Oxford-Cambridge Partnership research charts new path for nature recovery

The research reveals significant opportunities to derive multiple benefits from green spaces – from urban parks and community gardens to transport corridors and waterside paths. It highlights the need for a more connected, holistic approach that recognises the full spectrum of spaces contributing to nature recovery and community health.

Aligned with the renewed regional Environment Principles, the research informs the Partnership’s work to support sustainable development and environmental enhancement across the Oxford-Cambridge region.

Detailed findings are being shared today (November 29th) at the Partnership’s annual conference in Milton Keynes, where leaders from organisations such as AstraZeneca, East West Rail, and Natural England will discuss integrating economic growth with environmental sustainability. Wider engagement opportunities will follow in late 2024/early 2025.

Dr Jayne Manley, Research Lead and Founding Director of Sunnyhill Consultants, said: “Our research highlights the transformative potential of green spaces to drive nature recovery, enhance community wellbeing, and achieve net zero—far beyond what we initially envisioned. The key to unlocking this potential lies in reimaging our current beliefs and organisational frameworks so that no matter our sector or community, we share a vision where green spaces become the engine rooms driving  meaningful change.”

Nathan Vear, Environmental Lead for the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership, commented: “This research aligns closely with our renewed Environment Principles and offers valuable insights for how regional partners we can work together to maximise the benefits our green spaces provide for both nature and communities.”

Funded jointly by the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership and Natural England, the project represents a significant step in understanding how to better connect nature recovery with community needs. Through workshops, focus groups, and detailed analysis, the research engaged with over 30 organisations across the region, bringing together perspectives from conservation, planning, community groups, and local government.

Verity Warne, Director of Development & Movement Building at Earth Trust, added: “At Earth Trust, we’ve long championed innovative approaches to balancing access with nature recovery, but supporting change at scale requires cross-sector collaboration. This research demonstrates the power of collaboration in reimagining how green spaces can serve both people and nature. By bringing together diverse perspectives from multiple sectors, we’ve identified practical ways to advance both nature recovery and community wellbeing through better-connected and more inclusive green spaces.”

Russell Ashfield, Principal Consultant at 3Keel, said: “At 3Keel, we use our knowledge and skills to accelerate systems change, helping to transform green spaces and other landscapes to enable a world in which nature, people and businesses thrive. But systemic change takes everyone. 3Keel’s work must often bridge the gap between business, civil society, government and academia, so I’m really pleased that we’ve been so involved in the ‘Catalysing Nature Recovery for People and Nature’ project. The depth of cross-sector engagement that we’ve seen in this project has been extremely encouraging. Crucially, it’s also revealed some very significant opportunities to enhance how different sectors can work together in delivering multiple benefits from green spaces. It’s been fantastic to contribute to such comprehensive and important research examining how green spaces can better serve both nature and people.”

Key findings highlight opportunities to catalyse change for nature recovery and communities:

• Develop a more connected network of place-based green spaces across urban and rural areas
• Enable sustainable funding approaches that recognise multiple benefits
• Better balance nature recovery with community access and wellbeing
• Enable greater cross-sector collaboration in green space management

The research forms part of a wider initiative by the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership to advance environmental principles across the region. Aligned directly to the new Regional Environment Principles and their second objective to deliver more regionally-connected nature-rich landscapes, this work provides partners with research that supports approaches that achieve nature recovery and green space enhancement.

For more information about the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership’s environmental initiatives, visit: oxford-cambridge-partnership.info

Notes to Editors

About the Research Partners

Earth Trust www.earthtrust.org.uk  is an environmental charity with 40 years’ experience of inspiring people to address climate, biodiversity and wellbeing with the power of natural green spaces. Together with our supporter community, we are guardians of some extremely special and inspiring places in Oxfordshire, rich in nature and heritage. We use these amazing places to engage and inspire people and to demonstrate nature-based solutions that we hope others will take and use elsewhere.

3Keel  www.3keel.com is an award-winning sustainability consultancy committed to making food systems, supply chains and landscapes fit for the future. We use our knowledge and skills to accelerate systems change and business transformation towards a world in which nature, people and enterprises thrive. 3Keel was recently re-certified as a B Corp, and has been recognised for the sixth year running by the Financial Times as one of the UK’s Leading Management Consultants for Sustainability.

Sunnyhill Consultants  www.linkedin.com/company/sunnyhill-consultants  Innovates at the change intersection of the most challenging aspects of economy, climate change, ecosystem health and thriving communities. Your environmental business partner, enabling you to thrive in a changing world. Sustainability. Leadership. Skills.

About the Project

The “Catalysing Nature Recovery for People and Nature” project seeks to develop practical approaches for delivering nature recovery while building nature into people’s lives.

The current research phase, commissioned by the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership and jointly funded with Natural England, examines how different sectors define and manage green spaces, identifying opportunities to unlock their full potential while ensuring community benefit. The work is particularly timely as it helps shape and influence policies at a critical moment for nature recovery and community engagement.

About the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership

www.oxford-cambridge-partnership.info  The Partnership brings together local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Arc Universities Group and others to enable businesses, communities and the environment in the Oxford to Cambridge region to benefit from the region’s world-leading innovation and economic strengths, both now and in the future. It has a focus on promoting the region’s strengths in research, innovation and commercialisation, which achieve significant environmental enhancements by unlocking investment in high-quality, inclusive, sustainable development.

Throughout 2025, the Partnership (PRP) has come together to express a regional ambition and commitment to a holistic, regional-scale approach to delivering environmentally distinctive, sustainable economic growth, and to work collectively to respond to our most significant environmental challenges. Informed by extensive technical and political stakeholder engagement, the 2025 Environment Principles offers a framework to help achieve this vision, structured around five key themes: Net Zero Carbon, Nature and Land, Water, the Circular Economy, and Climate Change Adaptation.