What are we announcing?
COVID-19 has resulted in an increased number of us valuing nature more with almost half of people saying they are spending more time in local green spaces or gardens. Creating urban green spaces is not only important for personal well-being, it can also help towns and cities to help address some of the impacts of climate change such as increased urban heat and flash flooding.
But can a closer connection with nature encourage people to follow a greener lifestyle? This question will be considered through a new Hubbub Urban Greening campaign in Manchester, supported by the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.
The collaborative, community-led campaign will explore how a close relationship with nature can encourage climate action amongst people living in more challenging urban environments. It takes part of a wider partnership between Hubbub, Manchester City Council and the Manchester Climate Change Agency. Expected outcomes include building a greener city, developing more resilient communities, creating new green jobs and providing more evidence for policymakers, while supporting wider research exploring ways a closer relationship with nature can lead to happier and more sustainable lives.
In this Manchester campaign, Hubbub will be seeking to help increase access to green spaces whilst also assessing the impact this has on people’s daily behaviours and longer-term views about climate change and our environment.
Activities will be developed through extensive local consultation and will be a mix of digital content and practical on-the-ground projects, strengthening the relationship Mancunians have with nature and green space in their doorstep.
Ideas being considered include: empowering a local community to install and maintain a green roof, establishing vegetable patches for school children to promote a circular approach to food production and a competition for design students around the theme ‘good things happen when we connect people to nature.’
Hubbub’s ambition is that the campaign will provide further evidence that can help towns and cities across the UK develop strategies that create stronger, more vibrant communities as well as helping them to adapt to some of the impacts of climate change. All interventions will be thoroughly and independently measured, with the aim of creating a toolkit of tried and tested initiatives that can be replicated by communities across the UK.
How can I help?
Please help us share the news on your channels!
Here is some content you can use:
- GIF to drive engagement on your social media posts
- Manchester climate action webpage
- Bulletin from our CEO
- Suggested social media posts below
Nature is good for us. ? In fact, spending time in nature is proven to be beneficial to our health, wellbeing, and even our communities. But can nature also nurture climate action? Research shows that the more connected we feel to nature, the more likely we are to protect it, by living in ways that are good for the #environment. A new campaign in #Manchester, in partnership with @Hubbubuk, Manchester City Council and MCCA, will be exploring ways that urban greening and connecting with nature can grow into positive behaviour change to tackle Climate Change. Read more about it here ? bit.ly/3fYxqMb
Did you know that spending just 20 minutes in nature tackles stress and improves our mood? ? A recent survey by Lancashire Wildlife Trust found that 39% of people felt that simply living near a park improved their quality of life and during #lockdown, we have appreciated local green spaces more than ever. We are supporting a community-led campaign in Manchester, exploring how a closer relationship with nature can encourage more sustainable lifestyles for people living in cities. Sign up to Hubbub’s newsletter to find out more ? http://bit.ly/3oDvbBo
Can nature nurture #climate action? ? We’re excited to team up with @Hubbubuk, to trial innovative ways to connect people with #nature and inspire ways of living that are good for the #environment. Want to learn more? Sign up to this newsletter for events, tips and more ? http://bit.ly/3oDvbBo
? From green roofs and vegetable patches to house plants and wildlife spotting, the new #ClimateChange campaign with @hubbubUK will be connecting #Manchester communities to #nature, so that we can live happier, healthier and #sustainable lives. Sign up to Hubbub’s newsletter to find out more ? http://bit.ly/3oDvbBo