When I joined Openspace last month and escaped from two years working out of my spare room in Moss Side, it wasn’t for the scenery.

It’s a bright office, full of lovely people doing various interesting things, with a relaxed positive vibe. I dig the co-operative values and running our own space. I’ll be happy enough there.

After looking at prices in Northern Quarter, Castlefields and Didsbury, I figured I could live with the location too.

It was only today with the sun shining and the smell of newly cut grass on the breeze, walking to the local deli, that I noticed what a little oasis of green we sit in.

Here's the Google Satellite View. That’s the landscaped Technopark to the south, the garden centre to the west, and open fields to the north. Really, open fields in Manchester. It's not Wythenshawe Park but there's grass and trees and birds and the odd butterfly to soothe the savage breast and calm the tired mind.

At least until MMU tarmacs over them to build a new campus.
 

Tom Jones sings the Green, Green Grass - I once spent an evening serving him gin & tonics at the Jazzworld Bar, Glastonbury. He was the sweetest guy.