THOUSANDS of West Midlands residents will get the chance to roll up their sleeves and reconnect with nature as a new campaign gets under way.
A total of 13 community groups, including two in Solihull and one in Coventry, have been awarded a share of £30,000 to put on free events throughout March to help more people discover and improve the green spaces on their doorstep.
The Nature Call to Action campaign is the latest initiative in a plan launched last year by West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, to protect and enhance nature while unlocking benefits to the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of communities and businesses.
A month of hands-on activities will include restoring wildlife habitats, planting trees and opening up hidden urban green spaces for more people to enjoy.
In Solihull Meriden Adventure Playground Association and Ashley Community and Housing Ltd (ACH) will be hosting activities.
And in Coventry Groundwork West Midlands will be creating a new community orchard.
Jyan Dutton, community and environment project officer for The People’s Patch, Coventry by Groundwork West Midlands, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with the John White Community Centre to empower community members to enhance their local green spaces within Willenhall and Binley.
“Our funding enables us to improve access to local green space for both people and nature, by creating a new community orchard at The People’s Patch and enhancing the food growing space for users of the John White Community Centre.
“We’ll be supporting more than 50 community members to get involved across our nine events, allowing them to take ownership of the spaces they create, and directly engage with nature.”
Since the Mayor launched the West Midlands Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) last year, communities across the region have been supported with almost £50,000 to take their own action to protect nature and improve air quality, helping to support residents’ health.
This funding has been delivered through the Nature Call to Action Campaign, which supports LNRS priorities, alongside the Clean Air Small Sparks Fund and the Community Environment Network’s Small Sparks Fund.
It was developed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in partnership with local councils and environmental organisations, community groups, businesses, schools and colleges, universities, landowners, farmers and developers, so everyone can get involved.
For the full list of events click here.
