Natural Neighbourhoods

Natural Neighbourhoods is a targeted programme which helps young people into employment. The programme creates jobs and develops a programme of environmental traineeships to support the improvement and protection of local parks and the greenspaces that matter to the surrounding communities.

The programme focuses on disadvantaged areas in the East, Midlands, and North, where people are experiencing the worst social and economic impacts of the pandemic. In these communities, Covid-19 has worsened health inequalities and led to a significant rise in youth unemployment.

Natural Neighbourhoods encourages existing and new local volunteers to get involved with local projects. Working alongside landowners to enhance the quality of accessible green space in towns with high levels of deprivation; country parks in urban fringe areas; and pockets of public space in isolated rural communities.

Find out what activities are taking place in:

Greater Manchester

Cambridgeshire, East of England

Yorkshire

Stoke-On-Trent, West Midlands


Case study: Silverdale Country Park

At Silverdale Country Park, volunteers and trainees are learning the traditional art of hedge laying; using traditional land management hand tools and keeping alive an ancient craft which is an important part of British countryside management. Hedge laying provides habitat and reduces air pollution. Hedges act as a windbreaks and absorb rain, reducing soil erosion and contributing to cleaner and slower water courses following bouts of rainfall.

Volunteers and trainees are protecting the environment and keeping traditional methods alive.

India Ford, 28, a volunteer at Silverdale Country Park, said: “Working from home through the pandemic left me feeling very isolated, stressed and anxious. Being outdoors has always helped my mental health, so this volunteering role was ideal. Volunteering has really improved my mental well-being, and given me a sense of achievement. The most enjoyable aspects of volunteering for me has got to be being outdoors and meeting new people. I really enjoyed hedge laying, and learning how to identify wildlife, from trees to fungi!”


For more information please contact us on info@groundwork.org.uk

This project is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.