Stories We Love
All across Manchester, there are individuals, organisations and groups that are working together to do their bit for their community and the environment. Although they might not shout about the amazing work that they are doing - we want to!
Here are the Stories We Love – a collection of inspiring stories, interviews and blogs shining a spotlight on the people that have gone that extra mile to support their neighbourhood and make our city cleaner, greener and more connected than ever before.
Community climate action beyond In Our Nature
We love Manchester. The communities and individuals that we’ve worked with continue to do amazing things. Let’s take a closer look at some stories we’ve been loving recently.
Meet Amity: helping people in Manchester to level up their climate action
Katie and Maria have been working with volunteers, community groups and organisations across Manchester to help them level up their climate action as part of In Our Nature. Together, this dynamic duo help people to zoom out, take a minute to appreciate where they are and help them to grow their projects and reach their goals.
Meet the Caritas Lalley Allotment: a hidden oasis 10 minutes from the city centre
This wonderfully diverse growing space has been quietly tucked away in Collyhurst at the Caritas Lalley Centre since Groundwork helped to develop the site back in 2016.
Meet Ex-Paw: connecting dog owners to Manchester’s green spaces
This one’s for the dog lovers! Ex-Paw are a dog community based in the centre of Manchester who run events and activities for dog owners, as well as offering doggy care advice and help to provide access to dog friendly spaces.
Meet Josie: the newest member of the In Our Nature team
Since joining In Our Nature, Josie’s been hard at work helping community projects across Manchester to take climate action.
Meet The Kindling Trust: encouraging a new generation of sustainable growers
Where does our food come from and why is locally grown food important? The Kindling Trust are making it their mission to answer this question by making locally grown produce more accessible than ever and finding inventive ways to get people growing.
Meet Claire from SNUG: one of Manchester’s newest and biggest greening projects
When you start out growing your own plants you never know where the journey will take you, and that’s definitely the case for Claire from SNUG! Hear about Claire’s project, the benefits and challenges she’s experienced and how you can get involved…
Meet the Trafford Wildlife Volunteers: keeping South Manchester wild and green
This group based in Trafford and South Manchester have been hard at work for years trying to protect and improve Manchester’s vital green spaces.
Meet Future Fashion Fair: the rising stars of sustainable fashion
Future Fashion Fair, originally based in Cheetham Hill, are a group who’ve made it their mission to make sustainable fashion affordable and accessible to everyone in Manchester.
Meet Lentils and Lather: the local, sustainable superstore
Based in Withington, South Manchester, owners Carl and Paulina have dedicated their time to creating a shopping experience centred around all things sustainability, from refillable containers to locally sourced food.
Meet Clean and Green Castlefield: the group brightening up one of Manchester’s most iconic areas
Gary started the Clean & Green Castlefield group during the pandemic after wanting to tidy up litter in the local area. From there, and with the help of Castlefield Forum, the group has now grown into a fully-fledged eco-squad with lots of enthusiasm from the local community.
Meet Zedify: Manchester’s newest cargo bike couriers
Founded in 2018, Zedify’s mission was to bring about real change to the UK’s cities by reducing traffic congestion and drastically rethinking the ways that urban deliveries are made.
Meet Plant NOMA: the team redefining Manchester’s urban biodiversity
Meet Station South: the cycling café for everyone
Located directly over the Fallowfield Loop, Station South has become a dynamic hub for all things cycling, featuring a community café & kitchen, bike repair workshop and urban garden.
Meet George: the 17 year old nature expert inspiring Manchester’s next growing generation
Green Fingered George - or, just George for short - is a 17 year old nature lover, gardening whizz, birdwatcher, and RSPB young ambassador
Meet Ardwick Climate Action: Manchester’s friendly neighbourhood climate activists
Ardwick Climate Action are a community group based one mile south-east of Manchester’s city centre in – you guessed it – Ardwick!
Meet Make My Money Matter: the group aligning your money with your values
Have you ever wondered what pensions, banks, and finance have to do with fossil fuels and climate change? Well, there are a lot more links than you might think…
Meet Bec Lupton: the climate action photographer
Green City Photos, run by @rebeccaluptonphotography, is a photographic project that explores climate-related projects happening across Manchester.
Meet Unicorn Grocery: the Chorlton sustainable cooperative
Unicorn Grocery is a worker-owned cooperative based in Chorlton, south Manchester with a big focus on affordable, organic, "cooking-from-scratch" ingredients and fresh, wholesome, tasty food. Seasonal eating is at the heart of what they do.
Meet Frank: the person behind Moss Side’s thriving allotment
Frank has been growing his own food since he was 12 years old. When he moved to Manchester from Jamaica he took up an allotment plot in Moss Side and he has now been there for over 30 years.