation with some trees that are over 450 years old. The trees include globally rare Atlantic white cedar swamps, black gum, hemlock, and giant rhododendron patches.
The universally accessible Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail includes a spacious parking area, inclusive, informational signage, immersive interpretive points of interest, a non-gendered, family-friendly, ADA-compliant portable restroom, and an audio tour available in both English and Spanish.
Note: The meeting point for the tour is the Cedar Swamp Preserve parking lot on Countryside Boulevard, Manchester, NH.
April 6, 2022 - Some of our Commissioners joined local developers on a site walk to review wetland mitigation for a proposed development between Radburn Street and Smyth Road. Site walks are held periodically for larger development projects brought before the Manchester Planning Department or NH Department of Environmental Services, and offer a great perspective into how projects will be developed that may be harder to wrap your head around with just a map or aerial view of a property.
Pictured Left to Right: Commissioner Emmanuel Uwizeye, Commission Chair Brenda Noiseux, Commissioner Nancy Deol, and Commissioner Donald Waldron.
This is the first post in a new series that the Manchester Conservation Commission has initiated as a way to show citizens what the Commissioners are up to!
A core responsibility of the Manchester Conservation Commission is cataloging, researching, and planning for the protection of the City’s natural resources. This photo was taken during our recent monitoring of the Filips Glen easement, located near Crystal Lake.
