Students and the local community planted 3,000 trees with Voice for Nature and SUGi to launch the first ReWild Yourself Community Hub at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, Nottingham.
ReWild Yourself Community Hubs aim to enhance local biodiversity, increase access and connection to Nature and improve the health and well-being of local communities.
“This is about more than planting trees,” said Katie McLaurin, (Managing Director, Voice for Nature). “It’s about growing a living space where people and nature can thrive together — a legacy of well-being, connection, and care for our environment and communities.”
On 25th of November, students and community members in Bilborough, Nottingham planted thousands of trees, returning nature to the ancient woodland previously known as Shepherd’s Wood, which once inhabited this area of Nottingham.
Ben Wright (Biodiversity and Sustainability Manager, Archway Learning Trust) explained “This used to be a woodland, it was completely depleted in 1950/1960 and now we are restoring what once was Shepherd’s wood – that’s really exciting!’
The Nottingham ReWild Yourself Community Hub, supported by The ERANDA Rothschild Foundation, is a truly community-based project, with Nottingham locals helping to inform and implement all aspects of the space, including design, artwork and infrastructure.
The Hub will serve as a free, safe, welcoming space for local groups, schools, and residents to meet, learn, and engage with nature. Over time, the aim is for the Hub to become a lasting community asset, deeply rooted in local life and environmental stewardship.
David, (a student from Bluecoat Beechdale Academy) said: ‘’Normally people have too much action in their life – and sometimes they just need a breather.. time to sit down with their friends.. enjoy nature and really cherish to the heart what’s actually been given to us!”
Mrs R Frearson (Principal at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy) said: “It is a wonderful opportunity for our children to plant those trees – to see those saplings going into the ground…when they are adults, they’ll be able to come back to the space, with their children perhaps, and say: “I helped to build this space for the local area!” – and I think it is something to be celebrated!”
23 native tree species were planted, including English Oak, Silver Birch and Field Maple.
This ERANDA forest will help reduce the high levels of local air pollution, which is especially important due to the number of schools and houses in the area.
Darcy, (a pupil at Bluecoat Primary Academy) added “Today we’ve learned about different kinds of trees, and how you plant them. Now there is barely any trees and it is not good for the community …when it will turn into a forest we could go in and see all of the birds that move into the forest and the trees”
Recent studies are highlighting the UK’s degraded habitats, species in decline [1], unequal access to Nature [2] and a widespread erosion of people’s relationship with the natural world [3], especially in teenagers.
This environmental crisis coincides with a mental health crisis, where 20% of children [4] and 1 in 4 adults are experiencing a probable mental health issue [5].
Research from ReWild Yourself partners, the University of Derby, now clearly shows a strong correlation between feeling connected to Nature and improved mental health, as well as pro-environmental behaviour [6]. This has led to the development of the ‘ReWild Yourself Community Programme’ nature connection workshops, co-designed with Natural Academy. The programme will launch at the Nottingham Hub in Spring 2026.
Jo Birch (Natural England) highlighted: “For young people, the evidence has said that there is a big mental health benefit of having access to nature on site and having a place where you feel safe. This site is going to be a safe space for a lot of people within the school and outside.”
ReWild Yourself is a global initiative by the Voice for Nature Foundation designed to strengthen our connection with Nature. They are creating three ReWild Yourself Community Hubs in the UK with the support of The ERANDA Rothschild Foundation.
For more information or to get involved, please contact [email protected]