Comment | Nature is in your neighbourhood
Look closely and nature is everywhere.
It might be wildflowers on a grass verge, a frog sheltering in long grass, or a swift darting overhead feeding on insects. At first glance these moments can seem small, but together they tell a much bigger story about the wildlife that shares our towns, villages and landscapes. Nature is not confined to reserves or remote countryside. It is woven through the places where we live, work and spend our everyday lives.
That's exactly what Nature In Your Neighbourhood is all about. Launched in 2024, this five-year project is bringing together communities, volunteers, artists, and partner organisations across North Staffordshire to help people discover, record and care for nature on their doorstep. By combining practical conservation, citizen science and community action, we are supporting communities and wildlife.
The project involves Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Keele University, Moorlands Climate Action, OUTSIDE, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire Council Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS). And as we move into autumn, and near the half-way point of the project, it is a good opportunity to reflect on a productive and inspiring summer season.
Across the area, communities have been caring for local habitats and recording wildlife. At Haregate in Leek, on a roadside verge, volunteers spotted species including the common frog, never officially recorded there before, and Roesel's bush-cricket, a species spreading northwards as temperatures warm. These species play an important part in local ecosystems and help us understand how nature is changing.
At Hulme End, bee orchids once again delighted local residents, and carpets of cuckooflower and a pollinator favourite, the dandelion, highlighting the ecological importance of these special habitats.
Meanwhile, at Cecilly Brook in Cheadle, efforts have focused on encouraging a more traditional hay meadow habitat. Managing scrub has created space for meadow species to thrive, while retaining some scrub ensures shelter and nesting habitat remain available for birds and other wildlife.
Elsewhere, volunteers are caring for community orchards, including the remarkable orchard stretching along the Caldon Canal in Endon, thought to be the longest orchard in the Staffordshire Moorlands. These orchards provide blossom for pollinators, fruit for communities and green spaces for everyone to enjoy. Alongside this work, volunteers have tackled invasive species including Himalayan balsam, common jewelweed and reed canary grass, helping native plants regain space.
Woodland management has also been an important part of this year's activities. At Barnfields, Ladderedge and within the old plantation at Rudyard Lake, coppicing work has created lighter conditions beneath the tree canopy. This traditional technique encourages fresh growth, supports a greater diversity of plants and insects, and helps create healthier woodland habitats.
One of the most exciting achievements has come through citizen science. Using the iNaturalist app, people across North Staffordshire have been photographing and identifying the wildlife they encounter. Thanks to local participants, more than 10,500 observations have now reached Research Grade, providing valuable records for the Staffordshire Ecological Records Centre.
What local people have achieved through citizen science is inspiring. So far, around 2,500 species have been recorded, supported by nearly 30,000 identifications from volunteers and experts. These records help us understand which species live locally and how wildlife is changing over time. For example, before 2005 there were no recordings or evidence of Roesel's bush-cricket in Staffordshire, but observations started taking place from that year and now in 2026 it is widely spread across the county.
Perhaps the greatest lesson from Nature In Your Neighbourhood is that nature is never far away. It is on our doorsteps, in roadside verges, parks, streams, churchyards, orchards, walls and even in the cracks between paving stones.
As we face warmer summers, more frequent heatwaves and an increased risk of winter flooding, nature has an increasingly important role to play in helping communities adapt. Trees provide shade, wetlands store water, species-rich grasslands support wildlife and community orchards strengthen local resilience. The recent launch of Staffordshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy provides an exciting opportunity to build on this momentum.
So wherever you are, take a moment to look around. Download iNaturalist, join a local volunteer event, or simply spend a few minutes noticing the wildlife around you.
Nature is not somewhere else. Nature is in your neighbourhood.
