Nature And Landscape

#NTC Port Talbot – Natures back in town

Focusing on the town of Port Talbot, with some of the most deprived communities in Wales, the project ‘Nature’s Back in Town’ aims to: • Transform the perception and use of green spaces in urban environments. • Foster collaboration between the community and council teams. • Reimagine conventional urban spaces as multifunctional areas that are nature-friendly, promote well-being, and enhance the daily lives of residents, visitors, and workers. We aim to achieve this by: Gathering Insights: • Conducting workshops, public events, engagement activities, and surveys to understand how people perceive, access, and interact with green spaces. • Ensuring the needs and aspirations of residents are central to the development of a Green Infrastructure strategy that balances cultural and natural heritage. Exploring Solutions: • Investigating best practice Nature-Based Solutions and Green Infrastructure concepts. • Designing at least two pilot spaces selected by the public to inform future interventions and establish good urban/GI design principles that prioritize sustainability and resilience. • Surveying the current and potential new green space areas within Port Talbot. Raising Awareness and Educating: • Educating the community about biodiversity in an urban context. • Inspiring personal action to support nature within own homes. • Challenging barriers to implement successful and suitable Green Infrastructure. • Providing education and training to instil a sense of protection, stewardship, and respect for the environment. • Providing wellbeing sessions for the community to spend time in nature undertaking mindful activities. Focusing on Nature-Deprived Areas: Targeting Port Talbot, one of the borough's most nature-deprived areas, with large sections within the lowest 15% of the Welsh Deprivation index for physical environment. • Raising awareness of local wildlife and habitats. • Providing greater connection to available greenspace and involving local people in the future