A report published today reveals the results of the National Lottery Heritage Fund £5 million Nextdoor Nature programme, which enabled Wildlife Trusts across the country to collaborate with communities for two years, including many across Derby’s Arboretum and Normanton areas.
Nextdoor Nature has given people the skills, tools and opportunity to take action for nature. Using a community organising approach - where you work with the people and have the community be the driver of change in their area - Community Organiser, Adam Dosunmu Slater, has supported local groups, schools and Derby City Council to deliver local initiatives to bring about big changes.
The initiative has empowered communities to take ownership of local green spaces, facilitated the creation of a Green Corridor between Normanton and Arboretum Parks, and improved pockets of green space for urban wildlife.
Extraordinary transformations have taken place over the last two years in communities that have often been traditionally or historically excluded from making decisions about nature and the environment in their local areas.