Last updated: October 2021
Wildlife in the City is a project led by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, with Nottingham City Council, to promote, protect and celebrate the nature reserves, wildlife sites and green spaces across Nottingham City (ref. 2). Wildlife in the City is a project run by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust was originally designed to raise awareness of the value of urban wildlife and to inspire people to get involved with caring for wildlife sites on their doorstep. The project aimed to engage people in their local green spaces and wildlife. Wildlife in the City ran lots of activities and events, volunteering opportunities, training opportunities and more (ref. 1). It began as a three-year project funded by Natural England through Access to Nature, as part of the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme. The project worked with local people to undertake vital habitat creation and management works throughout the city. It particularly worked in areas of Nottingham with previously little wildlife activity from the partners. These areas were Bestwood, Bulwell, Aspley/Broxtowe estate, Clifton, The Meadows, and Sneinton (ref. 6). After the funding for the project has ended, its objectives and the partnership between the City Council and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust remained and the Trust continues managing many of the Council's wildlife sites and using local volunteers to help out with essential tasks such as scrub management, gardening, litter picks and floral surveys (ref 2).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- House gardens
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social cohesion
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
To promote, protect and celebrate the nature reserves, wildlife sites and green spaces across Nottingham City (ref. 2).
The project was originally “designed to raise awareness of the value of urban wildlife and to inspire people to get involved with caring for wildlife sites on their doorstep”. The objectives were about getting 'out and about' and “discovering Nottingham city’s parks & green spaces, as well as improving your experience of nature on your doorstep”. It aimed to “engage people in their local green spaces and wildlife” (ref 1). It also aimed to improve sites including access paths, interpretation signage and habitat restoration (ref.5).
Implementation activities
“Wildlife in the City runs lots of activities and events, volunteering opportunities, training opportunities and more”. The project is also able to offer advice support to groups in the target areas. Wildlife in the City works to improve green spaces, for both wildlife and people and to encourage local residents to get involved in whatever way they can (ref 1 and 2).
Engaging local people/communities and volunteers in activities and events, as well as offer training and advice/support. (Ref. 1)The project works across the city but also have specific projects such as “Young Roots & Skylarks initiatives which are focused on specific parts of the city”. The Wildlife in the City project has focused activity on a range of sites including e.g. Bulwell Hall Park, Sandy Banks Nature Reserve, Broxtowe Country Park and Clifton Woods.
(Ref. 1)
It delivered major site improvements including access paths, interpretation signage and habitat restoration. The project has also continued to engage new audiences for its work, in particular youth groups, city schools, community organisations and different departments across the City Council. (ref. 5)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
- Capacity building
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore valued species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
“Wildlife in the City is a partnership project between Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Nottingham City Council.” (Ref. 2) The project was “funded by Natural England through Access to Nature, as part of the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme”. (Ref. 1, 2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Government’s 'Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services' from 2011 (a national strategy); along with the “Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act”. "Protected species are a material consideration in the planning process and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)". Also the regional 'Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan'. (Ref. 2)
)
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
("Protected species are a material consideration in the planning process and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Nottingham City's 'saved' Local Plan and Aligned Core Strategy also have policies that serve to protect valuable habitats and notable species." (Ref. 2) )
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Other
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Wildlife in the City. (n.d). Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
2. Nottingham City Council. (n.d). Nature and wildlife. Parks and open spaces. Nottingham City Council. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
3. Big Lottery Fund. (2007). Annual reports and accounts. Assets Publishing Service. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
4. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. (n.d). What we do. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
5. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. (2013). Consolidated financial statements. Consolidated Accounts. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Available at: Source link /NWT%20statutory%20accounts%202018-19%20final%20but%20Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
6. Wildlife in the City. (n.d). History. Wildlife in the City. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18th July 2020)
2. Nottingham City Council. (n.d). Nature and wildlife. Parks and open spaces. Nottingham City Council. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
3. Big Lottery Fund. (2007). Annual reports and accounts. Assets Publishing Service. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
4. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. (n.d). What we do. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
5. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. (2013). Consolidated financial statements. Consolidated Accounts. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Available at: Source link /NWT%20statutory%20accounts%202018-19%20final%20but%20Source link (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
6. Wildlife in the City. (n.d). History. Wildlife in the City. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18th July 2020)