The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) announced the Nature Towns and Cities Initiative on 2 October 2024, set up by the NLHF, the National Trust and Natural England, in close collaboration with other partners.

According to NLHF, recent data shows that 87% of urban households in England (over 56 million people) don’t have access to green space within an easy five minute walk from home. In addition, that neighbourhoods are too hot, with polluted air and are likely to flood. As a result of years of squeezed resources and competition for urban space has meant that nature, green spaces and parks may have been neglected or lost from many places.

In this insight we set out the new initiative, how it’s laid out and its next steps.

The commitment

There is a stated commitment by the NLHF to enable at least 100 towns and cities across the UK to transform access to green space in urban areas, so that by 2035 five million more people will have easy access to nature and green space in their neighbourhoods, and one million more children can grow and play in greener streets and spaces very close to home. There are aspirations for street trees, community gardens, urban woods, historic public parks, river and canal-sides and recreation grounds.

How?

The Nature Towns and Cities Initiative stated aims are to:

• support organisations across sectors to lead for change
• support local authorities, community organisations, partners and funders to improve and grow networks of green space throughout their towns and cities (the publication also suggests support for improvements to “blue space”)
• attract further investment and support for greener, fairer, and more climate-resilient urban neighbourhoods and communities
• improve people’s health and well-being
• help local authorities develop and implement Local Nature Recovery Strategies, identifying opportunities for nature recovery in urban areas
• enable at least 100 towns and cities across the UK to become better places to live and work, by putting nature and green spaces at the heart of their plans and priorities.

Pursuant to this Initiative, the NHLF appears to be not just willing to support local authorities directly, but to be eager to promote and encourage collaborative arrangements, which could evolve into beneficial medium and long term arrangements and may assist with biodiversity goals.

What’s next?

Available grants

From 1 October 2024, local authorities and their community partners can apply for grants ranging from £250,000 to £1 million. The NLF proposes to contribute £15 million in funding across the UK.

NHLF hope that these grants will help to develop partnerships, leadership and capability, and attract new income and investment for delivery and sustainability.

Expressions of interest can be logged until 12 Noon on 12 November 2024. Thereafter, if an initial proposal is successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application between 16 December 2024 and 7 March 2025.

The full application guidance for a Nature Towns and Cities grant is available on their website here. Follow the link to the “Introduction to Nature Towns and Cities webinar recording” to find out more about the funding available.

Nature Towns and Cities Network

The creation of a “Nature Towns and Cities Network” (from 2025) to align ambitions across the public, voluntary and private sectors. Local Authorities, businesses, community organisations, government departments, charities and philanthropists can join.

Visit here for more information, including details about upcoming webinars and other events which are available for free.  For example, there is a webinar advertised to take place on 7 November 2024, “Working more effectively with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector”; and future webinars advertised include “Improving Health through Urban Green and Blue Spaces” and, “Unlocking Funding and Finance for Urban Green Spaces”.

Providing further feedback and ideas

The Nature Town and Cities Team have requested ideas about how to work together, and offer availability to enquire about the programme and how it will work. Contact them by email: [email protected].

According to Linda Anglin of Edinburgh City Council, as reported by “rethinking our parks, green spaces and the ways they connect across the city has been transformational in Edinburgh over the last five years...we’ve seen tangible changes on the ground which are making a difference for both people and nature.”

How Capsticks can help

Our specialist local government advice is cost-effective and strategic, complemented by practical knowledge of your daily challenges. We can advise on any broader changes that may follow as this initiative progresses. 

If you have any queries around what is discussed in this article, and the impact on your organisation, please speak to Jill Anderson, Tiffany Cloynes or Chantal Davison to find out more about how Capsticks can help.