Importance of local nature action in supporting communities and wellbeing

The evaluation focused on both implementation and early impact. It explored how funded activity contributed to creating, restoring and enhancing local green spaces, alongside the experiences and outcomes for communities and individuals involved.

A mixed methods approach brought together interviews, surveys, workshops and case study research. This provided a structured understanding of how delivery operated across different settings and audiences.

What was delivered
Across the programme, activity centred on small scale, locally led interventions. These included:
• Community gardens, orchards and food growing spaces
• Wildflower planting and pollinator habitats
• Tree planting and habitat creation
• Changes to land management practices
• Urban green infrastructure installations

Delivery models ranged from pre-packaged offers for community groups to larger grant funded projects, supported by partnership working across local areas.

What this helped to demonstrate
Evidence from survey responses and qualitative insights showed how participation influenced communities and individuals.
• 95 per cent of respondents reported their project contributed to creating local access to nature
• Around four fifths reported improvements in physical and mental wellbeing
• 81 per cent said they were more likely to support local nature initiatives following participation
• 72 per cent reported increased involvement of disadvantaged or under represented groups

Projects also supported wider community outcomes. Participants described:
• Increased volunteer involvement
• Development of new skills
• Stronger social connections
• Greater use of local green spaces

Local Nature Partnerships extended this reach through coordinated delivery and increased engagement with organisations and groups, including those not traditionally involved in nature activity.

Understanding delivery and engagement

The evaluation examined how different delivery approaches shaped outcomes:
• Pre-packaged offers supported accessible entry points for community groups
• Partnership structures enabled coordination and knowledge sharing
• Targeted activity focused on areas with limited access to nature

Across case study activity, volunteer participation and local ownership were central to delivery and ongoing use of spaces.

The work provided the Welsh Government with an evidence base on how the programme operated in practice, highlighting how local activity, partnership working and community engagement contributed to environmental, social and wellbeing outcomes. This informed future programme development by clarifying how delivery models supported participation and how early impacts were experienced at a community level.
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• Total programme funding in 2021–22 was £8.741 million
• 279 community packages were delivered in 2021–22
• 2.34 hectares of land were enhanced
• 157 community orchards and 117 food growing areas were created
• 1,930 participants contributed 20,350 volunteer hours
• 347 partnership meetings were recorded with increased partner engagement

The report is available to read here.