Hello!

The Pollinator Pathways Project is a community-led, volunteer-run project that aims to ‘clean and green’ alleyways. It creates mini wildlife corridors in urban environments, and creates a space for the community to enjoy. 

Planted areas reduce flood risk, as they absorb water and slow its release into drains, compared to non-porous substrate, such as asphalt and concrete. They also reduce the urban heat bubble effect, cooling the surrounding area. Both of these are becoming increasingly important as we get hotter summers and more unpredictable rainfall.

We know too that spending time in nature is so good for mental health. While living in a city reduces those opportunities, we also know that even just looking at the colour green decreases stress, promotes the parasympathetic nervous system and creates a sense of calm. Having greenery along routes people take every day as part of their commute or school run would promote positive mental health, starting on the day they are planted up by members of the community.

This project increases locals' access to greenery, improves physical and mental health, and brings the community together. It can be hard to feel like you can make a difference in the world, but when we work together at neighbourhood level, brilliant and beautiful things can be created.

The artwork and painted walls not only make the spaces brighter (and thus safer), but also showcase local artistic talent. In winter when the plants are laying dormant, the murals inject some colour into an otherwise grey landscape.