Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo

Networks for Nature is a landmark partnership project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, working across 60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. The project received £4,073,372 in funding and is now delivering ambitious action for wildlife and communities across the region.

Led by Chester Zoo, the partnership brings together Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal & River Trust, the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and Record to drive nature recovery across a mixed-use landscape, creating and connecting diverse habitats where wildlife can thrive now and into the future.

Through habitat restoration, community action, education and volunteering, Networks for Nature is empowering local people to play an active role in protecting and restoring nature. The project is making nature more accessible and inclusive, helping people build meaningful connections with the natural environment while supporting health and wellbeing.

The project also benefits from funding from Westminster Foundation, Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust, Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust and Sykes Cottages.

Project objectives

Kingfisher Catching A Fish Out Of The Water

Drive nature recovery

Creating and connecting diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for the future.

Two Children Looking Through Binoculars At The Wildlife Connections

Make nature more accessible

and inclusive for everyone – creating connections and improving wellbeing.

Empower communities to protect and restore nature

Supporting their stewardship of their natural heritage.

Create a Network for Nature

Establishing strong partnerships to support the work and legacy of Networks for Nature into the future.

Funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund is enabling us to:

Restore/create 20 ponds, nearly 3,000m of hedgerow and over 100 hectares of various habitats for UK wildlife to flourish
Engage over 4,500 students in year-long school projects that include improving their school grounds for wildlife and people
Train 90 young people through the Environmental Leadership Course
Provide in-depth support to 18 community groups to enable them to improve their grounds for natural heritage and use the spaces created.
Support a Network of trained Wildlife Champions, empowering action in over 100 more community groups or organisations.
Provide a programme of green social prescribing and work with 6 GPs to increase understanding of the benefits of nature connection for health and wellbeing.
Engage over 700 people in volunteering opportunities including hands-on conservation action and wildlife recording for citizen science.
Host an annual Nature Festival at Chester Zoo – this year taking place on 13th & 14th September.

Networks for Nature is built upon the success of our Nature Recovery Corridor project which was a huge success

Improving over 62 hectares for wildlife and directly engaging more than 12,000 people in the project.

Read our report

A shrew sitting on top of a dried thistle.

Networks for Nature is only possible through partnership and collaboration with groups, communities and organisations committed to protecting and restoring nature. Here’s some of the key partners we’re working with and what they will deliver:

• Cheshire West and Chester Council will improve three nature parks for people and wildlife and will support with habitat improvements across the region including at the Chester Wetland.

• Cheshire Wildlife Trust will work with landowners and farmers within the project area to both create and restore habitats. They will also improve access and interpretation at their Gowy Meadows Nature Reserve.

• The Canal and River Trust will create two community nature spaces along the canal and will deliver habitat improvements including removal of invasive species and hedge planting and laying.

• The Land Trust is working in collaboration to create Chester Wetland, a biodiverse wetland habitat at the heart of the Countess of Chester Country Park. This project will support habitat creation, access and interpretation.

• The Walk Wheel Cycle Trust will take action along the Greenway which is part of the National Cycle Network.

• Record will manage wildlife survey data from across the region and support communities to develop their own wildlife surveys. They will also deliver wildlife recording courses and support the Wildlife Champions programme.

Partners and collaborators

Funders

We have bold plans to bring people together through our community participation programmes - connecting schools, local groups, businesses, and private landowners in exciting new ways. The full budget for this ambitious plan is more than £5 million so as a not-for-profit zoo we’re still seeking more support. If you’re keen to help us reach our goals, get in touch!

GET INVOLVED

Schools - Greener Futures

· A key part of Networks for Nature is our work with schools. Funded by the Westminster Foundation, the Greener Futures Programme works with schools across the Chester region to connect young people to nature and support the development of habitat creation in their school grounds. Over the course of the academic year we:

Deliver a whole school curriculum-linked project, alongside training for staff, Family Wildlife Clubs and hands on conservation action in the school grounds.
Invite you to join our growing teacher network to provide ongoing training and support.
Support your school with trips to the Zoo.
Provide funding for resources that will enable the continuation of nature engagement programmes in your school.

Thanks to funding from National Heritage Lottery Fund, we can now expand our programme to local secondary schools.

To find out more about the programme please email our Schools Engagement Officer - a.cunningham@chesterzoo.org

Communities

Landowners

Volunteering