How do I report someone sleeping rough in a council park?
If you see someone in need of medical attention, please call 999 or 111.
Email the A Bed Every Night team on ABEN@salford.gov.uk if you are concerned about someone sleeping rough in a council park. They will visit the individual to discuss what support they can offer.
What should I do if I find Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and/or Himalayan Balsam on a council park?
Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam are invasive non-native plants which may occur on council parks or open spaces.
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed outcompetes native plants and can cause structural damage. It is an offence to plant or cause this species to grow in the wild.
Japanese Knotweed is best controlled by herbicide. Strimming, cutting or flailing cause it to spread by rhizome or stem fragments being carried to new areas.
The council’s Grounds Maintenance team apply herbicide to Japanese Knotweed on council owned land twice a year, usually mid-May to June and again in October.
More about reporting Japanese Knotweed
Giant Hogweed
Giant hogweed sap contains a chemical which can react with sunlight to cause dangerous skin irritation including; burning, itching or blistering. This can take 48 hours to appear after exposure.
Do not touch Giant Hogweed. If you come into contact cover your affected skin from sunlight, rinse with cold water as soon as possible and seek medical advice.
The council’s Grounds Maintenance team apply herbicide to Giant Hogweed on council owned land twice a year, usually mid-May to June and again in October.
More about reporting Giant Hogweed
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam can be found in wetter places. While the council do not treat Himalayan Balsam with herbicides, the plant can be controlled by individuals pulling the plants repeatedly over several years. This Balsam Bashing activity can be done by community groups or with our council Ranger volunteering teams. Each plant can produce 800 seeds, so the ideal time to pull balsam is before the pink flowers appear.
Tell us if you see Himalayan Balsam on council parks or open spaces below
Report Himalayan Balsam
Visit the Non-native Species Secretariat website for more information on non-native invasive species.
How do I report a horse grazing on a council park or open space?
Fly grazing is placing a horse(s) on someone else’s land to graze without landowner permission. No horses are permitted to graze on council parks, sports pitches or open spaces.
If you see a horse fly grazing please report it to Greater Manchester Police via 101 or if there is a danger to park or road users call 999.
If the horse has not been claimed within 96 hours the horse ownership will legally be passed to the council.
How do I report off-road bikes in a park or open space?
It is an offence to ride off-road bikes including Mini Motos, Go-Peds, mechanical scooters, trial bikes or quad bikes in a park or open space. This can lead to prosecution, the vehicle being removed alongside driving bans and large fines.
If you see an off-road bike in a council park or open space please report it to the Greater Manchester Police using their report antisocial behaviour webpage, or by calling 101 for non-emergency or 999 for an emergency.
Discoloured or foamy water - I think I’ve found 'blue-green algae', what should I do?
Cyanobacteria, commonly known as 'blue-green algae' can appear in lakes, ponds and waterways during long periods of settled, sunny and warm weather. The algae can produce blooms or foams which can persist through the summer season.
'Blue-green algae' can have green, blue-green or green-brown colourations and can produce earthy odours.
Algae blooms or foams can be toxic and harmful to animals and people. Not all blue-green algae blooms and scums are toxic, but you can’t tell by looking at them, so always assume they are and keep pets and people out of the water.
If you find ‘'Blue-green algae' report it straight to the 24/7 Environment Agency incident line on 0800 80 70 60.
The Environment Agency will collect samples from reported locations and if they confirm the presence of ‘'Blue-green algae' they will notify the council who will then display warning signs.
How do I report a dead bird in a council park or open space?
If you find a dead wild bird on a council park or open space please report it directly to the Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs department (DEFRA) using the report dead wild birds webpage or calling the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
DEFRA will triage reports and potentially collect dead birds to test for avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
Wild birds are susceptible to a range of diseases and injuries, so not all dead birds are removed from site.
Lighting can be used to improve access and safety within parks; however, it can also increase the frequency of negative behaviour. We will therefore assess any requests for additional lighting within parks on a case-by-case basis.