Connecting Nature, Connecting People
Practical learning for greener neighbourhoods
ecoACTIVE delivers hands-on training that helps people design, create, and care for nature-rich spaces in the city. Our sessions support volunteers, residents, schools, and frontline land managers to grow skills, build confidence, and strengthen local stewardship of parks, estates, and community gardens.
We combine practical workshops with evidence-led approaches to nature recovery, so participants leave with tools they can use straight away, whether that’s planting for pollinators, improving soils, shaping more resilient habitats, or planning seasonal maintenance.
Training and events
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What we offer
Our training programme includes:
Community garden skills, from beginner to intermediate
Nature recovery workshops for urban green spaces
Pollinator education and habitat creation
Practical planting and propagation sessions
Seasonal sessions on climate resilience, soil health, and water
Advice on long-term management, maintenance, and monitoring
Who it’s for
Our training is designed for people who care for local green spaces, including:
Community garden groups and resident-led projects
Volunteers and community organisers
Schools, pupils, and educators
Housing and estates teams
Local authorities, contractors, and operational staff
Partners running wellbeing, youth, or place-based programmes
We tailor content to the site, the season, and the level of experience in the group.
Our approach
We keep things practical, inclusive, and rooted in real places. Training typically blends:
Short, accessible learning sessions
Hands-on activity outdoors
Simple tools and templates people can reuse
Clear next steps for ongoing stewardship
Optional monitoring to track what’s changing over time
Where appropriate, we align learning with local nature recovery priorities and encourage participants to think beyond single interventions, towards long-term habitat quality and connected green corridors.
Schools pollinator training
We support schools to bring pollinator learning to life through curriculum-linked activities and practical habitat creation. Programmes can include a mix of classroom learning and outdoor sessions, helping pupils develop skills in observation, identification, and care for local wildlife.
Depending on the school site, activities may include:
Pollinator-friendly planting and growing
Surveys and simple citizen science
Creating and maintaining small habitats
Installing features that allow pupils to observe pollinator life cycles
Seasonal stewardship activities that build long-term care into school routines
Nature recovery training for land managers
We keep things practical, inclusive, and rooted in real places. Training typically blends:
Short, accessible learning sessions
Hands-on activity outdoors
Simple tools and templates people can reuse
Clear next steps for ongoing stewardship
Optional monitoring to track what’s changing over time
Where appropriate, we align learning with local nature recovery priorities and encourage participants to think beyond single interventions, towards long-term habitat quality and connected green corridors.
Why it matters
Community gardens and everyday green spaces can do much more than look nice. With the right care, they can:
Support pollinators and urban biodiversity
Improve climate resilience in neighbourhoods
Create places for learning, wellbeing, and connection
Strengthen local pride and community leadership
Encourage long-term stewardship of shared spaces
“I met a lot of people from around the Estate who otherwise I wouldn't have had a chance to talk to.”
“Being in nature has a calming effect on me. Also getting some sun and fresh air.”
“I’ve tried vegetables and herbs grown by my Vietnamese neighbour.”
Our Community Garden Network
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Community Garden Groups
Since 2019, ecoACTIVE has supported 15+ community garden groups across Hackney — from brand new gardens needing intensive support to well-established sites looking for targeted advice.
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Supporting
45 training/consultation sessions and 19 family-friendly community events
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Community Garden Network Coordinator
In 2024–25, our Community Garden Network Coordinator and a team of skilled gardeners worked with: 158 adults and 163 young people
What support sits alongside the training
As part of ecoACTIVE’s Community Garden Network, groups have been able to access tailored support such as:
Installing infrastructure (planters, compost systems, practical builds)
Community consultation to improve access and shape the space
Advice and skills-building for core volunteers
Support to run community and family events
Help sourcing plants, tools, compost and equipment
Fundraising assistance (grants, landlord support, crowdfunding)
Group formation advice (policies, insurance, aims and objectives)
Networking and cross-network learning opportunities
Make a one-off or regular donation to support ecoACTIVE and the Community Garden Network.
Funders and Partners
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Hackney Council
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Core Landscapes
Training project partner Core Landscapes transforms underused green spaces to promote positive mental health and address the climate change biodiversity emergencies. It is a Core Arts project.
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Bupa Foundation
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John Lewis Partnership Nature Fund
Our Community Garden Network
We are already working with some fantastic projects and engage with groups we'll be working with in years to come. We have found that extra support from the housing associations, tenant management organisations and others has helped our work take root, making it more sustainable.
Please contact us if you know a group who could benefit from this support from next year's growing season or beyond.