Countryfile: People-power dramatically helps communities and wildlife

Back in November, a comprehensive report commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts revealed the striking results of the £5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund Nextdoor Nature programme which enabled Wildlife Trusts to work with communities across the UK for two years. — writes Erin McDaid of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Whilst originally designed to reach 200 communities, it went on to reach 1600 – 8 times the original target – including a diverse range of groups in Nottingham.

Transformations have taken place in communities which have traditionally or historically been excluded from influencing decisions about nature and the environment where they live.

Back in 2021, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust launched its ten-year vision for creating a wilder Nottinghamshire for all.

At the heart of our vision was what we called a people powered movement for nature – recognising that we would not be able to rise to the challenges alone.

Whilst proud of our local roots and record of local action, we’ve struggled to reach all parts of the community to support action for nature and climate.

Being part of the Nextdoor Nature project provided us with resources to mobilise communities that have previously had little or no engagement with our work, but our aim wasn’t to encourage people to volunteer for us or support us as donors and members – but to help develop the skills, tools and new opportunities for people to take action for nature on their doorstep.

Across the UK, the project has seen Wildlife Trusts work with Roma communities in East Belfast to support wildlife gardening, linking local schools with rare bird reintroduction schemes in Kent, rewilding Derby town centre and a nature-friendly faith space in Slough.

Nextdoor Nature’s legacy will live on beyond the end of the funding so that local communities can continue the work using their new skills and contacts.

Locally, we have worked with groups including St Aidan's Church (Basford) who were keen to develop their church garden, the Meadows Rewilding Project who were keen to ensure that newly-created butterfly habitats were protected, residents of Burrows Court and Byron Court (Sneinton) to improve their communal gardens and local environment through habitat creation and litter picking, and students at Nottingham College keen to help improve and maintain natural greenspace on campus.

Locally, Nextdoor Nature has enabled Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to act as a guiding hand – offering advice and support but also listening to what the communities need from us.

Our aim was to support communities to find ways that they could make a difference to people and nature in their local areas and continue making a difference.

Across the country, 95% of the participants in the Nextdoor Nature programme said that the project has resulted in greater collaborative working between residents, local organisations and groups. 82% felt locals now had more of a say in decisions about local wildlife.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund described the project as being transformative - supporting their vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone and delivering against their ambition to connect people and communities to heritage and the natural environment.

We’ve been humbled by the astonishing change that communities have achieved locally and across the UK.

The programme has demonstrated that when communities are supported to make a difference for nature, amazing and creative things happen that connect nature and people.

On top of the transformations that have happened in places and communities over the past two years, we’re hugely excited by the fact that these changes are now part of a sustainable legacy as more and more people become inspired to act for nature where they live.

Many participants expressed that the project gave them a purpose and increased their sense of community.

Engaging in collective efforts to improve local nature made them feel like they were part of something bigger, contributing to a common goal and enhancing their pride in their local area.

By utilising a community organising approach, the programme supported and enabled each Wildlife Trust to engage communities and to provide encouragement whilst also helping to develop the skills and confidence to enable communities deepen nature connection and take ownership of efforts to protect and restore nature in their patch.

In Nottinghamshire, we learned that one of the most valued things we can do is simply bringing people together to build connections and share ideas.

To find out more about the project locally visit nottinghamshirewildlife.org/wilder-nottinghamshire

This can really help groups who feel isolated or are struggling with a particular challenge, and will be continued as our Wilder Nottinghamshire Network, developed specifically for anyone wanting to bring more nature into their community, grows.