What does this say about our place and how do we live up to the title ‘Nature Towns’?

Being accredited as Nature Towns recognises that we are putting nature and green infrastructure at the heart of our place and communities. That we have the right strategic foundations and that these represent our commitment and intent to deliver. 

Ambitions delivered by the council and its partners

The accreditation recognises that BCP is ambitious to deliver for nature and our natural environment. It coincides with the forthcoming Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy which until 30 July was out to public consultation, giving people the opportunity to help us shape the strategy. Final publication is expected in December, keep an eye out for news updates at this website. 

With a Green Infrastructure and Urban Forest Strategy already adopted, Nature Towns can act as a catalyst to take BCP’s green spaces and infrastructure forward. These platforms will drive decisions in the interests of nature and support communities to engage with and benefit from a greener place through practical delivery at a range of scales.

Multi-functional greenspaces – nature friendly planting and maintenance, community hubs and cafes, volunteering, community food growing and nature activities is now happening in many neighbourhood parks – our Green Heart Parks – read about them at The Parks Foundation website. 

More fun in greenspaces – we are drawing more visitors to greenspaces by providing high quality, accessible, safe and inclusive play spaces, that also promote access to nature, through our Plan for Play. 

Connecting greenspaces – strengthening nature recovery and green travel networks at landscape scale through the Stour Valley project, and more local greenways such as Woodland Walk and Littledown Greenway.

Greening the urban environment –

• The BCP Nature Pledge provides a list of principles that help nature thrive in our urban outdoor spaces such as gardens, schools & work places;
• Our new (July 2025) Urban Greening Design Guide supports incorporating green roofs/walls, greener streets/public realm, celebrating trees and embedding green infrastructure into new housing and regeneration areas.

• Financing greenspaces – as well as working towards being able to attract private finance into our green infrastructure via the planning system we welcome partnering with businesses as part of their corporate social and environmental impact work – more at Give to Parks.

BCP Council wants to make accessibility to nature more equitable and fairer. Ward based green infrastructure planning will start in the parts of town with less greenspace and fewer trees. It is hoped that Nature Towns accreditation will help attract private sector funding to make a difference in these wards first. 

‘Meet the nature makers’ case study

• Introducing the team behind the BCP Council and The Parks Foundation partnership 
• Read about the partnership, what’s been learnt in the decade since The Parks Foundation was set up, and how those lessons can help others seeking to put communities at the heart of local urban parks
• Visit Nature Makers: The Parks Foundation | Nature Towns and Cities Resource Library

Discover what’s happening across the BCP area now:

• Check out Jaz’s Green Journey and the Future Parks initiative (2019-2024) which has helped lead us to this NTC accreditation. Read about recent local habitat improvements such as the Turbary Common Valley Mire Restoration and BCP’s part in Dorset Peat Partnership’s project to restore vital peatlands to Canford Heath
• Visit The Parks Foundation website – find out about a wide range of activities & events happening in our parks, the Young Adult Ranger Work Experience work experience scheme or the Parks in Mind outdoor activities initiative that is helping improve participant’s health & wellbeing.