First shoots of Nature Takeover appear in Moss Side as part of city- wide programme to help residents respond to the climate emergency • Interactive “Sensory Structure” unveiled to engage residents on plans to green Moss Side • Initiative launches Manchester-wide drive to tackle climate change An eye-catching, interactive “Sensory Structure” has appeared today in Moss Side Community Park (1), encouraging local people to consider what they want to see, hear, taste, feel and smell as part of a Nature Takeover planned for Moss Side and across the city throughout the year. The Nature Takeover aims to bring nature closer to the residents of Moss Side; creating pockets of green and wildlife habitats in unexpected places; transforming disused patches of land and inspiring people through arts, design and creative tech solutions to notice and make the most of nature around them. The Nature Takeover is part of a new and innovative programme called “In Our Nature” which aims to trial climate friendly ways of living, and support people to make better lifestyle choices that help the environment and tackle climate change. The Sensory Structure was created by Playground Design Studio and encourages people to vote on what they want to experience – for example do they want to hear buzzing, tweeting, crunching or flowing water? Do they want to smell citrus, minty, floral or aromatic scents? And there’s opportunity for residents to suggest their own ideas too. In addition, 500 free plants are being given out today to help local residents make their homes greener and wilder. Following today’s launch, the installation will be in place until Sunday 18th July for locals to visit, and social enterprise Sow the City will be running free drop-in events and workshops to give residents the opportunity to get in touch with their senses and have their say about what they’d like to see in Moss Side. The workshops will be: • Saturday 3rd July 10am – 3pm: Create your own bird feeder. Use natural materials to keep our feathered friends fed, and start seeing and hearing beautiful native birds in your garden! • Tuesday 6th July 3 – 6pm: Food tasting. Try delicious fresh produce grown right here in Moss Side and discover how tasty local and seasonal produce can be. The Nature Takeover is the first of a number of exciting initiatives launching in Manchester over the coming months as part of the wider In Our Nature programme - Manchester’s largest community climate programme to support households and communities to live more sustainably and help Manchester reach its target to be net zero by 2038 (2). The programme aims to create a toolkit of tried and tested initiatives that can be replicated by communities across Manchester and the UK in response to the Climate Emergency. The In Our Nature programme will include: o A city-wide communications campaign giving residents practical tips, hacks and advice to help save money, improve their health, strengthen community cohesion, make life easier and improve the appearances of neighbourhoods and tackle climate change, o 6 climate action groups in Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme, Newton Heath and Miles Platting, Levenshulme, and the Northern Quarter who will be supported to work together to develop and lead projects which respond to the climate emergency. o A series of behaviour change projects in communities including the launch of community fridges to tackle food waste, planting Manchester’s first Tiny Forest, a project supporting novice gardeners to make their homes greener and wilder, and more! In Our Nature is a collaboration between Manchester City Council, Manchester Climate Change Agency and Partnership, environmental charity Hubbub, Amity CIC, Commonplace and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. It also brings together a coalition of local and national partners including social enterprise Sow the City. Gavin Ellis, co-founder of Hubbub said: ““Academic research suggests that, as well as improving health and mental wellbeing, exposure to nature makes people more likely to adopt environmentally-friendly behaviours and In Our Nature will test this theory in Manchester. Through the Sensory Structure we’re looking forward to hearing what kind of nature local people in Moss Side want to experience, so we can work with the local community to make it a reality. A range of In Our Nature activities across the city over the coming year will help the people of Manchester to come together to create greener, healthier and more connected neighbourhoods.” Lisa Lingard, Resident and Community Lead at Manchester Climate Change Agency said: “The next 5 years is critical in getting the city on track to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2025, and everyone needs to play their part. We are really excited to kick off this programme – the first ever climate change campaign in Manchester; with the help of everyone in the city we’re aiming to unlock the potential of residents and communities to take meaningful action on climate change and create solutions that can go on to be replicated in other communities across the city.” Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment said: "We want to ensure that all our residents feel empowered to play their part in tackling climate change, and, however small that contribution might seem, go on to do more. Bringing collaborative projects like this into the heart of our communities just highlights the numerous ways in which we can all contribute to a better and greener environment in our own neighbourhood which ultimately will help our overall target of reducing carbon emissions and ensuring our city is zero carbon by 2038.” Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “The Manchester Climate Change Agency was awarded a development grant from the first round of our Climate Action Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this innovative project will highlight the importance of creating more green spaces and habitats for wildlife in even the most urban areas. We are excited to see how The Nature Takeover’s sensory structure will bring people together in the local area, and encourage lifestyle choices that will show how we can collectively tackle the climate emergency.” In Our Nature is funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund and a coalition of funding partners including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, the Wates Family Enterprise Trust, the Co-op, Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I, Coca-Cola GB, Danone UK & Ireland, JCDecaux UK and Tetra Pak. The programme will be led by local people from every part of the community, including local community groups, education establishments and faith institutions. Manchester residents are urged to visit the online hub for more information and to have their say - inournaturemcr.co.uk and follow @InOurNatureMCR on social media to find everyday inspiration, tips, and hacks for greener living in Manchester. Residents living in Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme, Newton Heath and Miles Platting, Levenshulme, and the Northern Quarter are encouraged to express their interest in joining a local climate action group before 23rd July by visiting. inournaturemcr.co.uk Katie Finney, Co-Founder of Amity Community Action CIC, said: "At Amity we recognise how important it is to support each other locally to take action that promotes a community in harmony with the environment and with one another. As part of the In Our Nature Programme we are delighted to be offering our Inspired Community Action Programme free to residents in Hulme, Moss Side, Rusholme, Newton Heath & Miles Platting, Levenshulme, and the Northern Quarter. Amity will support people to form local Climate Action Community groups and harness their innate potential, leadership and community spirit for inspired action in tackling the climate emergency. Everyone is welcome to express their interest, no experience needed as the In Our Nature partners are offering a wealth of expertise and practical help to get ideas off the ground. This is a really exciting opportunity for us all to learn about what's possible when we collaborate in the face of a big challenge." A £25k Community Grant has been launched for groups across Manchester to apply to receive up to £10k worth of funding to deliver a project in their community. Community groups and other organisations can apply for grant funding by visiting: https://zerocarbonmanchester.commonplace.is/proposals/community-grant/step1 The campaign is keen to hear from more businesses keen on supporting. Get in touch with [email protected] explore potential collaborations. .