Nature Neighbourhood

How Local Action is Reviving Biodiversity

Across the UK, local groups are working to restore biodiversity, store carbon, and build social and physical climate resilience in their communities. From planting hedgerows to mapping urban trees, these inspiring projects are making a real impact.

Hedges and Rewilding: Bringing Back Nature

Hope Valley Climate Action launched an ambitious hedge restoration project in 2023, partnering with volunteers, landowners, and six local farms to plant and restore hundreds of metres of hedgerows in the valley.

The benefits of hedges:

Support wildlife and pollinators.
Improve flood control.
Store carbon in soil and vegetation.
Support farming.

For expert guidance, check out The Wildlife Trusts’ guide to wildlife-friendly hedges.

Hathersage Rewilding Group, part of Hope Valley Climate Action, is managing two wildflower-rich verges in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council and the Parish Council. Their annual plant surveys track biodiversity improvements.

Urban Wildlife: Nature on Your Doorstep

Greening Beeston in Broxtowe has documented an incredible variety of street wildlife, proving that nature is thriving on our pavements and in local gardens.

wild.NG is connecting people and wildlife street by street in Nottingham to aid nature’s recovery.

Community volunteers and the local Wildlife Trust collaborate to host “enriching and extraordinary urban wildlife experiences and opportunities across our communities, to improve wellbeing and connectivity”. Regular walks and talks are popular and fun:

Wildflower Graffiti Tour.
Meet the (Wild) Neighbours.
Swift Homecoming Parade.

They also run five key projects supporting hedgehogs, swifts, bats, poison-free pavements, and wildlife champions.

Citizen Science: Help Map and Protect Trees

Love trees and science? Treezilla is a nationwide citizen science project with over 5,600 volunteers mapping, measuring and monitoring urban trees in our towns and cities.

With 1.5 billion urban trees across the UK, there is plenty to do. The project is highlighting why we need to plant and protect urban trees by calculating the value of the vital ‘eco-system services’ they provide, including their role in:

Reducing flooding & pollution.
Providing shade & cooling.
Boosting human wellbeing.

Green Energy and Biodiversity: A Perfect Match

Even solar farms can support wildlife! A project originating in the United States – applicable worldwide – encourages planting native wildflowers beneath solar panels. This approach delays flowering, supporting pollinators and neighbouring crops while capturing carbon in the soil. This method helps to maximise the potential for biodiversity enhancement.

Greener Cities & Climate Resilience

Do you have a garden, yard, or balcony? You can boost biodiversity at home! Discover how.

Cities are also tackling storm flooding by introducing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). These create new pockets of green space which allows water to soak into the soil, be held back by vegetation, or be temporarily stored in ponds. The UK’s largest SuDS trial is underway in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Learn more.

Get Involved!

Find nature and biodiversity events near you: Check our What's On page.

You can find a wealth of advice about how to attract pollinators, butterflies, bats, birds, and mammals on The Wildlife Trusts website.