Connecting Through Nature

Spending time outdoors and enjoying nature can make you feel better by improving your mood, helping you be more active, and bringing people together.

Sunderland has many wonderful places to experience nature from the fantastic coast with its beautiful beaches, to the magnificent River Wear, amazing parks with woodlands and lakes and the important green areas near where you live.

These places are valuable havens for wildlife, providing shelter for birds, insects and small mammals, and creating green corridors that help wildlife move around urban areas. They're also important places for everyone to use for walking the dog, meeting friends and family, going for a run, enjoying the wildlife, or having a kickabout.

About the project

Connecting through Nature is a three-year project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to national lottery players. The project is being delivered in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust who will bring their wildlife knowledge and expertise, and community engagement experience to Connecting Through Nature.

Sunderland is one of 19 projects from across the country which are part of the Nature Towns and Cities programme. This is a national initiative to revitalise greenspaces for people and wildlife being led by a partnership between Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. To find out more about Nature Towns and Cities please visit their website.

This project is an opportunity for you get involved and make a difference to greenspaces or parks in your neighbourhood.

• Are there local greenspaces and places that are special to you, but could be improved by having more trees, areas of wildflowers or spring bulbs? Have you got ideas to make a difference?

• We want to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors in nature.

• That's why we're asking you to share your thoughts and experiences in a short survey - your views will help shape what happens next in our Connecting Through Nature programme.