The Suffolk Nature Project

The Nansemond River is sick. What can we do? NRPA has started The Suffolk Nature Project to empower Suffolk citizens to restore our local environment from their own back yard! The Suffolk Nature Project is a community initiative aimed at improving the water quality of the Nansemond River and enhancing local ecosystems through citizen-led efforts in conservation, native planting, and green infrastructure. This project fosters collaboration between residents, environmental experts, and local organizations to restore the watershed, create sustainable landscapes, and ensure a healthier environment for future generations.

Engage

We are now facing the second generation of youth raised inside. The Suffolk Nature Project aims to get everyone to GO OUTSIDE! Enjoy nature and the beauty of our local environment. This includes a guided park tour and sunset challenge to be enjoyed by all ages and stages of life! Spending time outdoors offers numerous physical and mental health benefits and increases our “sense of place” in the world around us.

Educate

NRPA is partnering with Homegrown National Park and many other state and local partners to provide free resources, workshops, volunteer projects and plant guides for residents to learn more about biodiversity, key species of plants, bugs, and aquaculture that drive life in our local environment including; rain gardens, buffer strips, and pollinator habitats using native plants.

Act

We hope to empower Suffolk citizens to take action in the community. This could mean taking the “One Plant Challenge” to create better backyards or collaborating with local schools and community groups, to create green spaces designed to improve water filtration and enhance biodiversity.