Luton Council awarded £950,000 to improve community access to nature
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is set to ease access to green spaces for residents in the town
Last updated 21st Jul 2025
Luton Council has been awarded a £950,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the Roots to Healthy Places project, which aims to improve access to green spaces and increase community engagement with nature.
The project will focus on enhancing accessibility for residents who face the greatest barriers to using local parks and natural areas.
It will be delivered in collaboration with several partner organisations, including the University of Bedfordshire, The University of Sheffield, Chiltern National Landscape, Be Active, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, and Penrose Social Interest Group.
According to the council, the project will involve co-designing physical improvements to green spaces with local communities, alongside updated signage and targeted marketing.
These changes are intended to make green areas more inclusive while also supporting biodiversity.
The project will also include the creation of a dedicated social prescribing hub, the introduction of a volunteer passport scheme, and the launch of a skills development programme aimed at supporting wellbeing and creating new opportunities for residents.
Councillor Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton Council, welcomed the funding:
"This is a hugely welcome investment that will help to bring more of our super-diverse communities close to nature and our town’s natural heritage.
"Luton has some outstanding greenspaces, including award winning parks as well as meadows and other green corridors.
"This project will help to unlock access for thousands of residents while bringing tangible gains in wellbeing, skills and civic pride as well as ensuring nature recovery for the benefit of all our communities for years to come."
The Roots to Healthy Places initiative is part of a broader effort by the council and its partners to support inclusive access to nature and promote the health and environmental benefits of local greenspaces.