Blog Post: RECLAIM Network Final Event – Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
On 12 February 2026, the RECLAIM Network hosted its final event, "RECLAIM Network Looking Forward," at the Guildford Harbour Hotel.
The event brought together 27 participants from local government, academic institutions, NGOs, and community organizations to celebrate the achievements of the RECLAIM project and discuss the next steps for sustainable urban green infrastructure.
Celebrating Success
Professor Prashant Kumar, University of Surrey, opened the event by highlighting the collaborative efforts of RECLAIM to create a one-stop shop for towns and cities to access information and support for installing green and blue infrastructure in their communities.
Professor Kumar added “RECLAIM has been an incredible journey, and we are immensely proud to have built a community of over 720 members across 50 countries. Along the way, we have supported young researchers, engaged non-academic communities, and created valuable resources such as CPD courses, the "How to Urban Toolkit," GBGI databases, and numerous videos showcasing webinars and key project activities. We look forward to sustaining this momentum and carrying forward RECLAIM’s legacy to make our cities greener, healthier, and more sustainable. A heartfelt thank you to UKRI, our team members, RECLAIM members from the UK and abroad, and our partners for their contributions to this remarkable journey!”
The project’s accomplishments include:
- Developing key resources such as the RECLAIM Toolkit, CPD courses, and the GBGI database.
- Funding 9 innovative projects, delivering 7 synthesis reviews, hosting 45 monthly webinars, conducting 15 workshops, facilitating 7 knowledge exchange visits, organizing 4 engagement events, and publishing 60+ impactful publications.
- Organizing a GBGI Photography competition and commissioning photographers to build a reserve of GBGI-related photographs.
All of these resources are accessible on the RECLAIM website: reclaim-network.org.
Shaping the Future
The event featured three insightful discussion sessions:
- Adopting RECLAIM Outcomes:
Participants explored ways councils can better utilize RECLAIM’s toolkit, courses, and database. Recommendations included creating cost-comparison tables, sharing CPD courses with relevant institutions, and strengthening partnerships between councils and communities for long-term implementation.
- Tracking Success:
A sticky note brainstorming session identified key success indicators, methods of tracking, and challenges. Metrics such as improved knowledge, visible green infrastructure improvements, and public health benefits were highlighted, alongside methods like surveys, focus groups, and pilot project evaluations.
- Moving Ahead:
Discussions focused on scaling nature-based solutions to tackle urban challenges like flooding and air pollution, addressing funding gaps, and bridging the gap between academic research and practical implementation.
Looking Forward
The event concluded with a collective commitment to expand the use of RECLAIM’s tools and resources and continue engaging stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the project’s outcomes.
The RECLAIM Network has been instrumental in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and driving sustainable urban solutions. As we look ahead, we are excited to see how RECLAIM’s resources will continue to shape greener, healthier cities for generations to come.
Participating Organizations
- Bracknell Forest Council
- Bristol City Council
- Cardiff Council
- GLA
- Guildford Borough Council
- Imperial College London
- Natural England
- Rugby Borough Council
- Safe Air Schools UK
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Surrey County Council
- The University of Warwick
- UKCEH
- UNICEF
- University of Limerick
- University of Surrey
- Zero Carbon Guildford
Stay Connected:
Visit reclaim-network.org to explore our resources and learn more about our impact. Follow us on LinkedIn: @Reclaim Network Plus; X: @reclaim_network for updates and highlights!
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