Nature Features

'Access to Nature' is an open grant programme run by Natural England, with £25 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund's 'Changing Spaces Programme'  and was launched in autumn 2007 by Alan Titchmarsh.

It's all about encouraging people to appreciate the countryside, particularly those who face social exclusion or people who currently have little or no contact with the natural environment.

Somali refugee group on a guided walk

Reports have shown that Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities often face barriers in accessing the countryside.

Research carried out by Birmingham City Council revealed that 82% of visitors to country parks in Birmingham were white British and only 18% from other ethnic origins, which is very unrepresentative of the ethnicity of the city.

A taste of the country

'Engage' run by Community Service Volunteers has secured a grant of £225,140 for a three year project aimed at helping BME communities from inner city Birmingham gain access to the countryside.

The aim of the Engage project is to work with communities that face social exclusion and those who have had little contact with the natural environment.

Heartlands High School - orienteering

Groups from the communities will be given the opportunity to visit a range of locations and a series of taster days are planned working with local park rangers and site managers.

It is hoped this will lead to the groups developing an interest in the outdoors and conservation work.

Involvement in local parks and green spaces will also be encouraged through Friends groups.

Young rangers

Engage will also work with primary schools to set up Young Ranger clubs. Each club will visit a country park, where they will be able to research the role of a 'Ranger' and be inspired to take positive action to improve parks.

Billesely Pakistani Ladies group

The three year project will focus on conservation work, arts and nature, species identification and will have a strong educational element.

Zohra Mahmood, Engage Project Officer said: "As a member of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Community, I'm aware that the BME communities are less inclined to access the countryside due to a number of barriers. Barriers such as a lack of information, the countryside being perceived as a white middle class domain, expense etc.

"I was fortunate enough to grow up in an environment where the outdoors was encouraged, as my parents in particular accessed the wider countryside regularly.

"Growing up and visiting the outdoors I always felt that there was a lack of BME representation. The Engage project is an opportunity for me to promote it amongst my own and the wider BME communities."

The parks that Engage is working with are Cannon Hill Park, Wyre forest, Cannock Chase, Clenthill, Lickey Hills and Sutton Park.

To find out more about Engage, e-mail Zohra Mahmood.