Nature recovery doesn’t happen on its own. Across Cheltenham, hundreds of people give their time to help wildlife, care for green spaces, restore habitats and support community projects.
They are planting trees, growing food, building soil, protecting wildlife, restoring rivers, collecting litter, running workshops, sharing skills and inspiring others to get involved. This is a story about them.
Parks, Nature Reserves and Green Spaces
From local parks to nature reserves, volunteers are helping shape and care for the green spaces that make Cheltenham special.
Friends groups, Residents’ Associations, Church groups, litter pickers, tree planters and local environmental groups work throughout the year to look after these places – keeping them healthy, welcoming and rich in wildlife.
The Cheltenham Tree Group, along with many others, are planting and caring for trees that will shape the town’s future canopy for decades to come.
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Custodians of a cherished green space: Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve
A hidden gem in St. Marks: Griffiths Avenue Nature Reserve
Discovering the other side of Pittville Park
Growing with Nature
Across Cheltenham, community growing spaces are bringing people together around food, nature and learning.
The Community Rest Garden, Annecy Gardens, Charlton Kings Community Allotment, the Grow Your Own Cheltenham group and Charlton Kings in Bloom are just some of the spaces and groups where volunteers are growing plants, supporting biodiversity and creating opportunities for people to connect.
Shared gardens are allotments are alive with shared effort – places where nature and community grow side by side.
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Behind the scenes with Charlton Kings in Bloom
The Community Rest Garden: A small space doing something big
Soil, Compost and the Hidden Foundations of Nature
Healthy soil is at the heart of everything – and volunteers across Cheltenham are working to build it.
Steve Watts and the Master Composters share knowledge and practical skills that help people turn waste into rich compost, improve soil health and support stronger ecosystems.
From composting initiatives to soil care and growing projects, this work supports the unseen foundations that everything else depends on.
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Helping Wildlife
Cheltenham’s wildlife is helped thanks to people who notice, care and take action.
The Swift & House Martin Support Group protect nesting summer visiting birds and raise awareness of their needs. Butterfly Garden volunteers build and install swift boxes. Scout groups are supporting swifts too. Others support bats, monitor pollinators and carry out wildlife surveys across the town.
These small but consistent actions are helping create safer spaces for wildlife to live and move through Cheltenham.
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17 swift boxes installed so far by the Swift and House Martin Support Group
Scouts and swifts in Shurdington
Rivers and Waterways
Cheltenham’s rivers are cared for by dedicated volunteers working to restore and protect these vital ecosystems.
The Guardians of the River Chelt – Betti, Jess and their volunteer team, help look after the river, improve habitats and raise awareness of its importance for wildlife and people alike.
Their work helps keep our waterways cleaner, healthier and more resilient.
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Introducing Guardians of the River Chelt
Cheltenham Action for Nature
Cheltenham Action for Nature is run entirely by volunteers too.
We exist to connect, support and celebrate the people and projects helping nature across the town. Many of the stories we share are only possible because volunteers are quietly making things happen every day. If you would like to support us with a donation (of any amount) you can do so by visiting our donation page.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to everyone who gives their time to help nature in Cheltenham – whether through volunteering, sharing stories, attending events, completing the Gardens for Nature Checklist, supporting projects or donating. Nature recovery depends on people who care enough to act.
We know we haven’t named everyone – and many more groups and individuals deserve recognition too. Thank you to everyone playing a part.
