Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have become the first places in the UK to be officially recognised as ‘Nature Towns’.
The title was awarded today by Natural England, the National Trust, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It recognises BCP Council’s work with partners to protect and improve access to green spaces across the area.
The three towns together have more than 2,500 hectares of natural greenspace, 170 play areas, and 19 sites of special scientific interest.
Projects already under way include restoring more than 37 hectares of peatland at Canford Heath, creating a nature walk at Boscombe’s Woodland Walk, and expanding urban greening schemes in areas with limited greenspace.
The Parks Foundation has helped transform 14 urban parks, supporting community access to nature and wildlife. The accreditation panel described this partnership as a strong example of collaborative working and praised the council’s efforts to balance nature conservation with public use.
Councillor Andy Hadley said receiving national recognition would help strengthen local investment in greenspace projects and ensure that “incredible” natural areas remain protected for the future.
The council also uses goats and cows for conservation grazing and plans to continue investing in multi-purpose green spaces such as parks, allotments and community gardens.
Jessica Toale, MP for Bournemouth West, welcomed the announcement: “I’m thrilled that Bournemouth has been recognised as one of the UK’s first Nature Towns, alongside our neighbours in Christchurch and Poole.
“This designation means real investment in our community’s future. The extra funding and support will help us create even more opportunities for local people to connect with nature, which we know is so important for our mental and physical wellbeing.”