Walsall Community Nature Network
What is the Walsall Community Nature Network?
The Walsall Community Nature Network is Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT)’s new initiative to empower grassroots organisations and community groups in Walsall to deliver small-scale, community-led activities that connect people to nature and capture local voices about how residents value, use, and wish to shape their natural spaces.
Thanks to funding received through the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project partnership from a donation made by Axil Integrated Services Ltd, BBCWT has awarded a total of £16,000 to 9 Walsall-based organisations to fund activities, events and initiatives which will connect local people to the wild world on their doorstep. For Wallsall. For wildlife. For everyone.
BBCWT remains committed to landscape-scale conservation and community engagement across the borough of Walsall as part of our Wild Walsall project. If you're interested in working with us, funding us or volunteering for nature's recovery across Walsall, please do get in touch.
Scroll down to discover all of our amazing Walsall Community Nature Network grantees.
Caldmore Community Garden
Caldmore Community Garden run family-friendly activities, starting from early years up to the end of primary school. They run groups for toddlers, school kids, activities for schools and home-education groups, events and holiday play schemes.
WCNN funding will support the running of an after-school gardening club for children who visit Caldmore Community Garden after school. Running drop-in gardening and nature exploration activities for kids
Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists
A writer’s group who use creative writing/communication to support self-expression, confidence-building, wellbeing, and social cohesion. They work across any age range and any ability, tailoring sessions to suit.
WCNN funding will allow them to run four creative-writing workshops (one for each of four different groups in Willenhall) encouraging them to observe, experience, and respond to the natural world around them.
Walsall for All
Walsall for All deliver community-based projects that promote inclusion, wellbeing and community cohesion across neighbourhoods in the borough.
WCNN funding will allow them to deliver two small, inclusive nature-based creative workshops in Walsall that promote wellbeing, family connection and awareness of the natural environment. The first session will be designed for children and mothers. The second session will be tailored for older residents.
Aaina Community Hub
Aaina Community Hub are a women`s charity organisation, delivering preventative and intervention focused life-enhancing opportunities by empowering women through education, employment, advice and healthy lifestyles in a safe and supportive environment.
WCNN funding will allow them to deliver a 6 months programme with a total of 12 sessions for women in Walsall. This project will take place in their local park, Palfrey Park, and will combine outdoor learning, wellbeing and community connection.
RicNic
RicNic is a youth-arts charity, supporting children and young people aged up to 25 to deliver their own youth-led projects. Their projects are free to attend, ensuring those from lower-economy families are not excluded in anyway.
WCNN funding will allow them to offer up to 25 young people from the area the chance to explore Park Lime Pits Nature Reserve with regular visits to the site. Together, they will record and research its history and ecology, creating and recording a performance-based response to their visits. Short films will then be made available to listen to via a QR code and shared with the local community.
Lifegate outreach Centre
The community arm of a church, Lifegate Communities work with the BAME community, especially the Black Africa and Caribbean community. Their projects and activities focus on wide range of age groups, from children to adult and also vulnerable groups.
WCNN funding will allow them to deliver a structured nature connection programme that brings Walsall residents together to explore and document wildlife and natural spaces through a combination of facilitated nature walks, mindful observation, app-based training, and creative journaling.
Mosaic : Neuro – Inclusive
Mosaic work with a diverse community of neurodivergent children, young people, adults, and families who often feel overlooked by mainstream services. Their community includes people with sensory needs, chronic needs and learning difficulties
WCNN funding will allow them to run sessions at Willenhall Community Garden over a period of 6 weeks, offering sensory, regulatory opportunities for those who express a keen interest in gardening. Sessions will include sensory friendly planting, raised planters, visual supports and simple step by step guidance.
Trekkers Uk
Trekkers UK create safe and inclusive spaces for underrepresented communities (ages 21+) from inner-city areas of the West and East Midlands to access and experience the healing benefits of nature.
WCNN funding will allow them to run 'Wild Roots' - a project for adults aged 21+ from the Global Majority, offering culturally sensitive walkshops and guided nature experiences.
Wild Ways West Midlands
Wild Ways West Midlands are committed to supporting the enrichment and social integration of adults with learning disabilities aged 25 and over who are at risk of social isolation due to no longer being in receipt of an EHCP and the funding attached. Through early intervention, they help people maintain and develop the skills and experiences that support living fulfilling well-rounded lives.
WCNN will allow them to develop member-led projects which focus on wellbeing, learning, culture and volunteering, whilst creating walks, developing routes and supporting access to nature.
The Walsall Community Nature Network project has received funding through the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project partnership from a donation made by Axil Integrated Services Ltd. The donation is part of remedial works agreed with the Environment Agency following a fire at Axil's Cannock site in 2022. Axil is supporting six projects through this donation, aligning with their ongoing commitment to local communities and environmental stewardship.