1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Greater Nottingham
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Climate Friendly Gardeners Project
Short description of the intervention
The Climate Friendly Gardeners Project is based at Windmill Community Gardens in the Bobber’s Mill area of Nottingham. The project teaches local residents about sustainable gardening practices in the context of the climate change affecting the UK, through a renovated community allotment garden.”
(ref 1, 2)
Address

Ascot Road
Nottingham
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (1.398929 51.380018)
POINT (1.396004 51.3781)
POINT (1.394271 51.380784)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Residential
Website of the intervention
http://windmillcommunitygardens.blogspot.se/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2010
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2010
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The Climate Friendly Gardeners project extended from 2010 until 2014. But there is still ongoing work at the Windmill Community Gardens. (Ref. 1, 2)
Goals of the intervention
Groundwork Greater Nottingham owned an allotment plot at Windmill Garden Allotments in Nottingham and funding was secured to improve the allotment site. The overall goal of the project was to “resurrect a community garden in the heart of the city”. Furthermore, the Climate Friendly Gardeners project aimed to “teach local residents about sustainable gardening practice in the context of the climate change affecting the UK, through a renovated community allotment garden”. (Ref. 1, 2).
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Implementation activities
“Groundwork Greater Nottingham engages local groups and individuals with the issues of climate change, whilst learning how to grow, and use local food, through a programme of regular learning sessions and community events.
The project regularly supports schools, and youth groups in both curricular and extra-curricular activities, and is delivered with the help of numerous local volunteers”. (Ref. 1)

Also, the site was re-designed, new raised beds created, as well as new footpaths, a new polytunnel and new composting toilet installed. (Ref 3)
Type of NBS project
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Community gardens
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
no information publicly available online
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
no information publicly available online
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
new footpaths (ref 3)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Cultural services
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Educational: learn about growing food in a changing climate (ref. 1, 2)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Please specify other local relevant strategy
Nottingham City Council’s ‘Allotment action plan' (ref. 5)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
A Groundwork Greater Nottingham project at Windmill Garden Allotments in Nottingham in partnership with RSWT (Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts) Local Food (also funders to the project). (Ref. 1, 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
No information found
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Researchers/university
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Co-management/Joint management
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
“The Government’s plan to promote its localist approach to regeneration” ('Regeneration to enable growth: What Government is doing in support of community-led regeneration, 2011'). This through the partner (and funder) RSWT Local Food (which is part of the Big Lottery Fund's 'Changing Spaces' programme and through it Groundworks 'Community spaces' programme). (Ref. 1, 4-7)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Nottingham City Council’s ‘Allotment action plan’. There are three different types of allotment site in the City of Nottingham (Nottingham City Council directly managed sites, independently run Association sites and privately owned sites) (ref 4, 5).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Other
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Windmill Community Gardens (group of local people, helped by Groundwork Greater Nottingham and home of the Climate friendly gardeners project). (Ref. 2)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
“Work with Sarah [West] from Bio Opal to do a survey of Windmill's worm population and the pH of our soil” [i.e. the the OPAL citizen science project that aims to encourage members of the public to engage with their local environment]. (Ref. 1)

Also the evaluation research ‘The Local Food Programme: Final Evaluation Report’ conducted by Kirwan et al. in 2014 (through the project partner and funder RSWT Local Food). (Ref. 1, 7)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Through the project partner and funder RSWT Local Food which are supported by the Big Lottery Fund's 'Changing Spaces' programme. (Ref. 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Capital cost: £23 500 (around 26 000 EUR) through the project partner and funder RSWT Local Food, a £59.8 million programme (supported by the Big Lottery Fund's 'Changing Spaces' programme). (Ref. 1, 3, 6, 7)
Climate Friendly Gardeners (the Groundwork Greater Nottingham project) delivers the support to e.g. schools/local residents through the help of numerous volunteers. (Ref. 1)
Source(s) of funding
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Sale of National Lottery tickets (through the Big Lottery Fund).
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Green densification model
Green health model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Cultural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
a new polytunnel and new composting toilet installed. (Ref. 3)
Please specify social innovation
Engaging local residents and offering education in “growing food in a changing climate”. (Ref. 2, 1) new footpaths (Ref 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
"Groundwork Greater Nottingham own an allotment plot at Windmill Garden Allotments in Nottingham, which in recent years had become overgrown, tired and unusable. Funding was secured to improve the allotment site, and to get the site back up and running to enable future use for education and teaching purposes." (Ref. 3)
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The work is continuing on the site even though the Local Food supported project ended in 2014. (Ref. 2, 1)
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Description of environmental benefits
A pond, flower beds and compost area help to grow food in a natural way as they attract pollinating insects and provide habitats for a wide range of predatory creatures. The composting process is essential for recycling nutrients from decaying plant material and maintaining good soil health (ref. 6)

Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
"The allotments were designed to be accessible to as many people as possible. Wide, flat paths welcome visitors, we have formal and informal beds as well as a large polytunnel, and an area was set aside to be used for workshops and social meetings on the plot. Our fantastic cabin was built by one of our committee members (Peter Newton) and provides shelter for volunteers on chilly winter days" (ref. 6)
"NOGS members are very diverse in age, professions and their types of garden, but the common thread is a group of like-minded individuals who really care about “what they are doing on their own patch” and the wider impact on the environment. The wealth of knowledge through the group is enormous and the willingness of members to share their experience is inspiring. This is NOGs’ great strength. A day at a NOGs workshop learning how to prune or create a pond or work with willow is a very enjoyable experience. A lot of energy, time (and fun!) goes into organising the annual programme and the main events and it is a great way to meet like minded folks" (ref. 1)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Allotments applications are not accepted, people are not allowed to travel to their allotments
https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/allotments
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Not applicable
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
Link to a web-based monitoring tool
http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/2720/1/Local%20Food%20programme%20final%20evaluation…
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Through the partner and funder Local Food: The RSWT "commissioned the University of Gloucestershire’s Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), together with f3 The Local Food Consultants, to undertake an evaluation of the Local Food programme, which has run from 2009 to 2014. The purpose of this evaluation has been to conduct an ongoing assessment of the programme in its entirety that addresses six main areas:
1. the administration and management structure of
the programme, including the adviser function;
2. details of the projects funded;
3. how effective the delivery has been;
4. the lasting impacts of the programme;
5. the identification of any lessons that should be learnt from the programme; and
6. recommendations for the future".
(Ref. 7)
Link to the output of assessments
http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/2720/1/Local%20Food%20programme%20final%20evaluation…
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
“Groundwork Greater Nottingham engages local groups and individuals with the issues of climate change, whilst learning how to grow, and use local food, through a programme of regular learning sessions and community events.” (Ref. 1)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
The evaluation research ‘The Local Food Programme: Final Evaluation Report’ conducted by Kirwan et al. in 2014 (through the project partner and funder RSWT Local Food), provides recommendations for the future, with regards to the Local Food projects. (Ref. 1, 7)
References
List of references
1. Nottingham Organic Gardeners. n.d. Proud to be organic. Available at: http://nottinghamorganicgardeners.com/about (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
2. Windmill Community Gardens. n.d. Windmill Community Gardens. Available at: http://windmillcommunitygardens.blogspot.com/ (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
3. James, K. et al. 2019. The Local Food Programme: Final Evaluation Report. Available at: http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/2720/ (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
4. Nottingham City Council. n.d. Allotments. Available at: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/allotments (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
5. Windmill Gardens. Twitter Account. Available at: https://twitter.com/windmillgardens (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
6. Nottingham Organic Gardeners. The Demonstration Allotment. Available at: http://nottinghamorganicgardeners.com/demonstration-garden (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
7. Kirwan, J., Ilbery, B., Maye, D. & Carey, J. (2014) The Local Food programme: final evaluation report. Project report, Local Food. University of Gloucestershire. (Not available in 2020)
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/climate_friendly_gardeners_ref_3.jpg