Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Our Commitment

At Willowbrook Farm Charity, we believe that nature belongs to everyone. We are committed to creating spaces where people from all backgrounds feel welcome, valued, and empowered to connect with the natural world and with one another.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are not add-ons to our mission—they are at the heart of who we are and how we work.

What Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Mean to Us

Equity

Means recognising that people start from different places and removing barriers so everyone has genuine opportunities to thrive.

Diversity

Means embracing and celebrating the differences in people’s identities, cultures, experiences, and perspectives.

Inclusion

Means ensuring that everyone feels respected, heard, and able to participate fully in all that we do.

The Foundation for a Sustainable Future

Building a sustainable Earth isn’t just about technology, policies, or protecting wildlife—it’s about people. Yet access to nature and sustainability learning remains deeply unequal. For instance, only 38% of adults from ethnic minority backgrounds visit natural spaces weekly, compared to 60% of White adults (Natural England, 2023). One in three people in England lacks a green space within a 15-minute walk from home (Fields in Trust, 2023). These gaps mean that many communities miss out on the knowledge and experiences crucial for shaping a greener future.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion play a vital role in closing this gap. When everyone has the chance to engage with nature and learn practical green skills, the benefits ripple outward. Research shows that people who spend at least two hours weekly in nature report better physical health and mental wellbeing (White et al., 2019). Equipping diverse communities with sustainability knowledge fosters resilience, empowers individuals to make eco-friendly choices, and nurtures future leaders who can tackle environmental challenges from different perspectives.

Creating an inclusive path to sustainability education ensures that the journey toward a healthier planet leaves no one behind. Only by bringing diverse voices and experiences into the conversation can we truly build a sustainable Earth for all.

How We Promote it...

Open to All

Our programmes are designed to be accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We welcome individuals and groups from across the UK, ensuring that our activities cater to a wide range of needs and interests.

Removing Barriers

We understand that cost, transport, cultural disconnect, and other factors can keep people away from green spaces and sustainability learning. We work to remove these barriers by:

Offering free or low-cost events whenever possible.
Designing sensory-friendly and culturally sensitive activities.
Collaborating with partners to reach diverse communities.
Creating safe, welcoming environments where everyone can participate comfortably.

Co-Creation with Communities

We listen carefully to the people we serve. Many of our programmes are co-designed with participants who bring lived experience of the challenges we aim to address. Their voices shape our activities, ensuring relevance, respect, and meaningful engagement.

Inclusive Learning

We teach sustainable farming, biodiversity, and traditional skills in ways that suit different learning styles and abilities. Our hands-on approach makes sustainability accessible and practical, empowering individuals to take knowledge back into their own lives and communities.

Diverse Leadership and Volunteers

Our team reflects a range of backgrounds and experiences. From our trustees to our volunteers, we are committed to ensuring diverse perspectives inform our decision-making and the way we deliver our mission.

How we picture it...

We envision a world where everyone—regardless of background, identity, or circumstance—feels connected to nature, empowered with knowledge, and part of a community working towards a sustainable future.

We believe diversity strengthens our communities, drives creativity, and builds resilience for the challenges ahead. By fostering equity and inclusion, we not only create fairer access to green spaces and sustainability education but also help nurture a generation of Earth stewards committed to caring for people and the planet.