About CUAB
Founding and values
The Citizen-Monitoring of Urban Agriculture Biodiversity (CUAB) was founded in 2025 by our programme lead, Dr. Samuel Booth using funding from the Nottingham Institute for Policy and Engagement, following previous collaboration between the University of Nottingham (UON) and Nottingham City Council (NCC). CUAB is built on the values of collaboration, inclusivity, and education. We believe that everyone has a role to play in understanding and protecting nature, and by fostering a community of passionate individuals, we can form a collective to promote biodiversity along with human wellbeing in our urban green spaces
Project Aims
CUAB aims to explore the relationship between land management practices, biodiversity and nature connectedness in urban agriculture spaces. This includes allotments, community gardens and urban farms of all sizes and types. This is in recognition of the vital ecosystem services urban agriculture provides, not just food security, but also as havens for urban wildlife and in supporting the wellbeing of people. CUAB is a programme designed to be accessible, easy and fun to be a part of.
Methods
CUAB utilises a co-designed citizen science methodology, using well established ecological monitoring tools, but in new way. With bespoke training materials informed through allotment community survey responses and focus group, CUAB blends traditional survey methods with data driven tools and online platforms to collect data on the interactions between people and nature.
Funding
During its current development and pilot phase, CUAB is funded in its entirety by the Nottingham Institute for Policy and Engagement, as part of its Civic Impact Champion Grant Funding Programme awarded to the programme lead.
Collaborators
CUAB plans to work closely with growing communities in each city, as well as relevant local governments and businesses that align with the values of the programme. Currently we are working with Nottingham City Council and the allotment community in Nottingham, in particular those at St Ann's allotments.
