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Rugby’s vision for a nature-friendly town

From a butterfly bank to tree-planting projects, Rugby in Bloom shows how even the simplest initiatives can attract nature and strengthen community cohesion

For over 25 years, RHS Britain in Bloom has had a positive impact on people and places in the market town of Rugby, Warwickshire, and now Rugby in Bloom is one of 44 finalists in the RHS Britain in Bloom 2026 UK Finals, competing in the Small City & City category.

The campaign is led by Rugby Borough Council’s Parks and Open Spaces and brings together a wide range of local partners such as Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Warwickshire County Council’s Ecology and Tree teams, Rugby Borough Council’s Planning and Grounds departments as well as a network of community groups and volunteers. Working collaboratively on a number of projects, they help enhance the local environment, improve wellbeing, increase access to nature and strengthen community cohesion.

Members of Rugby Borough Council’s Parks and Open Spaces alongside regenerated community beds in Caldecott Park

Making more space for nature

Located on the outskirts of Rugby and owned by Rugby Borough Council, Diamond Wood Country Park is a popular destination for walkers and the wider community. Around 50,000 young trees, including hazel, hornbeam and blackthorn, were planted in 2012 and 2013 by volunteers and council staff to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, creating a predominantly wooded landscape with pockets of open glades.

A swift, house martin and bat tower was installed in spring 2026 at Diamond Wood Country Park
A diverse mix of habitats is key to the site’s success in supporting wildlife such as badgers and muntjac deer
In 2026, the Friends of Diamond Jubilee Wood group was established in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to provide opportunities for residents to learn about and care for this maturing green space. Volunteers will carry out regular habitat management activities such as tree thinning, scrub clearing and creating habitats for nesting skylarks. They will also conduct wildlife surveys and are developing a reflection area for visitors to pause and unwind.

Helping butterflies thrive

Centenary Park was once a neglected site, overgrown with brambles and blighted by decades of fly-tipping. Now, it’s a haven for nature, boasting a wildlife meadow, overground and underground hibernacula, edible hedgerows, a sensory garden and a dedicated butterfly bank. This green space thrives through strong and effective partnerships with third parties such as Butterfly Conservation.

Specialist ground lights help park goers feel safe and significantly reduce upward light spillage
A common blue butterfly seen at Centenary Park, where a butterfly bank is a standout feature
“The site includes areas for butterflies to lay eggs and bask and niche microhabitats carefully designed to boost local biodiversity,” said Mike Slater from Butterfly Conservation. “Caterpillar food plants such as bird’s foot trefoil encourage species like the green hairstreak.”

Town Park Ranger Stephany Huggett also works with Butterfly Conservation to distribute garlic mustard seed to local schools and community groups, which can be scattered at home or on the journey to school or work. These food plants help orange-tip and green-veined white butterflies thrive, while the initiative engages people with nature and the community.

Mike Slater points to an interpretation board that helps spark conversations about biodiversity
In 2025, local volunteers and the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team planted 60 young trees to create a community orchard – apple, pear, quince and a range of stone fruit trees, including local heritage varieties.
 
The community orchard in Centenary Park

“People see the park differently now. There’s a real sense of excitement, with many looking forward to picking and enjoying the fruit,” said Dean Welburn, Chair of the Residents’ Association at Coton Park, where another community orchard was recently planted.

“In time, the orchard will be open to the whole community. It’s a great addition to our estate and something everyone can take pride in.” 

Volunteers’ essential work

Volunteers help manage grassland and keep paths clear at Ashlawn Cutting nature reserve
Rugby has many dedicated volunteer groups. “250 volunteers contribute around 12,000 hours a year to help maintain the town’s green spaces, supporting a wide range of activities from butterfly conservation to water vole habitat projects and the maintenance of local nature reserves,” said John Howes, the Council’s Green Space and Biodiversity Manager. “Without their tireless efforts, our work simply would not be possible.”

Volunteers’ work helps encourage an abundance of fauna and flora at local nature reserves. Species such as the wasp spider have been found at Ashlawn Cutting, a nature reserve on the former Great Central Railway line. Other finds include Anacamptis pyramidalis (pyramidal orchid) and stemless thistle.

© Steve Wright
Wasp spider found at Ashlawn Cutting
© Steve Wright
Common spotted orchid
“The best way to manage habitats to support a wide variety of species is to create a mosaic of bare soil, scrub, trees and soft green plants of different ages,” said Rugby Wildlife volunteer Steve Wright. “Monitoring species on our reserves is also critical to creating the habitats needed to encourage biodiversity.”

The best way to manage habitats to support a wide variety of species is to create a mosaic of bare soil, scrub, trees and soft green plants of different ages.

Steve Wright, Rugby Wildlife volunteer

A meaningful link with the community

Every year, a nature-focused networking event hosted by Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust celebrates the community’s dedication to environmental preservation and helps forge new connections to support future initiatives.

With materials provided by the Council and donated by Rugby-based building companies, prisoners at HMP Onley built around 70 bat and bird boxes which have been distributed across the town. They have also been involved in a collaborative art project celebrating the architecture and heritage of Rugby’s landmarks, which resulted in a collection of 12 paintings displayed at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
 

Prisoners’ artwork inspired by street art brightens a railway bridge walkway
Amanda Price, Head of Education, Skills and Work at HMP Onley, said: “Our partnership with Rugby Borough Council has had a very positive impact on the men in our care. The donation of plants has helped transform our prison gardens into purposeful, therapeutic spaces where individuals can develop practical skills, improve their wellbeing and take pride in their work. The collaboration has also created a meaningful link with the community. Through restoring benches for local spaces, the men have been able to give something back, building a sense of achievement, responsibility and connection beyond the prison.”

Looking ahead

Following consultation with residents, a derelict site next to Centenary Park will become a vibrant 30-plot community allotment site – a hub for growing food, boosting biodiversity and fostering social connection. 
 
This focus on community-led green spaces is supported by a second-year partnership with Garden Organic, which provides a dedicated full-time staff member to support gardening projects. Heather Thomas, Project Co-ordinator, explained: “We are delivering training on using natural methods to promote healthy, productive and sustainable gardens and green spaces. Our aim is to connect people with green spaces across the borough and for them to gain the knowledge and skills to grow their own food, help biodiversity, prevent waste and become points of contact within their communities.”

Engineering students designed and created laser-cut steel letters for the community beds in Caldecott Park
Regenerated community raised beds in the town centre’s Caldecott Park show Rugby residents how easy it is to grow food and boost biodiversity. Rugby Eco Hub’s bed in particular is packed with dozens of different edibles that attract pollinators. “An enticing showcase for local food growing that anyone can do at home,” said Councillor Richard Harrington. 

Tree planting also continues to play a key role in Rugby in Bloom’s ambitions. Initiatives such as Free Trees for Farmers help to strengthen on-farm habitats and wildlife across the borough, while wider programmes like the Trees Outside Woodland Fund focus planting efforts on schools, golf courses and community centres.  

Innovation is also on the horizon, with plans underway for a ‘living pillars’ project introducing vertical, self-sustaining habitats attached to urban structures. As well as enhancing biodiversity, these installations will help improve the look and feel of the landscape, while creating a new green corridor through the town centre, connecting two major parks.

“This is just a snapshot of the green initiatives Rugby in Bloom continues to champion,” said Green Spaces Officer Colin Horton. “Britain in Bloom shines a light on what we are achieving together and gives us a powerful platform to celebrate our work. It reminds us that when people care about the places they call home, it creates something special, somewhere people are proud to live, inspired to work and eager to visit.”

Volunteer in your community

Britain in Bloom inspires community groups in towns, cities and villages to make positive changes to their local environment through horticultural, environmental and community action. Search our map for Britain in Bloom and RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood groups and Affiliated Societies local to you.

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