Birmingham becomes UK’s first Nature City

The award recognises Birmingham City Council’s commitment alongside its partners to transform life for communities through providing more and better nature and green space.

Birmingham is joined by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole who were collectively named the UK’s first official Nature Towns as part of a new mission.

Nature Towns and Cities

Nature Towns and Cities is a coalition of organisations united by the ambition to enable millions more people to experience nature in their daily lives. The first of its kind, this new programme announced by Natural England, National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund aims to help at least 100 places across the UK to become greener, healthier, happier places for people to live and work.

In Birmingham, the City Council has joined forces with local communities, groups, environmental organisations, and national partners to become the UK’s first accredited Nature City. This milestone recognises the city’s ambitious and inclusive approach to embedding nature into everyday life, making green spaces more accessible, equitable, and central to urban planning.

At the heart of the accolade is Birmingham’s City of Nature Plan, a long-term strategy to reconnect people with nature, improve biodiversity, and tackle climate and health inequalities. The vision is to create a city where everyone – regardless of background or postcode – can enjoy the benefits of nature, whether through large-scale restoration projects or small, local green spaces.

As well as the Nature City and Nature Town titles already awarded, 40 towns and cities across the UK, in 19 urban partnerships, have received funding to help them take steps towards becoming Nature Towns and Nature Cities. In the West Midlands, Walsall and Coventry are amongst those places, receiving just under £1m each in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Article taken from the Birmingham City Council’s website.