Values

The values that we use to define our work are:

1. Community focus​

Using nature as a vehicle to reach communities at grass roots level to understand their needs, aspirations and build trust.​

2. Equity & Inclusion​

We welcome and value everyone, and strive to create opportunities that are inclusive, equitable and open to all individuals and communities.​

3. Belonging​

We nurture a sense of belonging in nature by building trust and shared experiences where people feel connected, respected and part of a shared community.​

4. Opportunity to Flourish(description to reference learning, confidence and potential) ​

Through time spent in nature we offer experiences that inspire individuals, promote wellbeing and give opportunities for learning.​

5. Stewardship (description to emphasize aspect of personal growth)​

We encourage sustainable choices, take responsibility for our local environment, foster a curiosity in nature and encourage social action.​

6. Accessibility & Trust (description to include safety)​

Our aim is to use green spaces and nature to support and enhance the lives of our communities. We introduce people living in an urban, built up environment to their local natural green spaces through outdoor learning activities. By promoting learning outdoors, we aim to show the benefits that the natural environment can bring to improved health and wellbeing.

Local parks and open spaces are a great place to bring people together, to learn and socialise. We encourage environmental stewardship in all our projects. 

We do this by:

• Introducing people living in an urban and built-up environment to the natural environment around them,
• Bringing people who are socially isolated together to make new friends,
• Showing the benefits that spending time outdoors offers,
• Encouraging participants to feel part of the wider community,
• Breaking down barriers for people who might not normally access parks to come together in a safe space,
• Encouraging everyone to learn about nature / the natural environment.
• Encouraging learning including new skills.

Our Project Audiences

We work with lots of different groups of people through our projects.
The one thing that participants have in common is that they would like to spend more time outside.

Our work shows that parks are part of a community’s social infrastructure and an asset that needs to be valued and invested in. This must be achieved by supporting activities that encourage people to use them and bring them together as well as investing in infrastructure.

We know that regardless of ethnicity or age, everybody values good quality green space that is well managed and maintained but the presence of green space within areas does not necessarily mean it will be well used.
Many of our audiences are affected by barriers to engagement in open spaces. One of the main influences on an individual’s use of green space is how safe they feel. Research suggests that if you feel unsafe these impacts on the level of use of the space.

Green space has the potential to bring diverse groups people together, and so we provide space and time for organised and casual encounters with neighbours of different ages and ethnic groups.
We believe that parks and green spaces are some of the most valued places in local areas and can be many people’s main or only experience of the natu