Residents from across Nottingham say they have created a plan to bring Sherwood Forest back to the city in a bid to make it greener, healthier and cooler, ultimately helping to lessen the impacts of a “worrying future”.
The Met Office says climate extremes are now becoming “the new normal” for the UK.
Despite historic heatwaves like the one in 1976, overall temperatures as high as those now being experienced in the 21st century were comparatively uncommon in the 20th century.
2025 was the UK’s warmest year on record, and it was the sixth time this record had been broken in the 21st century so far.
During the second of three heatwaves in 2026, Nottinghamshire recorded its highest-ever night-time temperature of 21.3C at the end of June.
To help combat the struggles of living in an ever-warming city, people from all walks of life across the city formed a citizens’ assembly to draw up a plan.
This plan reveals hopes of bringing the ancient Sherwood Forest back to the city by expanding the Green Heart into every neighbourhood via “long, green arteries”.
The ancient forest once extended all the way from the northern boundary of Nottingham to the flat land around Doncaster, before heavy deforestation, largely for ships and galleys.
A lack of trees and vegetation, now replaced by concrete, glass and asphalt, can lead to the urban heat island effect, whereby these materials make built-up areas much warmer than their natural counterparts.
Over two weekends in May, a group of almost 60 people representing all communities in Nottingham, including those sceptical of the science and data, met to talk about the environment and climate of the city in the future.
There had been more than 600 applicants in total, and the assembly has been utilised to create a more democratic and representative means of informing key decisions in the city.
After discussing the environment and climate with each other and a number of experts, the group voted on a manifesto that will now be presented to decision-makers in the city.
It is hoped the manifesto, which was revealed on Thursday (23 July), will be used to inform future policy.
Sally Longford, a former deputy leader of Nottingham City Council and its portfolio holder for the environment, is now the vice-chair of the Nottingham Green Partnership, which helped organise the assembly process.
“They worked really hard, they had experts to advise them, and they questioned the experts. Some of them were quite a tough call, and they came up with this manifesto,” she said.
“We’ve got people who were not interested in the environment beforehand, not particularly committed, and people who are very committed, all mixed up and talking in depth about different topics.
“It is quite a worrying future. I’ve got small grandchildren in the city and I want them to have a good quality of life, and that was how people saw the assembly. They wanted to make things better for the future.”
One of the sceptics was Paul Wardle, an author from Bulwell who was selected as a member of the assembly.
Paul said: “I would have been erring on the side of scepticism. I would have been somewhat doubtful.
“One of the pleasing aspects of coming to the first meeting was the diversity of the group because, in the past, a lot of green projects have been mostly populated by the green lobby, and everyone thinks the same.
“Lots of opinions were given, everything was done democratically, so there is nobody dictating what gets picked and what doesn’t.
“It has improved my own personal thoughts on environmental issues. I now look at them in a more positive way. It has been a great eye-opener.
“The Green Heart is like planting the seeds of change. I want to see the Green Heart grow around Nottingham. It’s nice to see we are not just thinking about the people of the city, but the critters, the insects and animals.”
Some of the other ideas in the manifesto include using early education to teach children about growing food locally, prioritising infrastructure to reduce flooding, as well as lowering business rates for environmentally friendly companies and introducing tariffs for those that are not.
Other ideas, such as Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and the promotion of plant-based diets, gained significant support from the assembly but didn’t meet the threshold to be included.
Citizens’ assemblies have been used before to great effect, including in Ireland between 2016 and 2018, when they were used to break the political deadlock and lead to the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, which banned abortion in almost every circumstance by recognising the constitutional right to life of the unborn.
Cllr Sam Lux, the council’s executive member for climate and energy, said the assembly had been about coming from a place of listening rather than top-down decision-making.
“I’m delighted, also, it is not super far away from the agenda [the council] was already thinking about and starting to pursue,” she said.
“What this does is give us a very strong mandate to reinforce that work and go even further because it has come from ordinary people, not necessarily those already engaged in the climate crisis and the nature crisis, so we know that it’s not skewed and is reflective of what ordinary people want to see in Nottingham.”
The roadmap for a greener, fairer city created by the people of Nottingham has been welcomed by Nottingham City Council.
At the launch of the Nottingham Environment and Climate Assembly manifesto on 23 July, local residents who helped create the plan shared their hopes for a green future with the city’s decision makers.
Fola Sowunmi, from Forest Fields, said: “By empowering local people to lead local initiatives, we can create thriving neighbourhoods where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, connect, and belong.
“When local people are supported to do local things, communities become stronger. From community gardens and local food projects to volunteering, neighbourhood events, youth activities, environmental improvements, and support for local businesses, every action helps build a healthier and more resilient city.”
Paul Wardle, from Bulwell, said: “We were not a room full of people who all thought the same way. We came from different areas, different generations, different backgrounds and different political viewpoints. That was one of the Assembly’s greatest strengths. It did not feel like an echo chamber. It felt like Nottingham.
“The proposals recognise that creating a greener city is not only about grand ambitions. It is also about the everyday decisions made by residents, schools, businesses and local leaders.
“I would love Nottingham to become recognised as the greenest city in the country – not simply for the title, but because it would show that our city can be an innovator, a leader and an example to others.”
Now a delivery taskforce will be set up with anyone interested urged to put themselves forward.
Cllr Sam Lux, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability, Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham citizens have spoken. When presented with objective evidence of environmental issues, residents want a nature-rich low carbon city. This administration is committed to translating as much of this manifesto as it can into action in its final year.
“As cabinet member for climate and nature, I will be proud to represent the city council on the climate assembly’s new delivery taskforce. Borrowing a phrase from one assembly participant, we are determined to build a city where people and nature flourish together.”
More events will be organised to listen to residents and demonstrate how Citizens Assemblies can offer an inclusive way of shaping the future involving people from all backgrounds.
Sally Longford, Nottingham Green Partnership, said: “We want to hear from people of all ages and hope to organise a second Youth Climate Assembly. If you would like to get involved please get in touch.”
Speaking at the launch were residents from across the city who took part in the climate assembly.
Sa’ad Halawani, from Bilborough, said: “Nottingham’s climate ambition will not be delivered by strategy documents alone. It will be delivered by tens of thousands of individual decisions, made by residents who feel informed, respected, and included. Sharing information openly, promoting what works, celebrating what succeeds, and being honest about what still needs fixing are not separate communication tasks. They are the connective tissue that turns a council target into a city-wide movement. Nottingham has the ambition. What it now needs is a population that has been fully let in on the picture.”
Deanna Gallacher, from Bulwell, said: “We want to emphasise the importance of the older generation working with the younger generation. Intergenerational workshops are crucial for Nottingham. Knowledge is wealth and we need to see the younger generation being taught fundamental life skills. Action must happen! It’s important that the older generation educate the younger generation. Teach the youth about the environment throughout school.”
Deladem Mensah-Boateng, from Wollaton, said: “If anyone comes to you with a policy to fund local farmers, say YES. It will help us keep quality food on our tables, teach our children life skills and develop the local community. I look forward to contributing to see this manifesto come to life.”
The Nottingham Environment & Climate Assembly manifesto sets out a vision of a forest city with clean air and waterways; placing nature and residents at the heart of decision-making; with community led initiatives to create thriving neighbourhoods and more safe ways to get around the city by foot, bike and public transport.
The manifesto includes a series of recommendations around buildings and energy, food and health, nature, skills and engagement, transport, waste and water.
Specific ideas include retrofitting buildings; community gardens; local food production; a pedestrian friendly transport system; wildlife corridors: repair and recycle schemes; incentives for green businesses and managing flood risks through rain gardens.
It also calls for more green space in the city to make it accessible within a 15 minute walk for every resident and a network of green hubs in each neighbourhood with local food markets, skills workshops, and youth activities.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter and The Wire
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