Portsmouth City Council has been awarded Nature Towns and Cities funding after a successful bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The £895,818 will be spent on transforming the city’s green infrastructure over three years for the benefit of residents and nature, paving the way for Portsmouth to become an officially recognised Nature City. It will also be used to leverage in external funding for the city.

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Portsmouth City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, said: As we approach 2026, Portsmouth’s Centenary Year, this funding will help us understand how we can work with residents and communities to achieve our  bold ambition to make Portsmouth a nature positive city, where the benefits of nature can be enjoyed and support the health and wellbeing of residents.

“We can only achieve this by working in partnership, and the council is delighted to be working with Southern Water, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Historic England and Shaping Portsmouth. We know facing the environmental challenges of the future requires strong collaboration.

Because Portsmouth is a densely populated city, it means its vital green spaces are fragmented by roads and buildings. The funding will help connect these spaces by identifying opportunities for new green infrastructure such as rain gardens and trees, creating corridors for wildlife to travel between.

The funding will build on recommendations from a developing Urban Forest Master Plan and enable the council to work with residents, landowners and others across the city to develop a resilient treescape with diverse species resistant to a changing climate and pests and disease. This will help in the fight against climate change, by creating shade and cooling because trees release water vapour, and absorb rain water.

By working with local environmental groups, charities, communities and businesses the council will develop a shared understanding of how to become a well-adapted Portsmouth, resilient to the increasing climate hazards already being faced, whether heatwaves or intense rainfall bringing surface water flooding. Working in key areas of the city will drive investment for green infrastructure into places where it is needed most, therefore addressing inequalities.

Community groups will be supported through small grants, training and mentoring. Businesses will also be encouraged to participate in the project accessing support and advice.

The ambitious and transformative project will start in October 2025 when further details will be available.