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23 Oct 2025: Creating Nature Neighbourhoods, Towns and Cities conference

Thank you to everyone who joined us on 23 Oct. We hope you enjoyed the day. Follow the below link to catch up with recorded sessions, watch our show reel, and read our latest community focused resources.

October conference 2025
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A programme tailored for you

Specifically designed for those working in small voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

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Celebrating communities

Showcasing community organisations driving change for people, nature and climate.

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Topical discussions

Spotlighting case studies and learnings from community-led projects across the UK.

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Skills building

'How to' workshops offering tools and guidance to support positive change in local communities.

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Collaborative design

A dedicated space to discuss and co-create what better support for the community sector looks like.

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Connecting with Nature Towns and Cities

Find out more about this how to be involved with this new UK-wide programme.

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Networking

Opportunities throughout the day to connect with like-minded folks and share ideas.

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Inspiring speakers

Insight from leaders sharing their perspectives on working to make positive change for people, nature and climate.

When nature grows stronger, so do communities

Local community organisations are acting for people, nature and climate in urban neighbourhoods across the UK, creating change that nurtures green space, improves health and wellbeing and supports those most in need.

This free, one-day conference is specifically designed for people working in local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

It’s 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.

Download the agenda

Highlights from the agenda

View the full agenda

People power

Closing the gap between the community and environmental sectors

Hear from Tayshan Hayden-Smith, activist and founder of Grow to Know as he shares insights into what he’s learned on making impact with communities and what he thinks needs to change. Later, Tayshan will be joined on an 'in conversation' panel by Bei Gao (Mafwa Theatre) and Debbie Freeman (Zebra Collective), to explore different lenses on how they’re closing the gap between the community sector and the environmental sector.

A luscious garden with lots of foliage and flowers, with a person leaning through the plants, gardening

How-to sessions

Choose a workshop

There'll be five different ‘how to’ sessions, packed with tried and tested solutions for tackling common challenges in the community sector. Choose from getting started with community growing, planting more street trees, kickstarting social prescribing, rethinking youth engagement or getting the most out of working with local authorities. Each workshop will cover practical tools and guidance for starting these changes in your place.

Collaborate and plan together

Co-create what happens next

What would better support for the community sector look like? This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on what is needed to make more community-led greening happen. This facilitated, insight gathering session will be held in smaller groups that will encourage thinking about the challenges, but also the routes to face these head on. This will be one of many opportunities to connect and network with other community leads.

Exciting speakers and insights

Leading voices

Hear from David Luckin (Co-op), as he shares his insights on the Co-op’s commitment to communities. Listen to Rachel Rowney (Local Trust), as she brings the perspective of a community-focused NGO, and to Victoria Bradford-Keegan (Nature Towns and Cities), who’ll share more information on the UK-wide Nature Towns and Cities programme and how to get involved.

Our speakers

Who you’ll hear from

With over 15 speakers and facilitators confirmed, you can expect to hear lots of different perspectives on the day, including:

  • Emily Cutts, Director, G20 Youth Project
  • Tom Kirby, Development Manager, Granton Community Gardeners
  • Charlotte O’Connor, Executive Director, Street Trees for Living
  • Marie-Claire Denyer, Partnerships and Development Consultant, Street Trees for Living
  • Rachel Rowney, Chief Executive, Local Trust
  • Dr Saira Ali FLI, Team Leader for Landscape Design and Conservation, Bradford City Council

Take a look at the other speakers lined up for the day below.

Head shot of Rachel Rowney, Chief Executive of Local Trust

Rachel Rowney, Chief Executive, Local Trust

Head shot of Tom Kirby, Co-founder and Co-director at Granton Community Gardens

Tom Kirby, Co-founder and Co-director, Granton Community Gardens

Head shot of Bei Gao, Project Manager, Mafwa Theatre

Bei Gao, Project Manager, Mafwa Theatre

Head shot of Charlotte O'Connor, Executive Director at Street Trees for Living

Charlotte O'Connor, Executive Director, Street Trees for Living

Head shot of Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Founder of Grow to Know

Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Founder, Grow to Know

Head shot of Lucy Stowell-Smith, Urban Nature team leader at Groundwork

Lucy Stowell-Smith, Urban Nature Team Leader, Groundwork

Head shot of Debbie Freeman, Community Projects Lead and a Director of Zebra Collective

Debbie Freeman, Community Projects Lead and a Director, Zebra Collective

Head shot of Claire Sivier, Co-Director at Tialt

Claire Sivier, Co-Director, tialt - there is an alternative

Head shot of Emily Cutts, Director at G20 Youth Project

Emily Cutts, Director, G20 Youth Project

Dave Luckin, Head of Community Funding and Partnerships, The Co-operative Group

Head shot of Marie-Claire Denyer, Partnerships and Development Consultant and Co-Founder of Street Trees for Living

Marie-Claire Denyer, Co-Founder, Street Trees for Living

Head shot of Victoria Bradford-Keegan, Programme Director, Nature Towns and Cities

Victoria Bradford-Keegan, Programme Director, Nature Towns and Cities

Head shot of Hannah Arnett, Senior Researcher, Tialt

Hannah Arnett, Senior Researcher, tialt - there is an alternative

Head shot of Rory Crawford, Nature Neighbourhoods Manager

Rory Crawford, Nature Neighbourhoods Manager

Head shot of Dr. Saira Ali FLI, Team Leader for Landscape Design and Conservation, Bradford Council

Dr Saira Ali FLI, Team Leader for Landscape Design and Conservation, Bradford Council

Head shot of Emily Cooke, Senior Project Coordinator, Nature Towns and Cities

Emily Cooke, Senior Project Coordinator, Nature Towns and Cities

Head shot of Roger Winhall, Head of England Portfolio Development, National Lottery Community Fund

Roger Winhall, Head of England Portfolio Development, National Lottery Community Fund

Head shot of Hayley Swift, Community Development Practitioner, Bristol City Council

Hayley Swift, Community Development Practitioner, Bristol City Council

Head shot of Sara Laking, Freelance Consultant and Mental Health Practitioner

Sara Laking, Freelance Consultant and Mental Health Practitioner