Green Shoots was a partnership project that brought people and nature together across Middlesbrough, creating opportunities for local residents to improve green spaces, develop new skills and build confidence through practical environmental action.​ Led by Middlesbrough Environment City, the project was delivered in partnership with Actes Trust, Linx Youth Project and The Other Perspective.

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Green Shoots created opportunities for young people, refugees, asylum seekers and people from underrepresented communities to take part in practical environmental action. Through volunteering, training and outdoor learning activities, participants developed new skills, gained valuable experience and qualifications, and played an active role in improving their local environment.

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The project focused on some of Middlesbrough's important wildlife sites and green spaces, where participants took part in hands-on conservation activities to improve habitats and enhance biodiversity. Activities included woodland management, habitat creation, wetland improvements and practical site maintenance, helping to create better conditions for wildlife while improving local natural spaces for the wider community.

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Alongside volunteering opportunities, participants could access environmental training, accredited learning and progression routes into further volunteering, apprenticeships, training and employment. Forest School activities, taster sessions and structured traineeships provided opportunities for people to develop confidence, teamwork, practical conservation skills and a stronger connection to nature.

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​Building on the success of earlier projects such as One Planet Pioneers, Green Shoots demonstrated how environmental projects can deliver benefits that extend far beyond conservation. By bringing communities together around a shared purpose, the project helped people develop skills, experience new opportunities and make a positive contribution to the places where they live.