INSTAR conservation projects

Our work is rooted in a deep and active commitment to conservation. As artists and naturalists, we don’t just respond to the natural world - we work to protect and restore it. Conservation is not separate from our creative practice; it is its foundation. Through hands-on action, community engagement, and bold advocacy, we create projects that bridge art, ecology, and public space, inspiring tangible change in the places we live and work.

In Nottingham, we have founded two pioneering initiatives: Swift Street, a nationally recognised project dedicated to swift conservation, empowering communities to transform their streets into vital refuges for this declining species. Through nest box installations, public talks, and annual Swift Homecoming Parades, we celebrate the return of these extraordinary birds, bringing people together in shared responsibility and wonder.

Alongside this, wild.NG is an expansive movement for urban nature—campaigning for wildlife-friendly streets, poison-free pavements, and greater everyday connection to local biodiversity. Through free public events, creative interventions, and direct conservation action, we work to reshape how people engage with the wild spaces on their doorsteps.

Our conservation work is as much about collaboration as it is about action. We have worked alongside leading environmental organisations, conservation bodies, and local communities to create meaningful, lasting impact. Whether through public art, ecological restoration, or grassroots activism, we remain dedicated to reimagining the role of creativity in protecting and restoring the natural world.