We’re delighted to announce that we are part of an ambitious new project that will transform how nature is protected, connected and celebrated across the city.

Norwich City Council has been awarded more than £750,000 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver NatureCityNorwich, working in partnership with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Broadland District Council, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council

NatureCityNorwich is one of several projects across the UK supported through the Nature Towns and Cities programme, which helps urban areas protect and enhance their natural heritage.  

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, alongside partners, we will co-create a community-led urban nature recovery action plan, placing nature and people at the heart of Norwich’s future. We will work together to map and address the city’s ‘nature gaps’, improve access to green and blue spaces, and empower communities to shape a more resilient, biodiverse and inclusive city.

This partnership work will build on other collaborations which exemplify how urban nature recovery can deliver both ecological and community benefits, such as our Sweet Briar Marshes nature reserve and work enabling nearby communities to enjoy and help their local wildlife.

 NatureCityNorwich will extend this approach citywide, connecting sites like Sweet Briar Marshes into a coherent Urban Nature Recovery Network and scaling up the principles of inclusion, innovation and long-term stewardship.

The three-year project will also establish a new Nature Commission for Norwich, develop innovative funding and land management models, and support the city’s journey toward Nature Towns and Cities Advanced Accreditation.

Councillor Emma Hampton, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for climate and environment, said: “This is a landmark moment for Norwich. NatureCityNorwich will bring together communities, experts and decision-makers to create a greener, healthier and more connected city.  

This money accelerates our mission to bring people closer to nature, from the city’s rural fringes into the city centre, ensuring that both our environment and communities thrive together.”

Natalie Bailey, Engagement Director at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to build on our work at Sweet Briar Marshes - a place that nurtures wildlife and people in the heart of Norwich that was created by, and for, its local communities.  

‘We know just how important it is to create wild spaces in our urban environments, and we are looking forward to working with Norwich City Council to realise our shared ambition to make Norwich a city whose nature and people are thriving.’

Keep an eye on our website for updates on this project as it progresses.