Nature and growing

5 Dec

And breathe! Did you know that spending just a small amount of time in nature is linked to lots of benefits for our physical and mental health?

As well as making us feel good, protecting our green spaces can help reduce the effects of climate change by keeping our cities cooler, improving air quality and reducing the risk of flash flooding.

Ready to turn over a new leaf and make a lasting impact? Check out these resources to learn how:

Featured

Create a Herb Hanging Basket with Get Up and Grow

Manchester Urban Diggers Guide to Composting

Tools to keep your green space thriving

Need some help to keep your community green space looking its best? Get your hands on our growing guide and maintenance plan, created with the Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project Gardening Group.

Different types of planters, and what’s best for you!

Growing your own food is a fantastic way to save money, reduce your carbon footprint and have access to fresh, tasty produce all year round.

How to set up a Friends Group

Friends Groups are local volunteers who work together to undertake practical projects in green spaces such as a parks, allotments or nature reserves. Together, they arrange events and fundraise to improve their valued green space.

Take the lead, and explore the outdoors

One of the best things about being a dog pawrent is that dogs need to get outside every day come rain or shine! Although they’re not always super convenient (like first thing on a Monday morning or in the middle of a typical Manchester rainstorm…) these daily plods help keep us fit, healthy and connected to the great outdoors.

How to make your own self-watering planter

These DIY planters store water in a hidden reservoir to help your plants stay hydrated for longer. The best part is they’re super easy to make yourself from materials you can find at your local garden centre or DIY shop. Check out our step by step video with Ciaran from Sow The City to learn how you can make your own…

On your marks: tips to be a more environmentally friendly runner

Manchester’s caught the running bug! More and more of us are picking up running and jogging, which is a brilliant (and free!) way to keep fit, improve our mental health, and spend more time outdoors.

How to green your alleyway

Alleyways, Ginnels or Alleys? Whatever you call them, these shared spaces are a staple feature in Greater Manchester’s landscape which have been connecting neighbours for over 100 years.

The ultimate sustainable picnic guide

We’ve put together this guide to having a plastic and litter-free picnic so you can enjoy the great outdoors with your friends and family, without worrying about litter blowing into nature.

Six easy ways to make your garden habits more environmentally friendly

Tips for using less water in your garden

How to make your own bug hotel

Making your own bug hotel is easier than you might think, and can provide much needed habitats in gardens for solitary bees, beetles, frogs and hedgehogs.

Tips for getting started with growing at home

Curious about growing? We’ve got you covered for easy and straightforward hacks to give it a grow at home.

How to grow at home with little time and space with Manchester Urban Diggers

Top tips for growing at home.

How to protect green spaces

A gardening expert's guide on how to prepare your garden for spring

A Gardening Expert's Guide on How To Prepare Your Garden for Spring

Discover our projects linked to nature and growing:

Our Impact

10 February 2025

Case Study: How we supported SNUG to increase their community engagement

10 February 2025

Building on our research that connecting to nature can help facilitate climate action, we teamed up with SNUG, a community orchard in Crowcroft Park to help connect residents with nature.

10 February 2025

Case Study: How to use translation in your surveys to reach more of your community

10 February 2025

We all know data is key these days, whether you’re asking questions for yourself or measuring a project for a funder. But often not everyone speaks the same language, and that can make things tricky!

10 February 2025

31 October 2024

Case Study: Whalley Range alleyways are for everyone

31 October 2024

In January 2024, In Our Nature started working with local residents to help them build skills, come together and help make their alleyway more climate resilient and an all-round nicer place to be!

31 October 2024

16 July 2024

Case Study: Creating a Community Space at Sir Robert Thomas Court

16 July 2024

Across Manchester, many people are unable to access and enjoy their local green spaces. One of the biggest groups affected by this is older residents and those with mobility issues, who may struggle to maintain overgrown areas. In these situations, local friends’ groups can be key for helping communities to secure funding, host volunteer days and make green spaces accessible for everyone!

16 July 2024

30 May 2024

Case Study: Accessibility at Crumpsall and Cheetham Model Allotments

30 May 2024

Everyone deserves to have a community space to visit, whether it’s for socialising and meeting like-minded people, or simply having somewhere to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As part of In Our Nature, we wanted to give community groups the guidance and resources to make their spaces easier to access for the local community.

30 May 2024

5 March 2024

Case Study: Crumpsall Youth Climate Leaders

5 March 2024

Many young people want to contribute to climate action and greening their local area, but simply don’t have the knowledge, support or tools to make it happen. In Our Nature are on a mission to make climate action accessible and achievable for young people of all ages and abilities!

5 March 2024

Get inspired:

Featured

10 October 2024

Meet the Caritas Lalley Allotment: a hidden oasis 10 minutes from the city centre

10 October 2024

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.

10 October 2024

5 June 2024

Meet The Kindling Trust: encouraging a new generation of sustainable growers

5 June 2024

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.

5 June 2024

4 June 2024

Meet Claire from SNUG: one of Manchester’s newest and biggest greening projects

4 June 2024

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…

4 June 2024

23 April 2024

Meet the Trafford Wildlife Volunteers: keeping South Manchester wild and green

23 April 2024

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.

23 April 2024

8 January 2024

Meet Clean and Green Castlefield: the group brightening up one of Manchester’s most iconic areas

8 January 2024

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.

8 January 2024

9 August 2023

Meet Plant NOMA: the team redefining Manchester’s urban biodiversity

9 August 2023

16 May 2023

Meet George: the 17 year old nature expert inspiring Manchester’s next growing generation

16 May 2023

Green Fingered George - or, just George for short - is a 17 year old nature lover, gardening whizz, birdwatcher, and RSPB young ambassador

16 May 2023

17 March 2023

Meet Ardwick Climate Action: Manchester’s friendly neighbourhood climate activists

17 March 2023

Ardwick Climate Action are a community group based one mile south-east of Manchester’s city centre in – you guessed it – Ardwick!

17 March 2023

28 May 2019

Meet Frank: the person behind Moss Side’s thriving allotment

28 May 2019

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.

28 May 2019