It started with caring for home – Lockleaze’s story
12 March 2026
When people think about community climate action, they don’t always think of urban neighbourhoods. But across Bristol, many communities care about the green spaces on their doorstep. They will do whatever they can to protect them.
This is particularly true in Lockleaze, a north Bristol estate. Here, residents work together to protect wildlife, build confidence and make their neighbourhood greener. With support from the Climate Action Fund, local people are turning love for their green spaces into action. Their efforts are benefitting the community and nature.
A neighbourhood that cares
Lockleaze is a residential community in Bristol with sweeping views across the city and lots of shared green space. The area includes 66 acres of housing greens and verges. It also has two important nature corridors that support local wildlife.
People who live in Lockleaze have always valued these spaces. They’re places to walk, play, chat and meet neighbours. Over time, residents noticed the pressures facing wildlife, especially as nearby development increased. They wanted to do something positive together.
That’s where Really Wild Lockleaze by Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust comes in. It’s a resident-led project that supports local people to create positive change for themselves and their community. The community tests new approaches to nature recovery at neighbourhood scale in urban housing estates.
The project is part of the wider Community Climate & Nature Action Project coordinated by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership. It is supported by the Climate Action Fund (CAF), supporting communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in environmental action.
Making space for nature, together
At its heart, Really Wild Lockleaze is a simple idea: give people practical, enjoyable ways to care for the places they live.
Residents can get involved in activities like:
- adopting a verge on their street
- planting wildflowers
- taking part in informal “guerrilla gardening” sessions
- learning more about local wildlife and habitats
These small, hands-on actions help nature thrive while also bringing people together outdoors. Sometimes it starts with a trowel and a chat.
Among those getting involved are Harry and Harvey, two school-aged boys who live in Lockleaze. Through the project, they’ve learned about local wildlife and spent time outside with neighbours. They’ve also helped plant wildflowers across the estate and are even working towards making a stronger habitat for the Small Blue Butterfly- a point of real pride for the community. A great outcome for a great neighbourhood-led project.
Watching things grow
CAF funding has helped Really Wild Lockleaze continue and grow. It’s supported the creation of an urban wildlife corridor that links the estate with nearby green spaces, giving nature more room to flourish.
Harry and Harvey are still involved, keeping an eye on the wildflowers they planted and watching how the spaces change over time. For them – and many others – the project has made nature feel closer, more visible and something they can care for.
It’s also helped neighbours connect, share knowledge and feel part of something positive in their local area. Small actions, taken together, which all add up.
Get started
Really Wild Lockleaze shows that community climate action doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as meeting neighbours outside, planting seeds and seeing what grows. What matters is that it starts and works for the people involved.
We support environmental projects of all shapes and sizes. We offer grants from £300 up to £20,000 through our open Awards for All programme to grants over £500,000 through our Climate Action Fund. Find out more about environment funding in your area and apply