A new ‘nature corridor’ is set to be created across the Keele University campus, thanks to a local community project.

The Nurture project has been established by Mondrem, a community interest company based on the University’s Science and Innovation Park, to help build local communities, improve health and wellbeing, and raise environmental and ecological awareness.

By improving biodiversity and creating calm and relaxing spaces along Keele’s interconnected paths through their Woodmeadow Walk initiative, Nurture aims to create a connected community of residents, businesses, academics, students and staff who all share similar sustainability values.

The Nurture project is being led by Ellie-Kay Dawe, a second year Keele student who has been employed by Mondrem after a successful internship. Speaking about the project, Ellie-Kay said:

“The pandemic has created some challenging situations for us all, and has reinforced the benefits and value of spending time in nature. At Nurture, we want to develop fully accessible outdoor spaces that help create more habitats for wildlife, while encouraging community collaboration and improving mental health and wellbeing in the process.”

Working closely with partners, the Woodmeadow Walk initiative hopes to improve habitats and wildlife by planting native trees and creating wildflower margins, bee-friendly plantations, bug hotels, hedgehog homes and bird and bat boxes. The initiative also aims to create outdoor working and meeting spaces to encourage collaboration between all campus users.

The project has several collaborators involved including various areas of the University, the Woodmeadow Trust, Cheshire East Green Party, Invisible Disabilities Society, EQ Partnering, and the Keele Students’ Union Volunteering team.

Ellie-Kay added: “The Keele campus will be our first place of happiness, but we aim to collaborate with more communities to create even more places of happiness and ecological diversity across the region and beyond.”

If you or your organisation are interested in getting involved with Nurture, please click here to visit their website.

For more information about Keele’s Science and Innovation Park, internships and other support opportunities available via Keele Gateway, please visit www.keele.ac.uk/gateway