The joint initiative, Nextdoor Nature, will empower people in economically deprived urban and rural areas to undertake micro-projects that help nature thrive and tackle climate change.

Over the next two years, The Wildlife Trusts will support around 200 new groups to identify and implement local action that matters to their community, in ways that are right for their community.

We humans are key to solving the climate crisis and restoring our natural heritage.

Liz Bonnin, President of The Wildlife Trusts

Community micro-projects could include:

• establishing wild habitats and green corridors
• rewilding school grounds
• transforming urbanised and unused areas into green spaces

Liz Bonnin, President of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “We humans are key to solving the climate crisis and restoring our natural heritage.

“The Wildlife Trusts are firmly rooted in communities and can provide support and advice to those willing to lead the charge in bringing wildlife back to homes and workplaces – in turn inspiring those around them to do the same. We can achieve incredible things when we work together.”

Nextdoor Nature [is] a transformational initiative which will give access to the natural environment to thousands of people who may not have fully enjoyed or appreciated it before.

Simon Thurley, Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Nextdoor Nature is part of the £7m investment we announced in November 2021 to mark Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne. The National Lottery is committing a total of £22m across its distributors to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.

Simon Thurley, Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to launch Nextdoor Nature, a transformational initiative which will give access to the natural environment to thousands of people who may not have fully enjoyed or appreciated it before. We hope that many people will, for the first time, get hands on with nature, creating a new generation of champions for our precious natural environment.”

Cel Spellman, actor and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, shares his excitement for Nextdoor Nature:

Opportunities for young people

The second part of our Jubilee investment is £2m to support paid placements for young people from communities under-served in the nature workforce.

Around 70 placements will be available for 18–25-year-olds from diverse ethnic communities, who are disabled and/or economically disadvantaged. They will be placed in a range of environmental charities for up to a year and receive training, skills development and progression support.

We are inviting a selection of organisations to apply to partner with us to deliver the placements – working with local host organisations and providing wrap around support. The outcome of this competitive solicitation process will be announced by the end of May 2022.

Project applications

Got an idea for your own Jubilee-related heritage project? You can apply through our National Lottery Grants for Heritage.

You might want to explore what it was like to live in your neighbourhood 70 years ago or preserve the memories of a range of local people from the past 70 years.

We're particularly interested in seeing projects that document the experiences of different generations in your community over the years. This could take the form of an exhibition or publication. Or it could be explored through anything from the food people eat to where they've worked or the objects and photographs that mean something to them.

Check what we fund and the outcomes we expect your project to achieve. If you need more information or advice on your idea, contact your local office.

Keep in touch

We’ll share more details about Nextdoor Nature and the paid placements programme over the coming months. Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media to be among the first to find out.