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A woman leaning over a refreshments table in a flower garden. Two other people are facing away from the camera in conversation.

Creating Nature Neighbourhoods, Towns and Cities conference recordings

23-10-2025

Conference

Case study

Watch back the keynote speeches and panel discussion from our conference for community organisations in Manchester.
Communities - Creating Nature Neighbourhoods
View all resources

Creating Nature Neighbourhoods, Towns and Cities

This in-person conference on 23 Oct 2025 brought together over 100 people from community organisations working for people, nature and climate.

Catch up with recordings from the day and delve into our latest resources to help you deliver benefits for people and nature in your neighbourhood.

 

Download the agenda

Get a sense of what it was all about

This conference was for people working in local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. It was an opportunity to come together to celebrate community-led greening, connect with like-minded organisations and work together on shaping future support for the sector.

A young child holding up and looking at a strawberry.

Keynote speeches

Sector leaders shared their views on the importance of communities and why change is needed to bring nature to more people in towns and cities.

David Luckin

In this opening session, David Luckin (Head of Community Funding and Partnerships, The Co-operative Group) shared his insights on Co-op’s commitment to communities.

Watch here
Watch here
Two people conversing in the middle of a flower garden.

Tayshan Hayden-Smith

In conversation with Rory Crawford, Tayshan Hayden-Smith (Founder, Grow to Know) talked through the grassroots perspective on why change is needed.

Watch here
Watch here
Two young people playing in a play area.

Rachel Rowney

As a keynote speaker, Rachel Rowney (Local Trust) shared the work and impact Big Local has delivered for 150 communities across England. 

Watch here
Watch here
An adult pushing a young person along a path in a wheelbarrow following another young person running. Everyone is smiling.

Panel session

Panellists talked about how they’re closing the gap between the community sector and the environmental sector.

This session was chaired by Rachel Rowney (Chief Executive, Local Trust).

  • Debbie Freeman (Community Projects Lead, Zebra Collective) – the benefits and challenges of working as part of a partnership with a Local Authority
  • Bei Gao (Project Manager, Mafwa Theatre) – doing ‘green’ work when it’s not your main thing: the intersection of arts, nature and social cohesion
  • Tayshan Hayden-smith (Founder, Grow to Know) – ‘closing the green gap’ – the challenge and opportunity of melding social and environmental justice.
A man with a zip fleece and a lady with a green and yellow coat walk side by side along a wintry garden path. She holds a small terrier on a lead.

Resources to support organisations working for people and nature in the community.

Get started with...

Case study

Guidance

Community guide to green social prescribing

21-10-2025

Hear from people running nature-based activities in local green spaces to support better health and wellbeing.
Communities, Health & wellbeing - Green social prescribing
Harnessing the healing power of nature
Harnessing the healing power of nature

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Case study

Community food growers’ guide

13-10-2025

Hear from those in the grow about what it takes to create good food and good feelings together. A guide to community food growing, starting from nothing.
Communities - Community engagement, Community growing
Community food growing - exploring the ingredients
Community food growing - exploring the ingredients

Get started with...

Case study

Guidance

Community tree stewardship guide

21-10-2025

Discover how to get more residents involved in planting and taking care of urban street trees. A guide to setting up a voluntary tree stewardship scheme in your neighbourhood.
Communities, Volunteering - Community tree stewardship, Forestry & trees
Planting and caring for trees - getting communities involved
Planting and caring for trees - getting communities involved

Our thanks to the Nature Neighbourhoods funders and to Co-op for use of their venue in Manchester.

  • WWF
  • RSPB
  • National Trust
  • Co-op
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
Nature Neighbourhood founding funders logos