Our Impact
We work across the East of England to create a fair and green future in which people, places and nature thrive. As part of the national federation of Groundwork Trusts we have been championing action that benefits the natural world for more than 40 years, running programmes to transform unloved green spaces, getting people outside enjoying nature, and supporting businesses to reduce their environmental impact.
We prioritise our work under three key themes of PEOPLE, PLACES and PLANET and we continue to support thousands of people across the East of England through our programmes and services. To find out more about what’s happening near you visit our ‘What we do‘ page where you can view projects by theme or location.
Working across 6 counties, our regional reach reflects the breadth of our role: bringing partners together, investing in local places and helping communities respond to the social, economic and environmental challenges they face.
Highlights
We are proud to be the environmental charity with the green heart, and people are at the centre of everything we do.
In 2025/26, we worked with 12,553 individuals and supported 608 households to become more resilient.
Through programmes spanning green skills, outdoor learning, food growing, energy advice, volunteering and community action, we help people build confidence, reduce pressures and take positive steps towards a greener future.
I can now sit out and watch the birds coming and going and see a welcome rejuvenation of some of my old plants. The team brought some sunshine back to my garden and me
Green Aider restoration resident
Across the East of England, we work with communities, councils, schools, businesses and local partners to make places greener, healthier and more resilient to climate change.
In 2025/26, we improved 53,484 square metres of land for people and nature, with 80% of this publicly accessible, and worked across sites, including 74 public green spaces and 26 community sites. We also worked with 1,711 organisations, providing practical support, advice and funding to help people and nature thrive.
This work shows the value of place-based action: understanding the needs of each site, listening to local people, and combining specialist skills with local knowledge.
From school rain gardens and community parks to river restoration and family nature projects, our partnerships help turn ideas into practical improvements that communities can see, use and care for. Citizen scientists, volunteers and local groups play a vital role too, building the evidence, confidence and stewardship needed to protect these places for the future.
Wild Godmanchester helped local children and families build a stronger connection with nature through free sessions that combined outdoor play, hands-on learning and simple activities to explore the natural world.
The kids loved it and so did we!
Wild Godmanchester project participant
Our Planet strand brings together the work Groundwork East does with individuals, communities and businesses to raise awareness of environmental impact and give people the knowledge, confidence and tools to take action.
We delivered 100 biodiversity improvement actions and nature-based solutions, helping protect and restore the natural world while supporting communities to respond to climate and environmental pressures.
Our work includes practical climate education, biodiversity improvement and support for organisations to reduce carbon, costs and wider environmental impact.
Our Climate Champions programme was named a finalist in the Education category of the Clean and Green Awards, recognising its creative approach to climate education.
Developed for Year 5 pupils, the programme combines science, geography, maths, art and design to help children understand climate change and explore practical solutions. Across three sessions, pupils learn about climate science and take action around six themes: food, water, waste, biodiversity, energy and transport.
We have been measuring and reporting our own carbon emissions since 2019 and have now achieved a 63% reduction against our 2019/20 baseline, exceeding both of our original interim targets ahead of schedule.
The journey has not been straightforward, and there is still more to do. Our own experience has given us a clearer understanding of the practical, financial and operational challenges faced by the businesses we support. We are now focused on improving data, reducing travel further, engaging staff, strengthening sustainable procurement and continuing the transition to electric vehicles. We are also sharing what we have learned across the Groundwork Federation, helping other trusts develop effective approaches to carbon monitoring and reduction.
Click below to read about our steps for the next phase of our Carbon Reduction Plan.
Thank you
In 2025/26, volunteers dedicated over 1,507 hours to our projects and programmes – a contribution valued at £21,000.
We are deeply thankful for the invaluable support we receive from our Volunteers, Funders, Partners and Trustees.
Work with us
In 2025/26, we worked with 1,711 organisations, businesses and funders to improve places and lives across the region. As an independent charity, we build partnerships that create lasting impact for people, communities and the environment.
If you have an idea for a project or you’d like to partner with us, or if you believe we could support your community we’d love to hear from you!
Visit our get involved pages for more information or drop us a line at east@groundwork.org.uk
PROJECT PROFILES
