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Mental health and wellbeing

Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve & Kew Millennium Seed Bank: Sowing Seeds for Nature’s Recovery

A special event at Aston Rowant NNR with local grassroots walking group. © Nicola Schafer.

By Mick Venters, Senior Reserve Manager at Aston Rowant NNR, Natural England. Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a hidden gem in the Chiltern Hills, and I am fortunate to have spent over twenty years as the Reserve Manager …

Growing together - how community-led green infrastructure delivers health and climate benefits

Hands holding seedlings. © Pexels/ Shvetsa

In Britain's increasingly urban landscape, where 85% of the population lives in towns and cities, green infrastructure has become essential for collective wellbeing. Yet one-third of people cannot access quality natural spaces within 15 minutes of home - a deficit …

Creating Nature Towns and Cities conference

Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership between Natural England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust working to ensure everyone in the UK can access the benefits of nature and green spaces.  We're delighted to invite you …

Happier Outdoors: London’s Free Nature Festival

A health and nature walk at Gillespie Park in Islington from Happier Outdoors 2024. © Sally Oldfield.

By Laura Brown, Higher Officer for Health and Environment, Natural England What is Happier Outdoors? Happier Outdoors began in 2023 as part of my work as the Health and Environment Higher Officer for London. I’m lucky to spend a lot …

Nature Towns and Cities: Creating Greener Neighbourhoods and Brighter Futures 

David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England Did you know 47% of people do not currently have access to green space within 15-minutes' walk of home? Nature Towns and Cities aims to transform this reality, enabling millions of …

Green Infrastructure: the catalyst for Urban Greening 

It’s two years since Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure. It’s well documented that we need to build a more sustainable future, and at the forefront of this movement …

New Nature Connection website brings together   policy, practice and research

The University of Derby and Natural England have been developing a Nature Connectedness Network and it has now gone public with the launch of its website! CLICK HERE  www.natureconnectedness.net As society becomes more aware of the mutual dependency between people …

Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project: Helping a post-industrial landscape bloom and buzz

By Dr Chloe Hardman, Senior Project Manager, West Midlands Team Bustling towns and cities, major transport routes, the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Where are we?  The northern edge of the West Midlands Conurbation, home to 2.9 million people.  Step …

Small but mighty! Nature recovery seed corn projects 2024 

The government is committed to nature recovery and Natural England (NE) is working with partners to grow a national Nature Recovery Network (NRN). This growing network of enhanced, better-connected wildlife-rich places supports biodiversity and species recovery. It will also enhance climate …

How NE is helping people connect with nature in the West Midlands  

By Dr Chloe Hardman, Senior Project Manager, West Midlands Area Team  How do you connect with nature?  Noticing birdsong?  Watching the changing seasons?  There is scope for us all to find ways to connect with nature more deeply and experience …