Conservationists are campaigning for more wildlife-rich green spaces to be created within urban communities, arguing that nature should be accessible without people having to travel far from their homes. Research indicates that many people lack access to parks, woodlands or wetlands within a 15-minute walk, despite evidence that time spent in nature significantly improves health and wellbeing. For wildlife to thrive alongside growing populations, campaigners argue that access to nature must become a higher priority for policymakers and urban planners, with organisations like the Wildlife Trusts calling on government intervention.

Successful projects across the UK demonstrate how former industrial land and neglected spaces can be transformed into thriving habitats. Cutacre Nature Reserve near Salford, built on a former open-cast coal mine, now features meadows, wetlands and ponds that support species including grey partridge and lapwing, serving nearby communities who might not otherwise visit reserves. Similarly, the Lordship Recreation Ground in Tottenham was transformed through community-led efforts with £7 million in funding, creating woodland, meadows, an orchard and food-growing areas. These initiatives show both environmental and social benefits, with campaigners emphasising that every neighbourhood should have access to public green space backed by long-term investment.