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A transformative £5 million initiative aiming to bring “more nature to where people live and work” has surpassed expectations, impacting 1,600 communities—an impressive eightfold increase over the initial target.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Wildlife Trusts launched the “Nextdoor Nature” program. Over the past two years, it has connected with communities across the UK that have traditionally been left out of nature-based decision-making or have had limited access to green spaces in their locales.
The Wildlife Trusts reported that the project initially sought to work with 200 communities but ultimately expanded its reach to 1,600.
Throughout the country, Wildlife Trusts adopted grassroots organizing methods, actively reaching out to groups they hadn’t engaged with previously. The goal was to support these communities in ways that mattered to them—promoting activities chosen by residents to foster meaningful connections with nature.
These projects varied widely in scope and approach. The Trusts collaborated with Roma communities in East Belfast to support wildlife-friendly gardening. In Derby, the effort extended to rewilding sections of the city center, while in Kent, partnerships connected local schools with rare bird reintroduction schemes. Each effort is tailored to the unique needs and interests of the local population, creating a sense of ownership over local natural spaces.
A report commissioned by the Wildlife Trusts revealed promising outcomes: 95% of participants believed the project fostered stronger collaborations among residents, local groups, and organizations. Additionally, 82% felt that local people now had a more incredible voice in decisions related to local wildlife.
“We need to bring everyone on board; this is conservation from the grassroots up,” stated Barbara Polonara of the Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Wildlife Trust.
This initiative unfolds against the backdrop of a broader crisis, with the UK—and indeed the world—facing severe declines in biodiversity. Meanwhile, the mental health and wellness advantages of connecting with green spaces and nature are increasingly acknowledged.
Barbara Polonara, a community wildlife officer at the Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Wildlife Trust, shared her experiences working with diverse groups, from the local Men’s Shed, which constructed wildlife homes such as swift boxes, to providing gardening tools and support for a refugee group’s allotments.
“This project was aiming to bring more nature to where people live and work,” she said.
Unlike traditional conservation projects focused on nature reserves, this scheme aimed to bring wildlife to where the community is and support people in developing schemes they wanted and would continue with, she said.
“There’s not a lot of underserved communities involved in conservation. We need to encourage everyone to be part of it; it’s a grassroots approach to conservation,” she said.
“Overall, I do feel the community has been left with more motivation to help wildlife, more knowledge about what’s been happening to nature, and are able to appreciate what is around them much more.
“I really do believe it’s making a difference, and we are motivating and encouraging people to carry on.”
One tangible example of this transformation is the garden surrounding the TVPS center in Burnham, Slough. What was once an overgrown and uninviting space is now a wildlife haven, cared for by volunteers who use the garden as a place for restoration and growth. Hardy plants like hawthorn, pyracantha, crab apple, and lavender provide food for pollinators and habitats for birds. At the same time, bug hotels affixed to an ivy-covered tree trunk offer refuge for insects.
TVPS's chief executive, Sarah Macadam, said they were initially skeptical about the initiative because it was “not a natural connection,” and they had never worked with a wildlife charity before.
But it was a “bit of a wake-up call” that they were not utilising the garden and are now using all the space available to support their service users.
She said: “It’s created volunteering opportunities, given different means of interacting with our service users, it’s definitely helped with their mental health.
“It’s easier to have some of those difficult conversations or help people open up; it’s much easier to do that outside when you’re doing something together.”
Adam Somerville, a volunteer at TVPS, said the garden was popular with service users, from those who “come every week to make improvements and are not afraid to get their hands dirty” to those who come now and again and are surprised by how much progress has been made.
He said gardening was a great activity for improving well-being, adding, “Our service users really get a lot out of the opportunity to help build something to benefit our wider community.
“Like the TVPS centre, the garden is another space for our service users to unwind and take a break from everyday life, for which they are very grateful.”
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