Why Your Story Matters: A Personal Reflection on the Earth Stories Project 2021
By Deborah Needle Community Facilitator, Naturally Birmingham
A few years ago, if you’d asked me what I thought would bring people together in one of the most diverse, complex cities in the UK, I might’ve said food, music, faith, or even football. But I’m writing this today to tell you: it was something quieter. Simpler. Something we walk past every day without even noticing.
It was nature.
And your stories—Earth Stories—helped prove just how deep that connection goes: https://earthstories.uk/
A Time Like No Other
When we started the Earth Stories project in 2021, we were still in the thick of uncertainty. The world had been reshaped by the pandemic. Offices and schools were closed. Hugs were paused. Our routines vanished.
But the parks? They stayed open.
Green spaces became our classrooms, gyms, offices, places of worship, our Friday night cinemas, and Sunday morning escape routes. I saw people walking alone to clear their heads, families picnicking under trees they’d never noticed before, and teenagers rediscovering the magic of doing absolutely nothing—outside.
We knew something powerful was happening. But how could we capture it? A traditional survey didn’t feel right. What we really wanted was something more human. So we asked a simple question:
“What’s your Earth Story?”
You Shared, We Listened
Some of you wrote poems. Some sent voice notes, sketches, and even photos of the trees you’d leaned on when the world felt too heavy. Some of you told us about growing acorns with your children, or memories of catching sticklebacks in childhood streams that no longer flow the same.
One woman told me, with tears in her eyes, “The park was the only place where I didn’t feel trapped.” Another man—who’d never stepped foot in a park before the pandemic—now volunteers every weekend, picking litter, planting bulbs, and waving at everyone who passes.
These stories matter. Not because they’re dramatic or loud—but because they’re real. They remind us that nature isn’t a luxury. It’s not an “add-on” to our lives. It’s a lifeline.
A City of Diversity, A Common Ground
Birmingham is full of difference: 1.1 million people, 180 nationalities, 100+ languages. And yet beneath that richness, there’s a quiet, shared thread: the land we walk on. The sky above. The trees, parks, canals, and corners of green that make up our city’s heartbeat.
But here’s the truth we can’t ignore: not everyone feels they belong in these spaces.
Some of you told us you’ve never felt welcome in parks. Others said you didn’t know where they were, or whether they were “for people like you.” One young person said they felt parks were “places you walk through, not go into.”
That’s environmental injustice. And it’s our job to fix it.
Stories into Action
The Earth Stories project was never just about collecting memories. It was about building a foundation for the future.
We’re now in the early stages of a 25-year vision called the City of Nature Plan. It’s ambitious, yes—but it’s also deeply personal. Because it’s shaped by voices like yours. And it needs to continue to be shaped by voices like yours.
We want parks that feel safe, welcoming, useful, joyful, and healing. We want green jobs, youth training, health funding tied to woodland walks, and places to sit, chat, and have a cup of tea in nature.
We want to build a movement—a green network—that reflects the whole city. Not just the loudest. Not just the most confident. But everyone.
So, Why Your Story?
Because the only way we can build a city of nature for everyone is to first understand what nature means to you.
What brings you peace? What brings you joy? What feels broken? What would you change? Who do you want to see in your park that’s not there now?
You might think your story is too small to matter. But we’ve learned that a memory about a flower, a tree, or even a moment of quiet under a grey sky can hold the kind of wisdom no policy document ever could.
This Is Just the Beginning
The Earth Stories project may have ended. But the work it started is just beginning. This isn’t about filling a report. This is about building a living dialogue—one we keep open, active, and accessible.
We still want your stories. We still need them. You can write them, record them, draw them—however you want to share.
Because the parks never closed. And neither should the conversation.
💚 Share your Earth Story with us – email Cityofnature@birmingham.gov.uk
Read the Report here:
Naturally Birmingham Future Parks Project 