Connecting communities

Connor takes a closer look at the importance of communities working together for people and for nature...

So much of the wonderful work that we do in the community engagement team here at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is rooted in the effort, pride and care that local communities have for their green spaces. These can range from tiny patches of grass to large woodlands and wildflower meadows but the common thread that runs through these sites is the local people who want to improve these spaces for nature and wildlife.

One of the most important tenets in modern wildlife conservation is the adage “bigger, better, more and joined up” as we hope to reconnect these wild areas with the natural corridors that wildlife uses to move around safely. This doesn’t refer to animals alone though; our own communities function so much better when we can connect with one another and learn from each other’s experiences.

A group of people in winter, planting a hedgerow

On the Neighbourhoods Nurturing Nature team we have the pleasure of working with a huge variety of community groups who want to do their best for the wildlife around them. These groups can often have varying levels of skills, knowledge and access to equipment or volunteers and this is often where our team would hope to support them. Part of this support would be direct help from us but more and more often we are helping to link together the community groups themselves. Sharing these varied skill sets, that people have learned on their own patches, can be fantastically useful for other communities who are just starting out.

A man and a woman standing in the sunshine with a woven willow obelisk between them

In order to help our local communities grow these connections, we encourage everyone to add their group to our community action map. Take a look - you'll find a map of the county with other wildlife-focused people dotted around, including fantastic groups such as the Worcestershire Environmental Group, the Friends of Newtown Green, and Worcester Community Gardens (amongst many others). All of these wonderful people have worked with us here at the Trust to train volunteers, collaborate with us for event, and connect with other like-minded entities around Worcestershire. These opportunities to meet others who care about nature so much can really help to fight the feeling of helplessness in a world where both local communities and nature have struggled to get the attention they deserve.

If you’re involved with a group who’s taking action for nature, you can use the handy form at the bottom of the community action page to add yourselves to the map and link up with other wildlife conservation activists across Worcestershire. With your help, we hope to make the county a more connected place to live for nature and, just as importantly, for us!