Resources to help bring nature into every neighbourhood
Browse highlights from a library of the latest evidence, case studies, guidance and expertise to help local authorities, community organisations and their partners to drive change.
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©National Trust Images / James Dobson
Get started in your town or city
There are many benefits to bringing more nature into urban areas. But as the saying goes, it’s not easy being green.
Nature Towns and Cities is building a library of resources to help local authorities, partners and community organisations take steps to improve green space.
Visit our Resources Library to discover guidance, tools and best practice from expert partners behind the programme, together with industry specialists and sector pioneers across the UK. Remember to check back regularly, as this library will grow to include many more success stories from places like yours.
Or scroll down to see the resources highlights.
Tried-and-tested ways to bring nature home
Our ‘Get started with...’ packages offer tried-and-tested solutions to the challenges facing our sector.
Unlock new funding and finance for your green and blue spaces
Nature recovery is an expensive business. Discover how Plymouth is redistributing private money for public benefit, as the UK’s first council to set up a habitat bank. Use the tools and guides to understand what finance solutions might be right for you and kick start your own finance journey.
Meet the Plymouth team
Mobilise people power across your town or city
Inspired by their heritage as the Rebel City, Nottingham City Council has created a city-wide volunteering force creating a greener, healthier, happier place to live. The team brings the programme to life, and our guide can help you make it happen in your local area.
Nottingham Green Guardians
Put health at the heart of your green space
Time in nature makes our lives happier and healthier, yet millions of urban residents lack vital access to green space. Learn how to develop cross-sector partnerships that can deliver mutual benefits for nature, health and wellbeing.
Get started
Meet the nature makers
Hear first-hand from people delivering benefits for people and nature across the UK.
Discover top tips and insights from people working across the country in local authorities and their partner teams to improve green and blue spaces. Discover how they overcame challenges, from developing high level strategies to delivering change on the ground.
©National Trust Images / James Dobson
Resources for accreditation
Our accreditation scheme recognises towns and cities in England that are putting mutual benefits for people and nature at the heart of their plans.
Guidance
Case study
Visioning together: a partnership approach
12-02-2025
Guidance
Local authority guide to partnership working for people and nature
24-06-2025
The Urban Forest Accelerator toolkit
Case studies, guidance and tools to help transform your approach to urban forest planning and management, and deliver equitable benefits for people and nature.
Urban canopy cover in grey areas is declining fast, meaning communities across the UK risk losing out on the social, economic and environmental benefits that city trees bring.
Local authorities are uniquely placed to help reverse this trend. From master planning to tree equity, community outreach to funding, the Urban Forest Accelerator toolkit has it covered.
©National Trust Images / Paul Harris