Our Partnerships
At Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF), we believe our parks, gardens, allotments, woodlands, and other green spaces are some of the best things about living in the city. They bring people together, boost our health and wellbeing, and give everyone a place to relax, play, and connect with nature. Keeping these spaces thriving takes teamwork – and that’s where partnerships really shine!
Protecting Birmingham’s Open Spaces
Over 20 years we have sought out and collaborated with a range of trusted partners. Together, we continue to advocate, learn and influence, and ultimately, achieve so much more for Birmingham and its open spaces.
Our partnerships don’t just improve physical spaces; they strengthen communities, boost health and wellbeing, and create new opportunities for learning and engagement.
Get Involved!
Take a look around our website, come along to one of our events, or just drop us a message.
Current Partners
Birmingham City Council
The vast majority of our volunteers work on sites that are owned by Birmingham Council. It is imperative that we have a strong and positive rapport with the strategic leaders of the Council as without their support and authority, many of our volunteers wouldn’t be able to indulge their passion for their sites. We are fortunate insofar as the Council are appreciative of the work that our volunteers do and as such, they value our insight and frequently support initiatives which add immense value to our city.
City of Nature Alliance
The City of Nature Alliance (CONA) is a coalition of organisations from across Birmingham, dedicated to protecting and enhancing the city’s green and blue spaces. The Alliance unites various partners, including national charities like the National Trust, local community groups including ourselves, public sector bodies, and grassroots volunteers. It is the delivery vehicle for the Birmingham City of Nature Plan, an ambitious 25-year strategy to create a greener, fairer, and healthier city for its residents. The Alliance prioritises environmental justice and focuses its efforts on specific areas which have been identified as having significant inequalities in accessing green space. Our work to support the Alliance is currently undertaken in Balsall Heath, Bordesley & Highgate and Nechells, and sees us promoting opportunities for residents to access nature-based activities and gain a deeper understanding and affection for their local green space sites. See our events page for further details.
Universities
It’s said that every day is a learning day, and we are fortunate to have the support and insight of some fine academics. We’re proud to work with Birmingham University, the City of Birmingham University, and Salford University, whose insight and research helps to shape how we support Birmingham’s green spaces.
From environmental science to urban planning and community development, universities bring evidence-based thinking into the picture. Their research helps us better understand things like the benefits of green spaces on mental and physical health and how to make green spaces more inclusive and accessible. Such insight informs smarter decision making however partnering with the Universities through student placements and volunteering, means students get to work directly with communities; they get hands-on experience and a chance to see how their studies apply in real-world settings.
As we face complex challenges – from air quality to inequality in access to green space – the role of universities becomes even more valuable. They help us to think long-term, spot trends, and plan for a greener, fairer Birmingham.
Interested in Partnering with Us?
If you’re a student, lecturer, or researcher with an interest in open spaces, we’d love to hear from you. There are plenty of ways to get involved, and your knowledge could help shape the future of Birmingham’s parks and open spaces.
West Midlands Combined Authority
We’re proud to be the voice of communities on the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Environment Advisory Group. Our involvement means we get to make sure local people and green spaces are right at the heart of regional conversations about climate, nature, and the environment. Our role is about championing communities – the volunteers, park groups, gardeners, allotmenteers and local residents who are out there making a difference every day. We bring their ideas, challenges, and successes to the table so that decision-makers don’t just hear about policy, but about the lived reality of looking after green spaces in Birmingham and beyond. By linking grassroots voices with regional strategy, BOSF helps shape plans that are not only ambitious but also practical and fair. It’s about making sure communities aren’t an afterthought – they’re part of the solution.
The Ranger Service, Birmingham City Council
There is a wealth of skills and knowledge within Birmingham City Council Parks through the Ranger Service. We have been very fortunate to work closely with the Rangers, who are widely regarded as a critical partner in supporting green spaces across the city. Over the years, the Ranger Service has worked hand-in-hand with our volunteer groups, assisting with a broad range of activities including conservation and gardening, health and safety assessments, installation and repair of park structures, and delivering practical skills training. They have also been quick to answer questions, offer expert advice, and actively participate in meetings to ensure that the voices of local communities are heard.
Beyond their practical support, the Rangers have played a key role in fostering community engagement, helping to build trust between local people and the management of parks and open spaces. Their presence and expertise have enhanced the capacity of volunteer groups, enabling more ambitious projects and safer working environments. They have also contributed to environmental education and awareness initiatives, empowering volunteers and residents alike to take better care of their local green spaces.
We deeply appreciate their commitment, professionalism, and collaborative spirit. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue and strengthen this vital partnership, working together to create thriving, well-managed, and accessible green spaces for everyone in Birmingham.
HMP Birmingham
Although not our primary focus, we believe in the power of growing but this doesn’t just relate to food and plants, but also to skills, confidence, and community connections and that’s exactly what our partnership with HMP Birmingham is all about. Following an introduction to the prison by the RHS, we’ve gone on to establish a unique growing project that brings people from very different walks of life together, all working towards a shared goal: supporting local communities with fresh, healthy produce.
The journey starts inside HMP Birmingham, where a group of prisoners are involved in sowing seeds and growing plants in a secure horticultural setting. With training and support, they nurture the seedlings until they’re strong enough to be passed on. From there, the young plants are given to 10 of our BOSF member groups across the city all of whom are passionate, volunteer-led community gardeners or allotmenteers. These groups continue to care for and grow the plants in their local spaces and when ready to harvest, the produce is donated to local food banks and community groups, where it goes directly to people who need it most. From seed to table, every step of the journey supports community wellbeing, reduces food waste, and builds positive links between people inside and outside the prison system.
This project is about far more than just growing vegetables. For the prisoners, it provides valuable horticultural skills, a sense of purpose, and the chance to give something back. For our community groups, it’s a way to strengthen local growing efforts and build meaningful partnerships. For the food banks and local community groups, it’s a source of fresh, healthy produce that’s sometimes hard to come by.
Midland Parks Forum
The Midlands Parks Forum is a charitable organisation acting as an umbrella for green space professionals from a wide range of sectors including local authorities, corporate heritage, environmental organisations and the Nation Federation of Parks and Green Space local fora from the East and West Midlands. They work closely with national agencies such as Natural England, APSE and Historic England.
We have attended many of their networking meetings and have spoken at and run workshops about community involvement in green spaces across the whole East and West Midlands Regions.
National Federation of Parks & Open Spaces
The National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces (NFPGS) is the umbrella organisation that aims to amplify the voices of Friends Groups across the UK. It was constituted in 2010 and we at BOSF were one of the pioneer forums who started it up.
NFPGS helps Friends Groups to join together and start up their own area forum and join the network of all the Forums UK wide. We are a key partner in the NFPGS, attending national meetings and we are on the Board of Trustees.
NFPGS manages the Parks Community UK website which is a free online knowledge hub and network for all Friends of parks and green space community groups, no matter their size or level.
Birmingham TreePeople
Birmingham TreePeople started life as a Tree Warden Network, set up by the Tree Officers of Birmingham City Council in 2016 to support better trees in Birmingham. After numbers grew, the volunteer Tree Wardens created the charity and by 2020 they had their first board of trustees and were hosting regular activities.
Birmingham TreePeople is now separate from the city council but works in partnership with them as well as many other organisations to meet their charitable aims. In 2024 they were awarded significant funding from the National Lottery Community Fund which enabled them to transition from a volunteer-led organisation to an employee-led charity with a board of trustees who support their work.
Keep Britain Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy is an independent environmental charity working to inspire people to take action for cleaner, greener spaces. Their national campaigns including – the Great British Spring Clean and Love Parks Week, bring communities together to care for the places they live, work, and play. Through these initiatives and year-round projects, Keep Britain Tidy encourages everyone to take pride in their local environment, reduce litter, and protect the parks and open spaces that matter most.
Birmingham and District Allotment Association (BDAC)
The Birmingham and District Allotment Co-operative (BDAC) supports allotment holders and site associations across the city, helping people make the most of their plots and enjoy the benefits of growing their own food and plants. The Association offers advice, shares good practice, and speaks up on issues that matter to allotment communities.
BDAC works in close partnership with Birmingham Open Spaces Forum to promote and protect the city’s green spaces, encouraging more people to get involved in gardening, sustainability, and community life. Individual allotment sites are often members of Birmingham Open Spaces Forum and if this is something that might be of interest to your association, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you’re thinking about renting an allotment, you can find out more details and current availability on each site via the BDAC website.
Social Farms & Gardens
Social Farms & Gardens is a UK charity that helps people and communities to grow together. They support community gardens, city farms and green spaces where everyone can enjoy nature, learn new skills, and connect with others.
By collaborating with Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, the city’s network of community growers and green space groups are further empowered and supported, making Birmingham greener, healthier, and more connected.
Team4Nature (Brum Biosphere)
BOSF is proud to work in partnership with Team4Nature, led by our Ambassador Chris Millward. Through this collaboration we celebrate and support the power of communities to protect and improve green spaces for both people and wildlife. While BOSF connects and empowers local Friends groups across Birmingham, Team4Nature helps share their stories more widely, inspiring action and raising awareness of the vital role volunteers play in caring for our natural world.
The Brum Biosphere is a bold vision aiming to bring together 300 nature related projects from within Birmingham to reach more than 300,000 people over the next 3 years so that together, we can promote, protect, and conserve the nature that exists within Birmingham. We’re proud to be a key partner in the Biosphere mission. BOSF is helping to shape how this vision becomes reality – not just in boardrooms, but out in the community, where it really matters. Not only are we able to bring local voices to the table and make sure the people who love and look after Brum’s green spaces are heard, but we are working hard to promote nature amongst people who haven’t yet realised its beauty, benefits or importance.
Winterbourne House & Garden
Winterbourne House & Garden is a beautiful Arts and Crafts family home built in 1903 by John Sutton Nettlefold, now part of the University of Birmingham’s botanic garden in Edgbaston. With over 6,000 plant species, historic printing presses, and a rich programme of courses and events, it’s a place where learning and relaxation come together. A favourite spot for families and garden lovers alike, Winterbourne is also where BOSF hosts its Annual General Meeting each year.
Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country is a local charity uniquely protecting the wildlife of Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. They are one of 46 local, independent Wildlife Trusts working to make the UK a better place for people and wildlife.
With more than 800,000 members, the Wildlife Trusts are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea.
Locally The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country works to conserve biodiversity, improve the environment and raise awareness and understanding of wildlife issues. We have over 7,000 members and have projects, nature reserves and environment centres across the area.
South Birmingham Tools for Africa
South Birmingham Tools For Africa (SBTfA) collects and refurbishes tools to help African craftsmen and women lead more sustainable and viable lives in Africa!SBTfA have been in existence for 12 years meeting once a week to clean and refurbish donated tools to send to five African countries via the charity, Tools for Self Reliance.
SBTfA are now looking for more volunteers to join their friendly team, on a Tuesday in a well equipped workshop in Kings Heath Park – Moseley and Kings Heath Shed.
The group especially need people with an interest in and knowledge of tools, but they also need people with admin, finance and internet selling skills for tools not needed for projects in Africa.
Birmingham River Champions
Birmingham River Champions is a University of Birmingham project working with volunteer groups to help monitor and protect the rivers and streams running through local parks and open spaces. Volunteers are trained to check water quality, sample river life and spot early signs of stress in our urban waterways.
Since launching in 2023, nearly 100 volunteers from over 16 groups have taken part. Urban Riverfly sampling has been a standout activity, with over 50 samples collected in under a year – far surpassing official monitoring over the last decade. Results are shared back through an online dashboard, giving volunteers a clear picture of how their local rivers are changing over time.
The project is looking for more Friends groups in Birmingham to get involved and help care for their local waterways.
