New research partnership to map nature recovery strategies
We’re thrilled to announce a new research partnership that aims to align nature recovery policies with grassroots community action to create a greener, healthier and more biodiverse Leeds. This project utilises Leeds Social Science Institute’s PGR Placement scheme to connect PhD researcher Xiaojia Lyu with Hyde Park Source, an environmental charity specialising in improving health and wellbeing through improving the environment. The partnership was facilitated by Dr. Rebecca Brunk as part of the Sustainability Service’s Positive Impact Partners programme and represents an exciting collaboration between the Leeds Social Science Institute and the University’s Sustainability Service.
The project, Mapping Nature Recovery Strategies to Frame Community-Led Environmental Action, focuses on bridging the gaps between top-down policies and bottom-up initiatives. By identifying synergies, gaps, and opportunities in nature recovery strategies at the national, regional and city levels, the project aims to generate policy knowledge that will support and empower communities to lead on delivering environmental action in their local urban areas.
The project benefits from the expertise of Pete Tatham, Project Coordinator for Hyde Park Source, the Nature Transition Partner for Climate Action Leeds. Pete shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating:
This project is an exciting step toward a nature-friendly Leeds. By mapping existing policies and identifying gaps, we can better align strategies with grassroots initiatives, ensuring communities are at the heart of delivering transformative environmental action. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to continue working with the University of Leeds through the Leeds Social Science Institute and the Sustainability Service.
At its core, this collaboration exemplifies the University of Leeds’ commitment to impactful partnerships with the third sector. The Positive Impact Partners programme connects third sector partners with academics and students at the University of Leeds with the aim of collaborative knowledge production with local communities for a more sustainable city. With the support of the Leeds Social Science Institute, this project will contribute to the work of several Sustainable Development Goals, including Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), Climate Action (SDG13), Life on Land (SDG15) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG17).
Thom Cooper, Head of Sustainability at the University, emphasizes the importance of the initiative:
Nature recovery is a critical step in addressing biodiversity loss and enhancing urban liveability in Leeds. This collaboration exemplifies the power of partnerships for sustainability, connecting academic research with on-the-ground action and enabling communities to drive meaningful change.
We’re excited to see how this partnership will contribute to Leeds’ journey toward becoming a greener, more inclusive city. Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses!
For more information, contact Dr. Rebecca Brunk at r.l.brunk@leeds.ac.uk or Pete Tatham at pete@hydeparksource.org.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our Positive Impact Partnerships programme is linked to the following SDGs:
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.