We’re working to give people across the UK the motivation and tools to safeguard nature in towns and cities.
Our five-acre site in South Kensington has been transformed into a welcoming, accessible and biologically diverse green space in the heart of London.
Our gardens are place for people to learn about the diversity of life on Earth and how our planet is changing over time. They also showcase our scientific research.
A living laboratory
The Urban Nature Project is developing new scientific tools and skills urgently needed to monitor, understand and protect urban nature.
Our gardens are a hub for urban nature identification and field survey skills. We’re piloting a range of technologies for monitoring change in urban environments, including eDNA and acoustic monitoring, where an array of recorders will listen to the gardens, pond, soil and even inside the trees.
We’re also developing a new public-facing biodiversity and environmental monitoring data ecosystem to help capture, share and interpret urban nature data.
Visit our new gardens
Our gardens follow the story of how life on Earth has changed over time, from the days of the dinosaurs through to today.
Open daily
Science in the gardens
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British wildlifeWhy we should rewild ourselves and the places we live
When we live alongside nature, we end up happier and healthier. We might even end up rewilding ourselves.
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Science newsNoisy neighbours: Listening in to nature in cities and towns
Urban soundtracks allow us to listen in to wildlife, from calling birds and shouting foxes to chirping insects and quiet worms.
12 May 2023 -
British wildlifeTwenty-five years of wildlife discoveries in the Museum garden
Ecologist Sylvia Myers introduces some of our favourite finds and how we monitor the plants and animals present.
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British wildlifeWhat happens to frogs and dragonflies when their pond disappears?
Natural ponds come and go. They fill up when it's wet and empty when it’s dry. Pond wildlife has learnt to live in these changeable worlds in remarkable ways.
Find urban nature education resources
Our Explore: Urban Nature programme provides training for teachers, curriculum-linked learning resources and hands-on outdoor workshops.
Students can also get involved in a community science project, Nature Overheard, a project created allongside students and developed with their ideas and questions.
In partnership with the Prince’s Trust, we’ve created a Youth Worker Toolkit to support informal ways of learning. It equips youth workers with activities and conversation starters they can use with young people to open the door to nature around them.
We’ve facillitated a Youth Advisory Panel to give young people a voice. So far, we’ve heard from 24 young people and supported their personal development and skills.
Make your mark
This momentous project will not be possible without your help.
Right now, you have the opportunity to make your mark in the Museum gardens like never before. From sponsoring a square metre of garden to dedicating a bench to a loved one, a donation to the Urban Nature Project is the perfect way to be a part of this historic project.
Get involved in our projects
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Nature Overheard: Tune in to Your Streets
Join our mass community science project investigating the impact of noise pollution on insects near roads.
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Youth Worker Toolkit
This free downloadable toolkit lists activities and ideas that you can use with young people to explore nature in cities.
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Explore: Urban Nature
UK schools programme for KS2 and KS3 (ages 9-14), examining the importance of nature in our towns and cities. With teaching resources, regional workshops and teacher CPD.
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The unequal barriers in making nature accessible to all: A Youth Advisory Panel report
A Youth Advisory Panel has discussed access to the natural world with Museum staff.
Working together to explore and make space for urban nature
Working with local groups, we’re co-creating activities and resources for family learning in our new gardens. These resources include what plants and animals you can find in London, self-guided experiences in the gardens and nature-friendly crafts and activities.
We’re also developing a new volunteer programme and summer programme for school leavers.
School groups will also be able to explore the gardens and take part in a programme that focuses on building a connection with nature, valuing biodiversity and what actions they can do to help nature.
We’re working with London’s Grow to Know as they help local residents to plant and maintain their own prairie garden and find out more about the species living near them. Our scientists have found 58 tiny animal species living in the Prairie Garden space on Lancaster West Estate.
Does nature live in your neighbourhood?
Find out how to monitor and identify wildlife living in urban areas. You’ll be contributing to scientific research and helping to boost biodiversity in cities and towns.
Make space for nature
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British wildlifeThe best small trees, climbers and shrubs to plant for wildlife
Shrubs, climbers and small trees provide important food and shelter for insects, birds and other animals.
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British wildlifeSeven simple ways to create a wildlife-friendly garden
Find out how to help urban nature and attract more wildlife to your garden.
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British wildlifeHow to make a log pile to provide shelter for garden wildlife
A log pile can give home and shelter to some of the smaller inhabitants of your garden.
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British wildlifeHow to attract butterflies to your garden
Filling your garden with insects will make your flowerbeds beautiful and support biodiversity. Ecologist Larissa Cooper explains how.
The shaping of our gardens
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CollectionsThe making of Fern the Diplodocus: Engineering meets natural history
Our latest attraction stands tall over the new gardens.
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CollectionsOur new Evolution Timeline rocks
Experience the connection between rocks and life in our new Evolution Garden where rocks, fossils, plants and sculpture tell a story of evolution and geological change.
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NewsSir David Attenborough unveils quote at the Museum
The quote will form part of the newly developed gardens at the Museum.
29 June 2023 -
Our plans for the gardens
Our new gardens are a haven for wildlife and people in the heart of London.
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A history of the Natural History Museum grounds and gardens
Take a stroll through the gardens of the past.
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British wildlife
Twenty-five years of wildlife discoveries in the Museum garden
Ecologist Sylvia Myers introduces some of our favourite finds and how we monitor the plants and animals present.
Funding
We thank all those who have generously contributed to the Urban Nature Project.
