Students protested with community groups against Manchester Metropolitan University’s (MMU) decision to sell a much loved field in south Manchester. Ryebank Fields in Chorlton has been at the heart of a battle of green space versus housing for over 25 years.
The fields, which sit on the border between Manchester and Trafford, were gifted to MMU under Margaret Thatcher's government back in the 1980s for use of sports and recreation. However, many locals believe selling the land off to private developers is against the spirit of the gift of land.
The protest camp, once a few scattered tents, now composes of an entire eco-house complete with a wood burner, solar panels and a bike shed, and has stood on a corner of Ryebank Fields since April 2021 so there is a constant protest against development.
