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Local authorities and policy makers

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Investing in urban nature-based solutions at a place-based scale can help build resilience to climate change and meet increasing citizen demand for accessible, functional green space. Use our Local Authorities report and other resources to help inform your planning locally.

 

 

Hear from our partners

Will Horsfall, Environment and Climate Change Team Leader at Salford City Council, explains how IGNITION helped the city council make the case for urban nature-based solutions.

Resources

Evidence and tools

Investing in a Greener Greater Manchester: A nature-based solutions investment guide for local authorities

external | 15th Jul 21

This guide outlines a range of innovative investment and management opportunities for local authorities, demonstrating the benefits and the feasibility of large scale, public-sector-led nature-based solutions delivery.

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Blended public-private investments for developing urban green infrastructure

external | 2021

Fact sheet looking at Manchester’s solutions to developing sustainable financingmodels for urban green infrastructure.

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Urban Green Infrastructure target setting

pdf | Jun 22

Target setting is an important element of green infrastructure (GI) planning for cities. This report presents the findings of a review of GI target setting in 43 international cities.

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User guide – IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base

external | Jul 20

This user guide outlines how you can make use of the IGNITION evidence base.

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IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base headline findings report

external | Jul 20

This report offers an overview of the findings from the IGNITION project’s evidence base.

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Evidence review methodology – IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base

external | Jul 20

This report offers an overview of the review methodology from the IGNITION project’s evidence base.

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How to use IGNITION nature-based solutions webinar (video)

external | 20th Aug 20

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Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) evidence database

external | Jul 20

The IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base is a catalogue of evidence on the benefits of five different types of nature-based solution. This resource covers sustainable drainage systems.

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Green spaces evidence database

external | Jul 20

The IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base is a catalogue of evidence on the benefits of five different types of nature-based solution. This resource covers green spaces.

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Street trees evidence database

external | Jul 20

The IGNITION nature-based solutions evidence base is a catalogue of evidence on the benefits of five different types of nature-based solution. This resource covers street trees.

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Fact sheets and reports

Investing in parks toolkit

pdf | Apr 22

IGNITION project guide to ways in which we can accelerate investing in our parks.

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Investing in Green Roofs toolkit

pdf | Apr 22

IGNITION project guide to transforming roof space to support nature and climate adaptation.

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Business-led green regeneration toolkit

pdf | Apr 22

IGNITION project guide to incorporating nature-based solutions in the regeneration of high-streets, retail centres and other urban retail areas.

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Creating green educational spaces at schools toolkit

pdf | Apr 22

IGNITION project guide to support and resources that can help you create green educational spaces at your school

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IGNITION Project Investor Confidence Report

pdf | May 22

Understanding investor confidence in the green infrastructure and nature-based solutions sectors

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IGNITION Interim Report

external | Apr 21

This report provides insight into progress on the IGNITION project.

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IGNITION interim report (accessible HTML web page)

external | Apr 21

This report provides insight into progress on the IGNITION project.

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The IGNITION project: Nature-based solutions (NBS)

external | 2020

Fact sheet offering an introduction to nature-based solutions.

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The IGNITION project: Climate change and the need for nature-based solutions

external | 2020

Fact sheet detailing the impact of climate change on Greater Manchester and how nature-based solutions could help the city region.

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The IGNITION project: A baseline for nature-based solutions

external | 2020

Fact sheet about the IGNITION project’s baseline for nature-based solutions.

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The IGNITION project: Building a business case for nature-based solutions

external | 2020

Fact sheet on building a business case for nature-based solutions.

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The IGNITION project: SUDS-enabled trees

external | 2020

Fact sheet on sustainable drainage system enabled trees

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The IGNITION project: Urban green spaces and business

external | 2020

Fact sheet looking at why green spaces are good for businesses

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The IGNITION project: Nature-based solutions for health

external | 2020

Fact sheet on the health benefits that nature-based solutions can bring

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Manchester City Finance Lab Report

pdf | March 2022

Report on proposals for the Lower City River Park, part of the Northern Gateway Joint Venture.

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Case studies and webinars

Investing In Nature: Lessons from Greater Manchester event webinars

external | March 2022

Watch webinar sessions from the IGNITION project’s final stakeholder event, held on 30 March 2022

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Financing green roofs – Stockport Interchange case study

external | 2020

Case study looking at the design and analysis of the green roof at Stockport Interchange

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Financing parks – Salford heat pump case study

external | 2020

Case study looking at the design and analysis of the heat pumps in Salford

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Financing sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) – Dales Brow case study

external | 2020

Case study looking at how SUDS have been used at Dales Brow, Salford

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Living Lab virtual tour video

external | 2021

Video tour of the Living Lab at the University of Salford, which showcases the benefits of nature-based solutions.

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Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

Explore resources

Although we set out with a simple mission to reduce plastic waste, we’ve quickly realised that it’s just one piece in the sustainability puzzle. One of the biggest, but most easily attainable actions we can achieve is to look at where our goods come from and reduce the carbon footprint needed to get a product from manufacturer to consumer. Many of the products we stock are made by local, independent manufactures, who provide us with a wide range of things from reusable face wipes, wax food wraps, face coverings, soap bars, plant pots, kitchen cloths/sponges and butty bags.

Carl from Lentils and Lather

Our aim is to start changing the habits of families in Greater Manchester by getting them to ‘borrow’ rather than ‘buy’ brand new toys. We’re making sure that toys can be reused again and again by children who need and want them – and they are not just sitting in a cupboard or under someone’s bed.

Kim from That Toy Thing

The best part of upcycling is that old furniture is often better made than the equivalent flat-packed furniture we get today and with a little bit of time, love and care, you can create a completely unique piece of furniture for your home that no one else will have. I also love that these pieces of furniture have a history of their own and through transforming and updating them we can breathe a new lease of life into them.

Hannah from Tread Softly

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is providing a further boost to the ambitions of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership to create a thriving, inspirational and connected landscape. It supports the recovery of wildlife through habitat creation and improvement as well as community recovery through providing opportunities for local people to develop skills, knowledge and beneficial connections to their local natural environment.

Jo Kennedy, Coordinator of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership

The reason I signed up to the Green Homes Grant scheme was two-fold, selfishly the measures will add value to the properties and make them more valuable in the future. But more importantly it benefits the tenants, keeping them warmer and prevents problems like damp and condensation. Ultimately measures like external wall insulations should keep tenants happier and ensure they remain in the house for longer.

Neil, Rochdale property owner

We used to think we didn’t have enough time to shop on our local market because we were working; how wrong we were?  We discovered it is an amazing place to shop for plastic free. We swapped tea bags for tea leaves and coffee jars for beans which we buy from The Market Grounds on Ashton Market – well worth a visit as the homemade cakes are delicious. All the stall holders have been amazing, not one of them minds us taking our containers to be filled with meat from the butchers. We get our bread, cheese, fruit and veg from the market too.

Julie from Ashton-under-Lyne

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

The Business Growth Hub has given us focus and extra knowledge. They’ve helped us form the base to grow sustainably and work efficiently as a team while making us conscious of our environmental impact as a business.

 

Ollie Birchall, Founder of Nutri Bar

I’ve not really been a cyclist throughout my life, more of a runner to be honest. And certainly not commuted. But I just thought if I’m going to change, surely now is the moment to change. I’m feeling the personal benefits of doing it. You just feel better when you come into work. It clears your head. There are benefits of cutting congestion, cleaning up the air. Everyone benefits when people cycle.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

We think our water fountain is INCREDIBLE, it’s the perfect place for people to ‘refill’ and help themselves to any of the free edibles we’ve got growing in Market Place. We’re so grateful to all the organisations that helped make this happen. Alongside the plastic free motion that was passed by council and helped us achieve our first Surfers Against Sewage objective and in turn our Plastic Free Community status, it shows real commitment in reducing plastic waste and supporting our community.

 

Pete Fillery, Plastic Free Rammy and Incredible Edible Ramsbottom

I guess I’ve always been what you would call a conscious consumer. I’ve always detested plastic bags, all of my skin care products at home are plastic-free, vegan, and sustainable. My toothbrush is made of bamboo, there’s no plastic anywhere in the house. Everything in the salon has to be vegan – that was the first rule for me. We started with one brand of haircare products that was vegan, organic, and Fairtrade, but the distributor in the UK was wrapping all of the deliveries in plastic, and it felt really needless, so we ditched them.

 

Rachael, Gronn eco-salon in Bury

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

 

Kat Mulhall, Victoria Baths Trust, Manchester

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