Community Nature Network
The Community Nature Network is a collective of community-led green spaces bringing people together to enjoy nature, learn new skills, and care for their local environment.
It’s a bit like our Community Fridge Network, but for community nature projects. It offers learning resources and funding opportunities, and enables groups to share knowledge and support with each other.
In a nutshell, the Community Nature Network:
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Increases access and connection to nature with new or improved green spaces
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Channels funding into community-led green spaces
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Shows that getting outdoors is for everyone – not just those who already seek it out
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Champions nature as a powerful hook to inspire planet-friendly habits
Sowing together, harvesting change
We know that spending time in nature is good for us. We also know that when we feel connected to nature, we’re more likely to be inspired to take climate action. Despite this, a third of people in the UK spend less than an hour a week in nature.
Access to nature also isn’t shared fairly throughout society, meaning we need new spaces, and new ways to engage with it.
Through In Our Nature and Breaking Ground, we’ve learned that community-led green spaces are a kind of multiplier: valuable for nature and biodiversity while offering all sorts of co-benefits, from health and wellbeing to community resilience.
That's why we’re bringing nature closer to people and people closer to nature, by supporting community-led green spaces to thrive, enabling knowledge sharing, and channeling resources where they are needed the most.
Community Nature Fund
In the lead up to the launch of the Community Nature Network, we ran the Community Nature Fund, supported by the Bentley Environmental Foundation. This fund enabled 26 community groups across the country to develop new or enhanced green spaces with funding of up to £5,000.
The Community Nature Network has been made possible with the generous support from the Bentley Environmental Foundation and Wates Family Enterprise Trust.
Are you a part of a community nature project?
Get access to guides, peer-to-peer support and the latest funding opportunities.
Curious for more?
Check out what else we’re doing to bring people closer to nature and nature closer to people .