Manchester City Council

Championing Nature

  1. “We’re passionate about our sport sponsorships going beyond the game to give back to the communities we serve. Championing Nature brings the worlds of sport, nature conservation and travel together in a way that we hope will inspire engagement with thousands of young people across the U.K”

    - Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

  2. Address

    Wythenshawe, Manchester. Along with 3 other Wildlife Trusts across England.

  3. Value/Worth:

    Wythenshawe specific budget to be confirmed

  4. Timeline

    Launched June 2025 with 6 Year funding

  5. Background

    Championing Nature is a six-year initiative made possible through a partnership between Wimbledon and Emirates. Over this time, four Wildlife Trusts across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Northumberland, Birmingham, and London will receive funding to deliver projects that put nature at the heart of local urban communities. Each Trust will lead tailored projects designed to inspire people, strengthen community connections, and improve the biodiversity of the green spaces around them. The programme aims to create a lasting legacy in urban environments by restoring habitats, planting for wildlife, and making nature-rich spaces more accessible and welcoming. Over the next six years, the programme will bring thousands of people closer to the wildlife on their doorstep, build pride in local green spaces, and create opportunities for communities to help protect and enhance their natural environment for generations to come.

  6. Projects

    Originally designed as a garden city to enhance the lives of those living and working in industrial Manchester, Wythenshawe's natural environment has been rapidly declining. In the past couple of years, two of its seven Sites of Biological Interest (SBIs) have been lost, and there is a risk of losing more of these sites in the next five years unless action is taken. To combat this, the Wildlife Trust will implement the Championing Nature initiative to help preserve the area's wildlife. The WT aims to engage young people, children, and families in conservation projects throughout the region, fostering a stronger connection to the nature on their doorstep, as well as a sense of ownership and responsibility for the wildlife and green spaces in Wythenshawe. The initiative will focus on four key objectives:
    1) Nature Connection & Education 2) Community-Led Action 3) Sustainability & Legacy 4) Inclusivity & Wellbeing.
    The first public event will be taking place on the 5th July, hosting workshops to help educate people about the natural environment.

  7. Outcomes

    The outcomes of the Championing Nature programme are not yet tangible as it is only just launching in Wythenshawe and other areas in the coming weeks. However, the desired outcomes of this initiative are consistent across all involved Wildlife Trusts: - Bring children, young people aged 16-24, and families closer to nature, and create a lasting legacy through physical projects in urban areas. - New research has found that roughly one in eight children from low socio-economic backgrounds aged under 12 has never experienced nature. How each area chooses to achieve its goals will vary. In Wythenshawe, Rory, the Greater Manchester Nature Recovery Manager, stated, “Together, we’re laying the foundations for lasting change that will benefit communities and wildlife for years to come.” With the funding received, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester, and North Merseyside will implement a transformative, community-driven initiative aimed at addressing the decline of nature in the Wythenshawe area of Greater Manchester. This initiative seeks to foster a sense of collective responsibility and belonging within the community, particularly among children, young people, and families, encouraging them to care for local wildlife and green spaces. The project will include learning workshops, partnerships with schools, skill development opportunities, community volunteering, habitat restoration, and species recording

  8. For more information:

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