Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust are a resident-led organisation supporting people in north Bristol to achieve positive change for themselves and their community. After publishing their climate action plan, the Trust created the Really Wild Lockleaze Project as part of the wider climate, community-led action happening across Bristol.

The Bee Bold selection panel praised how Really Wild Lockleaze is enabling urban communities to tackle the ecological crisis and supporting residents to make more space for nature.

What they did?

The Really Wild Lockleaze Project was established as one of six flagship initiatives in Bristol, led by the Bristol Green Capital Partnership. Its goal is to find practical ways for urban communities to address the climate and ecological crisis while creating long-term, meaningful change in Lockleaze. Since 2022, staff and volunteers have made huge progress, creating over 1,500 square metres of pollinator-friendly wildflower meadows across private gardens, verges, and public land. A new wetland habitat has been developed at Lockleaze Sports Centre and over 1,000 native trees and 3,000 wildflower bulbs have also been planted across Lockleaze.

Residents can get involved by suggesting ideas for their space which the Trust will help make a reality by supporting with permissions and undertaking habitat work. There is also a nature network for residents to share ideas and volunteer together. So far, the Trust have organised over 74 events and 26 nature-themed workshops for the community.

The impact for Lockleaze and beyond

Through a series of workshops and hands-on volunteering, more Lockleaze residents are being empowered to take action for nature in their own spaces. After attending a Really Wild Lockleaze event, 95% of volunteers felt more connected to their community, whilst 97% said they felt connected to nature. Alongside the social nature networks, local WhatsApp groups have been created to help residents care for newly planted green spaces. As a result, neighbours have started to meet each other, sometimes for the first time.

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust is currently working with Bristol City Council to create a blueprint for expanding their work on greenspaces and verges across the city. Ongoing efforts include expanding the Lockleaze Wild Mile, where residents can sign up to support nature in their gardens and receive free wildflower seeds to get started. The team hopes that, over time, this initiative will connect all wild verges along the M32 to North Bristol.

The impact for pollinators

Although the Small Blue and Yellow Brimstone butterflies are found in Lockleaze, sightings are rare. To support these species, the Trust created a new wildlife corridor along a railway line, planting kidney vetch and alder buckthorn to attract them. But its not just pollinators who are benefiting from the project. Inspired to take part, one resident has become the designated ‘Hedgehog champion’ and is working to make local streets around Lockleaze more hedgehog friendly.

Find out more about the Really Wild Lockleaze Project here.

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