Blackpool, Liverpool city region, Salford and Manchester received a funding boost of £2.6m in total, to help ensure people living in their areas can enjoy nature and green spaces, close to home.
They are amongst 40 towns and cities receiving a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of a new mission.
Nature Towns and Cities is a coalition of organisations united by the ambition to enable millions more people to experience nature in their daily lives, particularly those places and communities currently lacking access to quality green space.
The first of its kind, this new programme announced by Natural England, National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund aims to help at least 100 places across the UK to become greener, healthier, happier places for people to live and work.
Kickstarting the programme, forty towns and cities across 19 partnerships will receive grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, from Portsmouth to Bradford in England, to Fife in Scotland, Torfaen in Wales, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Aligning with ambitions in the Greater Manchester 5-Year Environmental Plan, Salford and Manchester are working together to create an interconnected network of green and blue spaces—linking parks, urban waterways, and industrial heritage sites into vibrant corridors that enhance biodiversity while improving residents’ quality of life.
As well as the grants announced today, the programme has also awarded Birmingham, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as the UK’s first Nature Towns and Nature Cities, recognising their ambition and commitment for nature and communities. It’s hoped that the funding boost for Blackpool, Liverpool, Salford and Manchester will help them to follow suit, working towards the Nature Town or Nature City status.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said,
“I am delighted to announce an investment of £15 million which will help 40 towns and cities across the UK better plan their urban nature recovery, connecting people and communities to their natural environment in the places they live. We have invested over £1bn in regenerating over 900 urban parks and green spaces over the last 30 years, helping nature thrive in towns everywhere – and this exciting initiative, working with partners right across the UK, will continue to build on this investment and give millions of people better access to nature close to home.’
Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England said: “Nature helps us to improve our mental and physical wellbeing, mitigate the impacts of climate change and drive green growth through the creation of spaces for people to connect with nature, making better places for people to live, work and invest.
“Yet for millions of people in urban areas there is no green space within a 15-minute walk of their home. Natural England research shows the stark inequalities of access to nature for people in disadvantaged urban communities. We are proud to be part of the Nature Towns and Cities project, helping millions of people enjoy nature and inspire communities to take part in nature recovery.”
Hilary McGrady, Director General at the National Trust said: “The National Trust believes that everyone, everywhere should have easy and local access to nature and green spaces. So, when 85% of the UK population lives in built up urban areas, it is our duty to reach them, uphold our values and make sure nature is for all.
“Together with close partners, we are launching Nature, Towns and Cities, an exciting new programme that will accelerate access to nature for one in six people living in over 100 towns and cities across the UK, from Belfast in Northern Ireland to Portsmouth in England.
“The programme aligns closely to our 10 year aim to end unequal access. By prioritising areas in the greatest need, we aim to help nature, beauty and history spring to life in some of the most nature-deprived places in the country.
“This necessary and targeted support combined with community outreach and excellent resources, will enrich places with green space and contribute to the healthy mind, body and future that people need.”
For more information visit www.naturetownsandcities.org.uk
