Imagine living in a neighbourhood where nature thrives, where there is a strong sense of community spirit and where people pull together to help each other and their local wildlife.

Many of us would like to see more nature in our local area but it can often be hard to know where to start. Through the Nextdoor Nature project, the Trust worked with partner organisations and communities to empower individuals to organise action for nature within their community. We believe that it is only by facilitating community-led conservation in this way that nature will begin to recover at a Scotland-wide scale. You can find out more about our approach to engagement here.

Nextdoor Nature identity

Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme

Hear from some of the people that participated in our Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme in our short project film.

About the programme

Between 2022-2024, we delivered the Nextdoor Nature project in Scotland, bringing communities together to help nature thrive where they live and work.

Over these two years, nearly 40 community leaders from four regionally focused cohorts took part, taking positive action for nature in their local areas. Cohort one focused on communities in and around Greater Glasgow; cohort two worked with those in and around the Forth catchment; cohort three engaged communities between Dundee and Aberdeen; and cohort four worked with participants in Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.

The Pioneers Programme was at the heart of the Nextdoor Nature project in Scotland, combining online learning, interactive webinars and in-person events. This free skills development course was developed to provide participants with the understanding, resources and confidence they needed to organise action for nature where they live. Subjects covered during the course ranged from basic wildlife ecology and survey techniques, to how to secure funding for community projects and run local events.

Nextdoor Nature was a project from The Wildlife Trusts. We worked with communities to bring people together and give everyone the power to help nature flourish – everywhere. Thanks to £5million funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Nextdoor Nature provided communities with start-up advice and support to help nature on their doorstep, leaving a lasting natural legacy to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

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The Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme was supported by

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