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Help people connect to and care for nature

Help people connect with and care for nature in their area

We want to fund projects that help people engage with accessible nature close to home.

Under this aim, we will fund projects that:

  • make a positive difference to local green spaces
  • help connect local people to nature

Make a positive difference to local green spaces

You could do this by:

  • creating community gardens or shared spaces for growing food or plants
  • rewilding or restoring neglected green areas
  • running volunteer sessions to care for green spaces
  • improving parks or playgrounds to support nature and wildlife

Help connect local people to nature

You could do this by:

  • running forest schools or outdoor learning activities to help people engage with nature and improve their wellbeing
  • organising activities in nature for people who do not usually access green spaces
  • creating or improving community allotment plots with wildlife-friendly features
  • offering volunteering in horticulture or community farming and providing outdoor therapy that supports both people and the environment

Projects and activities we’ve funded for this aim

Nature-based spaces for learning and play

A community group set up bee hives to support pollination, boost biodiversity, and teach people about nature and food production. They also developed a forest school space with a small shelter and fencing to create a safe, welcoming area for bushcraft and nature play.

Extending a community green space

One organisation transformed a disused area by expanding a shared green space. This created more room for people to enjoy and connect with nature.

Running outdoor activities

Another group delivered regular activities like park and canal walks, gardening, and community picnics.

What we will not fund

Outdoor classroom and sensory garden in a school

A school planned to create an outdoor classroom and sensory garden. The space would mainly benefit pupils, with very limited access for the wider community.

Garden makeover by college students

College students improved a garden as part of a course at an alternative education provider. The project supported learning but did not benefit the wider community.

One-off community festival

This one-off festival included a commitment to sustainability. But it had no environmental activities and did not align with the programme’s aims.