Urban communities are increasingly disconnected from the countryside due to urban sprawl and the fragmentation of natural spaces. This loss of connection, combined with busy and sedentary lifestyles, has contributed to rising mental and physical health challenges. Evidence increasingly shows that access to ecologically rich landscapes is vital for wellbeing, resilience, and community health.

We will work with urban communities across Oxford’s Green Belt to reconnect people with nature, improve wellbeing and foster pride in a place. Communities will restore neglected meadow habitats, as identified by the local nature recovery strategy, using traditional techniques such as scything, gaining practical conservation and survey skills. Communities will be empowered to create Mini Meadows at home or in shared spaces. The project will inspire a lasting legacy for the countryside next door.