The Thriving in Nature Fund helps more people prosper by engaging with green spaces and the rural environment. The focus is on improving health and wellbeing, and nurturing work opportunities, by supporting charitable organisations to unite people with nature.

Oxfordshire is filled with stunning countryside, beautiful parks and rolling farmland. It is a wonderful asset, but the opportunities it offers are not necessarily reaching those most in need.

Access to natural spaces can be challenging for several reasons. Lack of transport to quality green spaces may be a challenge for families unable to afford a car, and not having knowledge of the Countryside Code can make accessing them intimidating. For some groups, including vulnerable women, younger people, disabled people and people from ethnic minorities, natural spaces may feel inaccessible, havens for antisocial behaviour or less enjoyable because they don’t feel familiar or secure. Having access to green spaces that are safe and visible helps nurture a feeling of accessibility for everyone.

Several of the most deprived areas in Oxfordshire match directly the areas where both obesity and mental health are the greatest challenges, and these areas tend to be in the urban parts of the county. Obesity means people are less likely to be in employment, and reduces life expectancy by an average of three years.

The natural environment is well documented as benefiting both mental and physical wellbeing. The positive effects of spending time in green spaces can range from reducing feelings of stress or anger, improving physical health, helping to become more active, reducing loneliness and improving confidence and self-esteem. Our countryside and green spaces are free to access – an affordable and sustainable way of improving wellbeing.

Our green spaces also provide an opportunity to promote rural skills, training and employment. Enabling people from disadvantaged communities to connect with these opportunities will help them to thrive, as well as contribute to addressing the workforce shortages.

Over the past two years, OCF has awarded over £744k in grants from the fund to 27 different organisations, with a focus on the smallest grassroots charities. Here are just a few examples:

• Long Mead Foundation (£59,612 over three years) is working with volunteers to overcome mental health issues by carrying out an ambitious meadow and floodplain restoration.
• Oxford Community Action (£51,311 over three years) is supporting people from minoritised backgrounds to feel the benefits of nature through guided hikes and bike rides.
• Cheney School Association (£9,000 over two years) is improving students’ behaviour and wellbeing by transforming inner courtyards of the school into lively green spaces.
• 21st Century Thame (£9,884 over two years) is helping women and girls move on from abuse and trauma through regenerative agriculture.

Read the latest report on the 2024 and 2025 Thriving in Nature grants showing the progress that all grantees have made so far. 

We are confident that we now have a proven and effective model for improving local lives by uniting people with nature. There is a huge potential for us to grow this fund and its impact over the long term.

In 2026, we are excited to open a third round of Thriving in Nature grant funding, building on the principles of the first two rounds. We will invite applications from a brand-new cohort of charitable organisations, and this year we intend to build a stronger focus on food and farming into the design of the grants, capitalising on Oxfordshire’s rural and agricultural heritage, and encouraging engagement and skills development within the farming community.

With nearly £200k already secured for this year, we are now seeking at least a further £150k to resource this year’s grants. Multi-year commitments from our funding partners will really help us to build this momentum, helping more people thrive, nurture a love of nature, and develop the skills needed to steward our world into the future.

If you think you can help, you can give smaller amounts online now on our Thriving in Nature Enthuse page. For donations over £500, please contact OCF’s Deputy Chief Executive Kate Parrinder.