What’s new?
15 October 2007
Peterborough is going Wild!
Two exciting projects to encourage more children and young people to discover their local wildlife are launched
Wild Schools is a new project that will see The Wildlife Trust working with primary and secondary schools throughout Peterborough. Schools will be encouraged to use local green spaces and school grounds for educational programmes, after-schools clubs, wildlife gardens and much more. The project is run in conjunction with Peterborough City Council to support the Extended Schools agenda.
Wild Play is the new project that invites the children and young people of Peterborough to come and play! The Wildlife Trust will be hosting Wild Play events around Peterborough’s Nature Reserves and green spaces to get children and young people back outside and enjoying wildlife! These informal, fun events will be host to activities such as adventure play, shelter building, orienteering, survival skills, storytelling, art and games through to relaxation. Children and young people will learn the principles of keeping safe and the opportunities for play at these fantastic wildlife havens. This project is funded by the BIG lottery Fund.
New project officer, Becky Naman, will be leading on these project, if you would like any further information, please follow the links for Wild Schools and Wild Play. Alternatively, please email becky.naman (at) wildlifebcnp.org or telephone 01733 890419.
Wild Schools
Wildlife-rich local green spaces and school grounds are a largely untapped educational resource that is just waiting to be explored. The Wildlife Trust aims to help and encourage teachers and pupils to develop and use these resources that are often right on their doorstep. These areas can be used for a number of educational programmes, after-school clubs, wildlife gardens and more.
There is something to suit all schools with this exciting and varied menu of services that are being offered to both primary and secondary schools within the Peterborough District:
- Initial consultation with school staff
- School grounds assessment and advice
- Forest schools-type programmes
- Really Wild Days Out educational programmes on local nature reserves
- A-level visits to Great Fen or Ring Haw
- School outreach programmes (e.g. assemblies)
- Development of Wildlife Watch/Greenwatch clubs
- Post-visit support and advice
- Teacher training
- Family learning and outdoor play events
The first service chosen from the above menu will be offered free of charge to each school. It is hoped this will create new opportunities for after-school activities by encouraging schools to use the outdoor environment to engage children, young people and families.
This project is run in conjunction with Peterborough City Council to support the Extended Schools agenda as part of the Every Child Matters programme. This project endeavors to increase, improve and promote a range of learning opportunities for children and young people and their families through access to the environment. Above all it is hoped it will show others how to use the environment to enhance children’s and young people’s lives whilst encouraging a message of the importance of wildlife and its conservation.
Wild Play
The Wild Play Project will develop and deliver new play opportunities in the natural environment in Peterborough. The project will focus on developing a network of 'safe, wilder green areas' and engaging with children and young people around different nature reserves and green spaces in the Peterborough District.
The Wildlife Trust will be providing exciting new Wild Play opportunities on local green spaces, within walking and cycling distance for children, young people and their families.
Through outreach work, children and young people, will be encouraged to attend special Wild Play events and to develop ideas for play events. These informal, fun events will be host to activities such as adventure play, shelter building, orienteering, survival skills, storytelling, art and games through to relaxation.
In recent years outdoor play in wild areas has decreased due to changes in life styles and the fear of risks that may be encountered. This project will see children and young people learn the principles of keeping safe and the opportunities for play at these fantastic wildlife havens.
This project is funded by the BIG Lottery Fund and is part of Peterborough’s Children’s Play Strategy. Play is extremely beneficial to children and young people, as well as being fun it allows them to:
- Explore and test boundaries
- Build independence and self-esteem
- Promote social skills
- Encourage creativity
- Increase knowledge and understanding
Significant evidence shows that play and interaction with green spaces and wildlife also helps to improve well-being and physical health.
Through the project it is hoped children, young people and their families will discover safer wilder areas in which they can play and discover the fantastic wildlife many of the areas support, from butterflies and birds to newts and pond minibeasts.