Championing Nature, a new programme aimed at creating positive, lasting impact in communities through greater connections and engagement with nature, has launched.

The multi-million-pound programme will be delivered by four Wildlife Trusts: the London Wildlife Trust; Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust; the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside; and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

During the next six years, these Wildlife Trusts will each receive investment from The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates to fund bespoke projects and initiatives in their local urban areas, with a particular focus on bringing disadvantaged children, young people aged 16-24, and families closer to nature, and creating a lasting infrastructure legacy for the benefit of future generations.

Research conducted on behalf of the four Wildlife Trusts indicated that roughly one out of eight children from low socio-economic backgrounds aged under 12 has never experienced nature. Lack of green space facilities nearby (21%) and the cost of transport (17%) to get to the nearest green space facilities were identified by parents as two of the key barriers to their children spending more time in nature.

Parents identified improved mood (48%), overall happiness (48%), more active (42%) and better physical health (35%) as the top positive changes within their children after they had spent time in nature.

Championing Nature was officially launched at the AELTC’s Community Tennis Centre at Raynes Park, with representatives of the four Wildlife Trusts, All England Club and Emirates joined by programme ambassador Steve Backshall MBE to mark a collective commitment to creating lasting change through positive community engagement and increased connection to nature.

Steve Backshall MBE, who is renowned for his lifelong passion and commitment to nature, said:

“I’ve seen first-hand the remarkable benefits that a closer connection to nature and the outdoors can provide. The Championing Nature programme is a great opportunity to encourage children, young people and families living in urban environments to discover and explore the green spaces around them. Through my role as President of Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, I’m familiar with the fantastic work these organisations do to protect wildlife and enhance the natural environment. The four Wildlife Trusts have some exciting plans ready to roll out, thanks to the support of the Championing Nature programme, and I am looking forward to seeing the positive difference they will make to the lives of many.”

London Wildlife Trust

Charlie Sims, Director of Visitor Experience at London Wildlife Trust, said:

“Connecting people with nature isn’t as simple as opening the gates—it’s about removing physical, social, and financial barriers to accessing wild spaces. It also means creating relevant and inclusive programmes that help everyone feel a genuine sense of belonging in nature. This funding enables us to accelerate our Learning & Engagement work and bring wildlife back to the heart of communities across London.”

The funding will be used to support the running of London Wildlife Trust’s Wild About Learning outdoor education programme for schools and families. Each year, with this generous funding the Trust will run 150 school sessions reaching more than 5,600 pupils, and deliver more than 250 family learning sessions for 2,500 children. London Wildlife Trust will also install a nature play and learning space at Woodberry Wetlands in Hackney in 2026 and a sensory wildlife garden and education hub at Gunnersbury Triangle in Hounslow in 2028. Visit here:

Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust

Delia Garratt, Chief Executive said:

“We are incredibly excited at the opportunity that Championing Nature provides to us. The funding offered through Championing Nature will enable Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust to deliver deeply rewarding education and engagement activity to some of the most at risk and nature deprived young people in England, enabling these young people to release the immense benefits that can be had from a connection to the natural world.”

Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust will use the funds provided by Championing Nature to deliver a wide-ranging new programme of education and community engagement. The Trust will offer interactive nature based education sessions to schools in Birmingham, prioritising schools with the lowest access to green space. We will also create a new year round series of nature focused outreach events open to young people and the wider community. Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust will also invest in a major overhaul of our iconic environmental education site, Centre of the Earth. Visit here.

Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside

Rory Andrews, Greater Manchester nature recovery manager said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be working on this exciting new partnership. This collaboration will provide a huge boost for both people and nature in Wythenshawe—helping to create greener, healthier spaces and inspiring more local residents to connect with the natural world on their doorstep".

“Together, we’re laying the foundations for lasting change that will benefit communities and wildlife for years to come.”

Using the funding, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside will support a transformative community-driven initiative that addresses the decline of nature in the Wythenshawe area of Greater Manchester, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and belonging by empowering the community, and children, young people and families in particular, to care for local wildlife and green spaces. This will include learning workshops, school partnerships, skill development, community volunteering, habitat restoration and species recording, with the aim of creating a nature corridor through this urban environment. Visit here.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Northumberland Wildlife Trust covers the areas of Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside as well as Northumberland. Championing Nature is primarily focussed on our urban and suburban areas, where access to nature is more challenging.

Mike Pratt, Chief Executive, commented:

“This new partnership is an amazing opportunity to scale up our efforts to engage urban communities with nature as never before. Championing Nature is ambitious and long term in its approach so we can enable communities to connect to wild places in more meaningful ways. It will be an ongoing celebration of how transformative connecting with nature can be in everyone’s daily lives."

“We are very excited to be part of this journey to increasing nature awareness and appreciation and the wellbeing of people from all backgrounds.”

Northumberland Wildlife Trust will increase nature connection for children and young people through educator upskilling, school partnerships, nature reserve visits and a youth activism programme. The Trust is in the final stages of tendering for the provision of managing a section of a much-loved country park in North Tyneside for the next 40 years. If the Trust is successful, they will co-design the investment with the local community which would go towards improved engagement infrastructure within the section they will manage. Visit here.

Emirates was announced as an Official Partner of The Championships in 2024, extending its long-standing support of tennis into a fourth decade and complementing its existing Grand Slam partnerships with the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and US Open.

Commenting on the launch of the Championing Nature initiative, Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said:

"We’re passionate about our sport sponsorships going beyond the game to give back to the communities we serve. Championing Nature brings the worlds of sport, nature conservation and travel together in a way that we hope will inspire engagement with thousands of young people across the U.K. These four Wildlife Trusts are doing incredible work to protect nature and help people connect with it and through this unique partnership we hope to have a positive impact for generations to come.”

Deborah Jevans CBE, Chair of the All England Club, said:

“Wimbledon is known for its ‘tennis in an English garden’ setting and our focus on horticulture and biodiversity around our Grounds is part of what makes The Championships so special. We believe that the All England Club has a meaningful role to play in achieving a positive environmental impact, but we know this is not achievable on our own. That’s why we are delighted to be working in partnership with Emirates and four Wildlife Trusts on Championing Nature, a programme that demonstrates our shared commitment to connect people across the country with nature and to protect our natural world.”