Nature Neighbourhoods
Nature Neighbourhoods is a national partnership programme led by the National Trust, RSPB and WWF, and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Co-op. The programme supports community-led action for nature across the UK by providing capacity-building support, strong networks and system-level guidance. Sow the City are a delivery partner for the programme in Manchester.
“Nature Neighbourhoods has given us the opportunity to create something wonderful. A chance to try to change people’s mindsets on sustainable living and bringing nature back into our ward."
Kelly Robinson, Founder of Easy Come Easy Grow and resident of Newton Heath.
Creating a people’s plan for nature for Newton Heath
Our Nature Neighbourhoods work has been focused in Newton Heath, one of Manchester’s most deprived wards and an area with limited access to quality green space. Sow the City already had strong roots in the neighbourhood through previous community food and environmental projects, and a long-standing relationship with local residents. When the opportunity arose to develop a People’s Plan for Nature, Newton Heath was a natural choice: an area facing real challenges, but with strong community energy, pride and a desire for change.
The project began with walk-and-talk sessions through Newton Heath, bringing residents, council officers and partner organisations together to explore the neighbourhood and share ideas. These were followed by co-design workshops that helped shape local priorities and revealed high levels of interest, with a healthy balance of residents and professionals involved. Regular meetings at Newton Heath Library then supported the formation of a new community group, Easy Come Easy Grow (ECEG), and created space for residents to lead the conversation about nature in their area.
With mentoring and support from Sow the City, ECEG quickly built strong local networks and began delivering visible change. Their activities have included planting trees in local parks, developing a garden at Heathfield Resource Centre for adults with learning difficulties, and refreshing a community garden along the Rochdale Canal. Their work has already made a significant difference to the neighbourhood and to how residents connect with nature.
The Nature Neighbourhoods funding enabled Sow the City to work closely alongside ECEG, supporting administration, community engagement and practical growing skills, while also helping the group to co-produce a Nature Plan for Newton Heath. Although ECEG exceeded expectations early in the project, the plan sets out an ambitious long-term vision. Their main focus areas moving forward are mass tree planting across the neighbourhood, developing a Green Hub and Green & Blue Trail that links local green spaces, and building green skills, volunteering and youth opportunities rooted in the community.
