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Stoke Mandeville Station
As well as increasing biodiversity, the Community WildBelt will help people connect with nature and make the places they live and work nicer places to be. This is an exciting community project with Chiltern Railways and Stoke Mandeville Parish Council to improve a green space outside the station for nature and for commuters to enjoy. WildBelt volunteers planted native wildflowers to encourage bees and butterflies, planted a hedge and fruit trees and installed nest boxes. We were delighted to recruit local volunteers to look after this space for the future under the ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme.
Estone Grange Estate, Aston Clinton
Housing development can put huge pressure on nature pathways so we are thrilled to be working with the passionate and committed residents of a new housing estate to plant hedges and assist with pond management to increase biodiversity. It was a really good opportunity to get estate residents of all ages to come and join in, and give them a better sense of ownership and appreciation of the nature where they live.
The Glebe, Weston Turville
The WildBelt team have been advising Weston Turville Parish Council on management of land at the heart of the community by providing expert knowledge and practical help. The site has been unmanaged for several years and is in need of work to realise its potential for wildlife.
John Hampden School, Wendover
This is our very first WildBelt School in the heart of the project area. We are working with teachers to give the pupils an understanding and appreciation of our declining wildlife through fun talks and outdoor activities. Getting the children involved is key to helping them to understand how frail our nature is, but there is so much they can do at home and school to help.
Bierton Parish Council – The Well
At The Well in Bierton, a cherished community green space, WildBelt volunteers teamed up with local residents to plant 300 native wildflower bulbs and install nesting and bat boxes. This collaborative effort enhances biodiversity and supports local wildlife, including bats and the striking kingfisher. The spring-flowering bulbs will provide an early-season nectar source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while also adding a burst of colour for everyone to enjoy. These improvements help protect the area’s natural beauty and strengthen the connection between people and nature
Oak Green School, Aylesbury
In partnership with Oak Green School, our team helped transform a neglected pond into a vibrant outdoor classroom. Working closely with school staff, Community WildBelt volunteers removed overgrown vegetation and installed a new pond liner to support healthy water levels. An adjacent wildflower area, sown with an annual seed mix, will bloom in the summer term, attracting pollinators and pondlife like frogs, newts, and dragonflies. This natural learning space gives pupils a hands-on way to explore the wonders of nature right in their school grounds.
Buckland Parish Council
In Buckland, we’ve been supporting the Parish Council and residents to improve local green spaces through hedgerow planting and wildflower meadow management. These enhancements are vital for creating wildlife corridors, supporting native species, and enriching the landscape for the whole community. Thanks to support from our Small Grant Fund, Buckland Parish Council was able to purchase hedging plants to improve their community orchard, encouraging more biodiversity and increasing the site’s value as a shared natural space.
Rewilding in Wendover
An initiative driven by Climate Action Wendover where a disused skate park was transformed into a wildlife haven. A wildflower meadow was created, hedges and fruit trees planted, and an interpretation panel was installed. It’s now buzzing with nature; butterflies, moths, voles, birds and toads.
Explore projects near you
If you live in the parishes around Aylesbury, Tring or Wendover, explore our interactive map to see nature recovery projects in your area — and add your own ideas.
The Community WildBelt project is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Please cite this resource as: Chiltern Society Community WildBelt Toolkit (2025) by the Chiltern Society, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, licensed under CC BY 4.0
To get involved and to learn more
Be a WildBelt volunteer
No experience necessary, and tools and training will be provided.
You’ll be working with different parish councils, community groups and private land owners. You may be involved in planting a new orchard, improving the biodiversity of chalk streams, tree planting, creating a wildflower meadow or recording wildlife.
Become a partner
Have you have an idea or ambition to improve nature?
Whether you’re a Parish Council, Community Group or local resident, we’d love to hear from you and help.
Apply for funding
A Community WildBelt Fund is offering small grants to fund nature recovery projects.
Help nature in your local area with some useful funding.
How do we make a difference to the Chilterns?
Chiltern Society Bottom Wood is an ancient woodland dating back to before 1600 and is home to over 700 different species of plants and animals
