Museums are mapping existing habitats and identifying changes they can make to enhance biodiversity across their outdoor spaces. Actions will look different for each site but could include creating ponds and pollinator-friendly habitats or developing climate-resilient planting schemes. Meanwhile, community science activities are encouraging local people to play a hands-on role.
In the programme's first year, the Natural History Museum is working with eight museums from the Real World Science network:
- Birmingham Museums Trust
- The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
- Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Amgueddfa Cymru, National Museums Wales
- Touchstones, Rochdale
- Wollaton Hall, Nottingham
- National Museums NI
- the Natural History Museum, Tring
Once the pilot phase is complete, the programme will be expanded to more museums across the UK.
Museums for Nature builds on the success of the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project, which we also supported with funding. It transformed the five-acre garden around the bustling London museum into an accessible and biodiverse green space.
In that project, scientists and volunteers developed best practices to support urban nature recovery and piloted ways of monitoring change in town and city environments. These learnings and data are being shared widely with the museums sector to benefit biodiversity across the UK.
Tom Bevan, Head of National Programmes at the Natural History Museum, said, “Building on the success of transforming our own gardens in London, Museums for Nature will connect millions of people with nature at scale, creating a network of nature-rich spaces across museum sites throughout the UK.
“As one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, the UK must act. By working with museums to transform their spaces for nature, we can empower people to take action, deepen their connection with the natural world and become advocates for the planet.”
