Nottingham celebrates new Green Heart

Nottingham has celebrated the opening of a brand new green space, known as the Green Heart, which is just one step of the wider regeneration of the Broad Marsh area in the city centre.

The area, previously used for retail, has been transformed by the planting of 34 new trees, the installation of a new marsh pond, two rain gardens, footpaths, benches, and planting of a diverse range of flowers.

The plants and pond will attract pollinators and provide a home for wildlife, and the area has been designed specifically using plants that are resistant to disease and extreme weather. This will help to ensure they are able to cope with weather events like heatwaves and heavy rain, which is just one of the effects of climate change that we are already seeing regularly. 

The rain gardens and marsh pond will also help to absorb water when rain does occur, which can help to mitigate the impact of surface water flooding during rainstorms. This also reflects that this area was once a marsh, and demonstrates the 'nature-first' mindset of the renovation. 

The first step of the regeneration of the Broad Marsh area involved the transformation of Collin Street next to the new Central Library, where there is now a pedestrianised street with a play area - a stark change from the previous three-lanes of traffic! 

The renovation of the Green Heart provides the next step on the journey to make this area of the city greener, and better for pedestrians. The main path through the site connects the train and bus station with the rest of the city centre, and will also be well-lit at night to ensure safety. 

The creation of a green space in the city centre is not only great for wildlife, but is also beneficial for residents and visitors. Being around green space is great for our mental health, and can help improve air quality too.   

Read more about the project here

Providing green space, especially in towns and cities, is very valuable for local wildlife. Small pockets of trees, water, flowers and other plants can help to build up a mosaic of habitats that wildlife can rely on to help them thrive. Creatures like butterflies, bees, and dragonflies make up part of larger ecosystems, and without suitable habitat they're unable to thrive. We rely on pollinators, like bees, to fertilise crops that we grow for food, so providing habitat for them benefits us too! 

Learn more from the Wildlife Trust here about how to make any space, large or small, into a space that can help support wildlife.