With 43 nature reserves across Staffordshire, projects, activities, events and over 1,980 hectares of land to manage, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is busy – they are working hard to make the county a better place for wildlife, nature and people.

But they’re not alone. The passionate folk of Staffordshire are rising to the challenge, too, keen to make positive changes for nature.

Passion is one thing, but to really make a difference, people often need support and advice. That’s where Prima Magazine, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Funded-project, Nextdoor Nature, come in.

They’ve come together to turn a neglected plot of land in the heart of Stafford into a vibrant greenspace alive with wildlife – a sight to bring joy to the passer-by, a home for nature, and a pleasant place for anyone to sit and rest for a while.

How did it start? Let’s wind the clock back to 2022…

Nextdoor Nature

In June 2022, the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded The Wildlife Trusts a five million pound grant for the Nextdoor Nature programme. This is a two-year initiative that sees a community organiser placed in every UK wildlife trust. Community organisers might be a little different to the way things worked in the past, at least in some areas. Community organisers don’t come in and tell people what to do. Instead, their first job is to listen to local people, and find out what they really want to do.

Then they work alongside the individuals, groups or communities, supporting them to bring about the change they want to see.

All too often, when a project’s funding runs out, the project collapses. Nextdoor Nature has been about embedding a new way of working, a way of working that sees the power resting in the hands of the communities themselves. That way, a successful community organiser makes themselves useless – when a group no longer needs them, that’s a positive result!

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust took up the challenge, employing Sue Kneill-Boxley as their community organiser. She soon got stuck in, working on a range of projects across the town; you can find out more about Nextdoor Nature in Stafford here.

Prima Magazine

Early in 2024, Prima Magazine got wind of Nextdoor Nature and the idea of communities coming together to make places better for people and wildlife appealed to their readers. The magazine is a warm, friendly, fun resource – “Like having a chat with your very best friend,” according to the editor, Jo Checkley.

They wanted to support the Nextdoor Nature project and inspire more people to take action for nature. They ran a short competition which showcased five potential projects around the country, inviting readers to vote for their favourite.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust were the worthy winners, and within weeks, they had whipped up volunteers and staff to be at the site for a photoshoot with the editor herself swooping up from London to take part.

Fame! And … fortune?

Prima Magazine’s June issue hit the shelves on 24 April, with a double-page feature about Stafford’s Nextdoor Nature plot. You can read it here!

Now Sue and her colleagues have the huge task of not only helping the volunteers and residents of the area in creating a wonderful greenspace to be proud of, but they have to document every step with words, video and photos, as Prima Magazine will be following their progress over the next five issues! Christine Harding from the comms team has been working hard on getting things organised to support Sue over the summer.

But the hardest work, of course, falls to the volunteers themselves. Anyone can step up and help out – there’s always weeding to do, for example. The project is also privileged to have the support of two local charities, House of Bread and Turning Point.

House of Bread, whose website is here, provides a meal, advice and support for all who are vulnerable in the area, in a safe and welcoming place. And Turning Point, whose website is here, supports people with complex needs and a history of homelessness and rough sleeping. Both organisations have service users who are keen to support the Nextdoor Nature project.

The volunteers will also be on the lookout for local businesses who can donate resources, materials or money. The site needs plants, bird feeders, rocks for a rockery, sand, compost, and signage. Any companies helping out will get a mention in Prima Magazine. Just contact Staffordshire WT here.

Inspired? Get involved!

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust have loads of opportunities for people – check it out here. Or find your own local Wildlife Trust here.

For more help and advice about community work, visit the Nextdoor Nature Hub here. We’d also love to hear your stories about how you and your community are helping nature and wildlife – contact us here. Browse our stories from around the UK and see what others have been doing. It might just spark an idea!

Don’t forget to follow Prima Magazine online – they’re on Instagram, Facebook and X too. That way, you can follow the progress of this community garden throughout 2024.