Envirohub Bay of Plenty is calling on more residents across the region to join its Space for Nature project after reaching 1000 participants last month.

The programme provides participants with free guidance, resources, and a supportive network to help them succeed whether they are seasoned conservationists or taking their very first steps toward a greener property.

Space for Nature project coordinator Rose Riley said the project is part of Envirohub BOP’s broader mission to connect communities with the environment and support grassroots conservation action.

“Reaching 1000 participants is an incredible achievement, and it belongs entirely to the people of Bay of Plenty.

“Every person who has planted a native tree or committed to predator control has made a real, tangible difference to our local ecosystems. Together, we are stitching a living network of habitat across our rohe [region].”

Riley said the project regularly hears from participants about the joy of spotting a piwakawaka (fantail) in their garden for the first time, or catching their first rat with a free trap through Predator Free Bay of Plenty.

“These are the moments that remind us how important it is for people to connect with nature, and why this mahi [work] matters. Nature is recovering, one backyard at a time.”

Space for Nature supports BOP backyards, community groups, schools, and businesses to create and protect habitat for native wildlife on their properties.

From backyard gardens to rural lifestyle blocks, participants can transform private land into thriving sanctuaries for birds, insects, and plants that call Aotearoa home.

Riley said Space for Nature is open to anyone with land or outdoor space – no matter the size.

The project is free to join and participants receive a free native plant, a rat trap and tunnel and access to support, resources and regular workshops, she said.

To find out more about Space for Nature, or to join the project, visit: spacefornature.nz