Nextdoor Nature

group of children and group leaders in greenspace at planting event

Nextdoor Nature

Bringing Durham Wildlife Trust together with local communities to give people the skills, tools, and opportunities to take action for nature

The Nextdoor Nature initiative was launched in 2022 by Wildlife Trusts across the country to leave a natural legacy from the Queen's Jubilee. The National Lottery funding aimed to create a huge network of community-led rewilding projects across the nation – all part of the total £22m of Lottery investment to mark the Jubilee and improve the lives of people from disadvantaged areas across the UK. Across the Durham Wildlife Trust patch, the project has continued to flourish and to support communities in gaining the skills and knowledge needed to bring nature back to their neighbourhood.

Nextdoor Nature holds a community organising philosophy that offers an opportunity for real change through diversifying participation and audiences to deliver sustainable communities.   Building interconnection between and through local groups is a starting point for meaningful action. The hope is to help communities - who are often on the margins themselves - play a full role in the recovery and support of nature.

Nextdoor Nature Officer, Graeme Jobes, has worked in a range of community settings including health and wellbeing, environmental and pastoral care. This has ranged from community growing projects, bee keeping, youth football and conservation. He has built upon the diverse community engagement previously delivered and supported by the Trust’s Team Wilder project. Graeme’s work is intergenerational and can range from urban to wild, from work to home and from school to college.

Durham Wildlife Trust, through its Nextdoor Nature delivery, has continued to support initiatives across Sunderland, South Tyneside, Durham and Darlington. Giving communities the skills, tools, and opportunities to take action for nature in their own neighbourhood. This has included establishing wild habitats, supporting community gardens, rewilding at school grounds and supporting green corridors in areas of economic and natural deprivation.

There has been a wide range of community action and partnerships such as: -

A community initiative in Leach Grove in Darlington.  A pocket of land alongside a housing estate who sought advice on habitat mapping and local interaction.  This culminated in an event where 2000 spring bulbs were planted with volunteers from the nearby housing estate and further afield which was part empowerment and community action.

Man and boy digging greenspace outside houses

Three people posing for photo in field with gardening materials

In South Shields the Trust is supporting the development of a wildlife habitat, helping to facilitate partnership and community cohesion.   The land can provide the opportunity to benefit the local community with a space committed to biodiversity and wildlife.  An example of nature recovery in an urban setting.  
In Sunderland and Durham, Trust officers are currently supporting: the University of Sunderland, ICOS (International Community of Sunderland), Washington Wildlife Group, Age UK, Climate Action Sunderland, Back on the Map, Friends of Mowbray Park, Mowbray Park Community Garden, various Eco-Church initiatives including the Langley Park Church Group and the Washington Heritage Partnership.

man digging soil covered in leaves with stone wall behind him

group of five people standing in greenspace with gardening tools

In January this year a partnership with Oases, Mowbray Park Community Garden, Sunderland City Council and Friends of Mowbray Park led to fantastic event named Nature on your Doorstep. This included a nature walk and a celebration of meaningful action in a diverse community.