The WildChild Project will work with families and children across the Transforming the Trent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme area through informal education activities that encourage them to understand, visit and want to take care of the heritage of the Trent Valley Washlands. This will be achieved through a range of activities including Wildlings and Nature Tots (aimed at pre-school children), Wildplay and Forest Schools as well as working with schools to refer them on to the Big Washlands Watch project. The project aims to influence future generations by engaging with families we have the opportunity, not only to influence the next generation, but also to increase the use of natural open spaces for recreation, learn about and value the heritage on their doorstep.
As well as delivering activities we will also offer taster and training days for parents to provide support and ideas for family days out throughout the project area.
A project officer will be appointed to co-ordinate and run the activities, with occasional sessional support where required.
Families engaged will have a greater knowledge of accessible sites and strategies for engaging with nature. They will have learned about appropriate use of wildlife & heritage sites and their use will continue past the life of this funded project.
Some elements of this project will be able to continue past its initial funded term, Wildlings, Wildfamilies and Nature Tots all run in other parts of the county on a charged-for sustainable basis. Often we find that when something has been offered for free for many years, introducing a charge is almost a death blow. This project will be offering greatly subsidised fees for sessions, with attendees clear that they are being subsidised by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The school engagement will also be able to continue on a paid for basis, as we do elsewhere in the county. The level of delivery will no doubt reduce as the need to cover staff time may divert the focus away from this area, unless we find a new source of funding to continue subsidising the role.
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
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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