Access to Nature
Over 60 residents are improving green spaces to help cool and protect Higher Folds.
Residents and partners are working together to create green spaces that manage flooding, provide shade and can be cared for by the community.
A year-round nature volunteering group is caring for local green spaces and learning how to protect wildlife.
Residents are helping survey local habitats to guide how new planting and improvements take shape.
New drainage solutions are being co-designed with residents to manage flooding and keep the neighbourhood safer.
To build a picture of each community, the Resilience for Communities (R4C) program used risk mapping, open-data sources, expert interviews, community surveys and focus groups. This assessment used the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) tool to assess community resilience to extreme heat and flooding - helping to identify priorities and design solutions.
Sources of resilience — Improved greenspace enhances Higher Fold's natural, social and human capital.
Expands green cover and natural shade, helping absorb rainwater and cool the area.
Strengthens existing neighbour connections through shared care for local green spaces.
Gives residents new knowledge and confidence to manage local climate challenges.
Impact multipliers — Resilience solutions have a different mix of impact multipliers and impact multiple systems, businesses and societies. Together, multipliers produce anamplified impact.
Enhance Biodiversity
More native plants and diverse greenery make local ecosystems healthier and more resilient.
Community Awareness
Residents volunteering together are learning how nature supports local resilience.
Community Cohesion
Brings people together around a shared goal of making their neighbourhood greener and stronger.
How does this solution make a difference? – Addressing prioritized shocks and stresses
Extreme Heat
Environmental Degradation
Flooding
Cooling the community
Higher Folds experiences high temperatures during summer, and older residents are especially affected indoors and outdoors.New tree planting and added shade in shared spaces help lower local temperatures and make outdoor areas more comfortable for everyone.
Bringing nature back to the neighbourhood
Vacant or unused land is being restored with native plants and ponds, creating new habitats and improving local biodiversity.These changes turn neglected areas into active community spaces that support both people and nature.
Reducing flood risk through nature
Sustainable drainage and rain gardens are helping absorb stormwater and reduce localised flooding. By improving soil and plant cover, these nature-based solutions keep nearby homes and streets safer during heavy rain.
Flood-risk maps show how parts of Higher Folds face recurring surface-water flooding after heavy rainfall.
