In Our Nature’s latest updates | Autumn 2024
Together, we’ve been helping individuals and communities across the city to take action on climate change in a way that’s meaningful to them. Take a look at some of the amazing things we’ve been up to recently…
Empowering Manchester’s communities
Community is at the heart of everything we do, and with In Our Nature activity in almost every ward in Manchester there’s so much great work happening. Here’s some stories we’ve been loving recently:
We’re growing local and greening the city
We’ve been working with volunteers to help create a community space and allotment at The Message. As part of a recent makeover day we used recycled materials provided by Touchwood to create seating and planters, ready to get growing next year.
Green with envy? Give it a grow with our climate-friendly planting tips.
We’re warming up our homes and buildings
This autumn, Station South added insulation to the roof of their Victorian Railway Station-turned cycle café which will go a long way to reducing heat loss and the energy needed to heat up the building this winter. Check out Sation South’s guide for insulating a historic building.
As part of their work with us, Station South have been delivering a series of events and workshops for the local community around energy efficiency and clothes swaps.
Climate action starts at home, check out our top tips to get started.
We’re finding new ways to travel
Want to give cycling a try? We teamed up with MCR Bike Kitchen earlier in the year to support them to set up a bike library at the Wythenshawe Civic Centre every Tuesday 10am-4pm. You can loan a bike from them for two weeks completely free of charge and see if cycling is right for you – why not pop in and give it a go? Everyone who has tried the scheme so far has gone on to get a bike of their own.
Interested in setting up your own bike library for your community? Read MCR Bike Kitchen’s guide.
Ready to ditch the car? Explore Manchester and beyond with our low carbon travel tips.
We’re making the most of our stuff and turning old into new
We hosted 18 sessions with 10 participants at the Lifestyle Centre in Wythenshawe, firstly teaching them about fast fashion's impact on the environment and then showing them techniques for upcycling their clothes using sustainable methods. This included Hapa Zome (hammering plants to create nature patterns) and natural dye (using materials like turmeric and paprika) to give their clothes a new lease of life.
Want to update your wardrobe? Take a look at our natural dye’s guides.
Ready to put throw-away culture in the bin? Discover how you can make the most of your stuff.
We’re sharing recipes, fighting food waste and making sustainable swaps
We hosted an Apple Day back in October, where we brought people together at Baytrees community garden in Harpurhey and made some delicious apple juice out of apples growing in the garden using an old apple press.
Tuck in to some of our tasty tips for climate-friendly cooking and eating.
We’re saving energy and keeping our wallets happy too
We’re collaborating with the Chatterbox Project and Cracking Good Food to deliver 6 slow cooker workshops this Winter. We’ve had two sessions so far, with 16 residents from across Charlestown taking part to learn about ways to cook tasty healthy food using less energy. Over the next 2 months, the residents will be learning more tips on low fuel cooking, alongside how to shop and cook in ways that are good for the planet. The residents will be a given a slow cooker at the end of the 6 weeks to take home with them.
Had a lightbulb moment? Take a look at our tips to reduce your energy use.
Congratulations to our friends at Future Directions who recently won the the 2024 Spirit of Manchester Inspirational Campaign award for all their incredible work!
Did you know, we teamed up with the Future Directions Green Superheroes to support people with learning disabilities to reduce energy at home whilst staying warm and saving money. They’ve even created an energy saving video and workbook to help you do the same.
Building a movement
Manchester, taking climate action is #InOurNature. Just take a look at our map and discover how we’re creating change right across the city.
Our annual Community Get Together event at the end of the summer, brought the people involved with In Our Nature together, to reflect on all they have achieved so far, and connect with one another to do even more great work.
Thank you so much to everyone who came along and made it such a special evening. Thanks, in particular to our panel speakers for sharing their inspirational work; Shabana and Khalida from Flavours from Manchester, Eric and Mel from Future Directions, Naz from Cheetham Cycling, and Valery from VT Creation. And to Ergon Theatre for their moving theatrical performance showing us how, when we work together, we can make a real difference.
“[my favourite part of the project] was seeing the energy houses [at Salford University] they’re the future houses – they’re nice!” – Eric one of the Future Directions Green Superheroes talking about their visit to Energy House 2.0 as part of their In Our Nature Community Support project.
“This project has given the ladies in our group enough confidence to go out, buy a ticket, go wherever they want to go.” – Khalida talking about the Let’s Go Green Community Support project
It’s really surprising how many women and girls, especially from marginalised groups; communities similar to those that I’m from, will come out if they see someone representing them. So, representation is really important in the cycling community, hence why I do it the way I do.” – Naz talking about her Cheetham Cycling project.
“[Before this project] I would just keep inside, I was scared to go out. Before I couldn’t walk, now thanks to the project I walk, so it’s helped put me in good health and I’m happy and healthy.” – Shabana, Flavours from Manchester participant.
“I have children that are growing, if today the pollution is this high, what about in 10 years’ time, what about in 50 years’ time? Are we going to save this planet, are they going to have a safer planet in the future? That’s why I said, ‘I know I’m small, I know its just me for now but I’m pretty sure there are many people out there, if I talk, they’re going to support me and [In Our Nature] is one of them.” – Valerie Touchet
The first formal meeting of the In Our Nature Steering Group took place this October. The group, made up of 12 residents who bring invaluable local knowledge and connections, personal insights, and a range of experience in community climate action, work closely with us to co-create and deliver opportunities to widen participation, connect and collaborate and share learning.
During the first session, members were asked to think about the unique skills they can bring to the group and agree a plan of action for 2025 to help drive more climate action in Manchester. Since the first meeting, members of the group have also met with Manchester City Council to talk about the update to the Our Manchester Strategy, helping to ensure that climate and sustainability are brought out as priorities. They have also been helping us to review and select our next round of Community Support projects which will be announced very soon.
Sharing our learning
Personal development experts and In Our Nature partner, Amity, have developed a Learning Hub of useful resources and are even offering free 1:1 sessions to help you take your climate action to the next level. The In Our Nature Learning Hub is an invitation to slow down, spend some time with yourself, and get a fresh perspective so that you can bring your best to your community and our planet. Sign up to get started.
This autumn we were also invited to attend the Communicate Conference, hosted at the Friends’ Meeting House. During the conference, In Our Nature Communications Lead, Ellie, joined a panel with Nick Gardener, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund to share In Our Nature’s approach for working with communities to design locally appropriate responses to the climate crisis and ensure that diverse voices are brought into the climate conversation.