This week we are shouting about an organisation helping people connect with nature outside their front door.

Naturehood came to Swindon last April and is a scheme that aims to reverse the trend in wildlife decline.

A partnership between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Earthwatch Europe and funded by the National Lottery, the project aims to establish ‘naturehoods’ throughout neighbourhoods to create a network of habitats and encourage wildlife.

Naturehood community engagement officer at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Jo Morris said: “It's a community organised project to connect people with wildlife on their doorstep or in their garden.”

Jo added: “The idea is that if all the gardens in the UK were connected and turned into wildlife-friendly areas we would have roughly triple the amount of nature reserves that we currently have.”

Swindon Naturehood is based in Penhill and Tadpole Garden village, and has already seen just under 600 people get involved. Individuals are encouraged to build their own ‘naturehoods’ in their own gardens, a balcony or even a window box.

“We ask people to do a simple survey to see what wildlife is in the area,” said Jo.

“They can be completed with children, and we then ask them to implement simple actions. For example planting flowers, mowing the grass less, installing hedgehog houses or bird boxes. A few weeks later we ask people to explore again and see what kind of difference this has made to the area.”

The organisation holds a range of events where visitors can find out more about nature and how to encourage it.

Sessions include pond dipping, bee, butterfly and bird walks, and a pollinators’ picnic, which included only food that exists due to pollinating insects.

“We’re hoping the project will become self-sustaining and community driven in the future,” said Jo.

“We would like to see it being adopted in other areas of Swindon and indeed nationally. Anyone can get involved, and create their own naturehood.

“We’ve definitely seen a change in attitudes to local green spaces and people wanting to spend more time outdoors,” she added.

To find out more and sign up to Naturehood visit Naturehood.uk