Project to bring wildlife closer to city people

A programme bringing wildlife closer to people living in the city has received National Lottery funding.

Wildlife and Wellbeing, based in Salisbury, has secured £5,000 in funding to offer events in green spaces close to the city centre in 2026 and 2027 to improve people's wellbeing.

The events will include bat nights, fungi and birdsong events and a summer solstice celebration, in the hopes of highlighting Salisbury's rich natural environment.

Polly Whyte, the project lead, said: "There are lovely green spaces in Salisbury and river walks as well where people can go out and connect with nature, which is really good for our wellbeing."

Research from Natural England in 2025 showed while most people recognised the positive impact of nature on happiness, only about half felt strongly connected to it.

Whyte said: "A lot of people maybe aren't making the most of what nature can offer them.

"Go out with a bat detector and listen to the noises bat makes, or a summer solstice celebration to watch the sunset and notice what wildlife is around at twilight."

Whyte said the project will continue to look for funding to be able to offer the events beyond 2027.