Wildchild is about learning through play – bringing children and families closer to nature and discovering their wild places through exploration and fun. Informal education activities help children and their families to better understand the Trent Valley and their local environment, engendering a wish to visit and protect the heritage of the Trent Valley Washlands.
Activities include Wildlings and Nature Tots, which are aimed at pre-school children and encourage them to play and explore without their parent’s direct involvement in a controlled and safe outdoor setting. Wildplay and Forest Schools, aimed at older children, help them develop a sense of belonging in the landscape, promoting a life-long love for the natural world. Wildchild is guiding the decision-makers of the future. By engaging with families, we have the opportunity, not only to influence the next generation, but increase the use of natural open spaces for recreation, learning and valuing.
Alongside our child-based activities we are also offering taster and training days for parents to provide support and ideas for family days out throughout the project area.
Watch this video to find out what to expect when attending our family events over the next few weeks/months.
Details of upcoming events and how to book you and your child's place will be listed on our Events page. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Kathryn Kavanagh
WildChild Officer
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Our WildFamilies events at Tucklesholme Nature Reserve are funded by Aggregate Industries Local Partnerships Development Fund.
Our WildFamilies events at the Washlands in Burton upon Trent are supported by Burton Library.
For all the latest news about Transforming the Trent Valley, visit our news page.
On Wednesday 26th August our Wildfamilies session once again returned to the Washlands and it was a glorious day!
Last time we explored the Washlands the weather was wild, this week we had blue skies, and sunshine. Not exactly what was expected, so always be ready to swap the hood for shades.
Last Friday was the first session back for our Wildchild events and we had an amazing time!
As you may have seen from my previous blog posts, I’ve been very busy creating resources for families to enjoy during lockdown. I have really enjoyed making how to sheets and trying new crafts. Now I am really happy to be able to set up sessions for families to once again enjoy the outdoors safely.
Last week I was able to visit the Trent Valley landscape, for the first time since lockdown and I wandered round the Washlands. While I walked I spotted the amazing Burton Swans art work being installed in different places. There really are wonderful pieces to look out for.
Transforming the Trent Valley's WildChild Officer show us a great craft idea for all the family to enjoy making. Why not have a go yourself at making a butterfly feeder.
Share your creations on social media using #thetrentvalley.
Transforming the Trent Valley's WildChild Officer show us a great craft idea for all the family to enjoy making. Why not have a go yourself at making a mini den.
Share your creations on social media using #thetrentvalley.
Transforming the Trent Valley's WildChild Officer show us a great craft idea for all the family to enjoy making. Why not have a go yourself at making a dreamcatcher.
Share your creations on social media using #thetrentvalley.
Transforming the Trent Valley's WildChild Officer show us a great garden craft idea for all the family to enjoy making. Why not have a go yourself at making a really wild spiders web?How difficult can it be?
Share your creations on social media using #thetrentvalley.
Following this weeks Lockdown BioBlitz using the theme of texture, shape and form, Transforming the Trent Valley's WildChild Officer Kathryn shows us hot to take imprints of the textures and shape of leaves found in our gardens or during a walk in the countryside. Have a go yourself or you could try making leaf prints or sticking different leaves onto a sheet of paper to make a leaf collage?
Share your creations on social media using #thetrentvalley.
After spotting a few butterflies flying through the garden, I thought it would be nice to make a butterfly feeder. So here is my version of the classic butterfly feeder.
Like many people at the moment I've been baking cakes and now have an empty egg box!
There are many great ideas that you can use an egg box for including…
On one evening in particular as the sun was setting I was surprised to see a small shadow flying above.
It moved very quickly, soaring through the sky...
I found some clay and decided to mould some creatures, and use natural materials to add features. My go-to clay creation is usually the hedgehog because I can make the spines from sticks but I wanted to do something more challenging and since it is Spring...
I decided to look out my window and whichever bird I spotted first I would draw.
I sat and looked out my window for 10 minutes before I spotted a lovely House Sparrow and here is the result…
For this post I am inspired by my colleague Rod’s recent blog about the Romans. The Romans have made their mark on the Trent Valley Landscape leaving behind remnants of their roads.
For this post I am taking inspiration from a spider and spinning a web. It’s something straight forward and very relaxing to make. When you weave the circles around the web you get into a calming groove (if you’re also able to sit outside and listen to nature in your garden added bonus!).
Its Springtime! You can feel it in the air and there are signs everywhere, from yellow flowers sprouting up to blossoms falling from trees. So, I am not surprised that the first nature-themed activity I could think of was planting seeds.
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