Grow Speke: Naturally Connected
Groundwork UK has partnered with Royal London to support community-led nature recovery initiatives across the UK and Ireland through the Naturally Connected programme — a bold effort to bring nature back into urban spaces and closer to people’s everyday lives.
Bringing Nature Back to Urban Spaces
With an £800,000 investment over two years, Naturally Connected is designed to empower local communities to reconnect with nature while improving, protecting and restoring green spaces in towns and cities. By boosting biodiversity and creating more accessible natural environments, the programme is helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits of green space close to home.
Projects delivered through the programme will include the creation of vibrant wildlife habitats, the rewilding of former industrial land, and the restoration of woodlands, ponds and wetlands — all contributing to healthier, more resilient urban ecosystems.
This funding has enabled us to completely reimagine part of the site.
Groundwork’s Senior Conservation Offiucer Ian Jones says: “This funding has enabled us to completely reimagine part of the site — replacing impermeable concrete and tarmac with habitats that can support wildlife. While the transformation is already clear, the real impact will be seen over time as biodiversity establishes and the ecosystem continues to develop.”
A Space Reimagined
Grow Speke is a powerful example of what this programme can achieve.
What was once an unloved piece of wasteland has been transformed into a thriving community green space. Today, the site is home to a wildlife pond, beehives, raised growing beds and polytunnels — creating both a haven for biodiversity and a welcoming place for people. As part of the transformation, recycled building materials have been reused to shape new landscaped areas, topped with soil and sown with wildflowers. These efforts are already helping to boost biodiversity and create vital habitats for local wildlife.
As part of the transformation, recycled building materials have been reused to shape new landscaped areas, topped with soil and sown with wildflowers. These efforts are already helping to boost biodiversity and create vital habitats for local wildlife.
Empowering Local Communities
A core focus of Naturally Connected is stewardship and capacity-building — putting communities at the centre of change. Groundwork Trusts, alongside delivery partners in Scotland and Ireland, are working directly with local residents to ensure projects are shaped by the people who use them.
Volunteering opportunities play a key role, giving people the chance to take an active part in enhancing their surroundings. From planting trees and wildflowers to building pollinator-friendly habitats, volunteers are developing practical conservation skills while strengthening community connections. At Grow Speke, this spirit is clear. Dedicated volunteers continue to show up, get involved and make a lasting difference to their local environment — turning a once-forgotten space into a vibrant, shared asset.
Working Together For Impact
The success of projects like Grow Speke is made possible through strong partnerships and local collaboration. In addition to Royal London, thanks also go to Scouse Flowerhouse for their methodology, Mr Fothergills for supplying additional seeds and GK Construction for providing recycled materials from a nearby building project.