Nature Connectedness

Community work and the environment are two of Zebra's core interests, so we welcomed the opportunities that arose in the summer of 2022 for us to participate in efforts to build community activity on urban nature recovery. We're no experts on the green stuff, so we're pleased to be collaborating with those who are - both local citizens and organisations local and national.

For more information on all things green, please email Debbie at debbie@zebra.coop

Nature Neighbourhoods

We are part of Nature Neighbourhoods, a national project funded through the National Lottery Community Fund and the Co-op with support from National Trust, RSPB and World Wildlife Fund. The project supports 18 urban community groups across the UK to work with local people to foster their interest in connecting with nature and improving the urban natural environment, in taking a lead - 'champion' - role in their communities, and in developing a plan to support nature in their neighbourhood.

We convene the Green Devonport Partnership

Local people & community organisations meet to discuss possibilities for green developments here, to plan community actions, to carry out these actions, and to connect.

The GDP meets monthly approx. on a Thursday afternoon at a community venue near you. We average around 15-20 people at the meetings.

Our community actions are typically on a Saturday morning, with around a dozen of us turning out.

Green Communities

We are a partner in Green Communities – a partnership between Plymouth City Council. National Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Zebra Collective and Real Ideas. The project runs across 3 areas of the city – Devonport, Keyham and Central Park, with the twin aims of increasing biodiversity and promoting people’s connection to nature. Teams of 2 are based in each area: a 'Community Ranger' employed by National Trust and a Natural Infrastructure Officer employed by the Council. These workers are resource on the ground, increasing the community's capacity to realise our emerging ideas. They're working alongside Devonport people and groups, assisting them with their projects, while looking bigger and longer-term, leading community discussions on a 'green plan' for Devonport."

The Green Communities team in Devonport (Henry and Elliott) and the Green Devonport Partnership cleared and re-planted the planters on Marlborough St in Devonport – re-planting with more resistant, wildlife friendly plants.

Mount Wise Neighbourhood Centre Grow - Cook - Share

In November 2024 we launched the Grow - Cook - Share project. Local people meet every Wednesday afternoon to plan and develop the Neighbourhood Centre's outdoor spaces for growing and other purposes, while others cook, and each session concludes with a shared meal.

Our plan is to begin planting edible fare in the spring so that by summer 2025 we're cooking our own produce.

We're working in partnership with Radical Ecology to promote access to our Grow - Cook - Share project by asylum seekers and refugees living in Plymouth. Radical Ecology - led by Zebra youth worker Ashish Ghadiali - has done similar work in connecting this community with the Apricot Centre in Dartington.

For enquiries or more information please email Debbie at debbia@zebra.coop