UK’s first official Nature City revealed
Birmingham has been named the first official Nature City in the United Kingdom, reflecting its commitment to its focus on nature and green spaces in urban planning.
Birmingham City Council announced that the city has been named the first official Nature City in the country, with Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole named being collectively named the UK’s first official Nature Towns.
The accolade recognises Birmingham’s approach to embedding nature into everyday life, making green spaces more accessible, equitable, and central to its urban planning.
This approach is outlined in Birmingham’s City of Nature Plan, the city’s long-term strategy to reconnect people with nature, improve biodiversity, and tackle climate and health inequalities. The plan aims to allow everyone in the city to enjoy nature through everything from large-scale restoration projects or small green spaces.
Among these large-scale initiatives is the planned £19-million restoration of the historic glasshouse estate at Birmingham’s National Botanical Gardens, which will restore the glasshouse estate to its former magnificence, improve key spaces and facilities, and provide a suitable environment to care for the living collections.
Birmingham’s Nature City titled was bestowed by the Nature Towns and Cities programme, a combined effort by Natural England, National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help at least 100 places across the UK to become greener, healthier, happier places for people to live and work.
As well as the Nature City and Nature Town titles awarded today, 40 towns and cities across the UK have received funding as part of this programme to help them take steps towards becoming Nature Towns and Nature Cities.
“Through our 25-year City of Nature Plan, we’ve laid out a robust framework for transforming how nature is valued and integrated across Birmingham,” said Birmingham Councillor Majid Mahmood.
“We’re really leading the way in creating and recovering urban nature and are one of the greenest cities in Europe.”
“We work with community groups such as Birmingham Tree People to plant trees in inner city areas such as Alum Rock, and in partnership with Open Door Community Foundation and Friends of Seven Streets Park – Balsall Heath to develop pocket parks in their neighbourhoods.”
“One of our focus areas is the River Cole corridor in the heart of East Birmingham, where we aim to improve access to nature for thousands of residents, restoring habitats, enhancing traffic free routes, and creating new spaces for people to connect with the outdoors,” he said.
