Families Encouraged to Get Wild this Summer
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council have launched an updated online resource to help families discover the wildlife of Hertfordshire this summer.
The Wild Child project, first launched in Easter, aims to help families connect with the wildlife around them by providing a series of fun and easy-to-use online resources. This summer, families will be able to download an activity pack for their local nature reserve.
The packs, aimed at children aged 5-10, include a map of a nature reserve, two wildlife spotter sheets with things to look out for on your walk, and a ‘My Wild Walk’ activity sheet to complete with details of where you went and what you saw. Over 600 families enjoyed the Wild Child packs over the Easter holidays.
There will be five Wild Child activity packs covering ten nature reserves across the county; Cassiobury Park in Watford, Hexton Chalk Pit, Gobions Wood near Potters Bar, Rye Meads near Stanstead Abbots, Panshanger Park near Hertford, Stocker’s Lake in Rickmansworth, Tring Reservoirs, Purwell Ninesprings near Hitchin, Kings Meads in Ware and Thorley Wash near Bishop’s Stortford.
In addition to the activities in the packs, Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way Service have provided maps of walking routes located near each of the five new nature reserves. These routes provide families with an opportunity to get out and actively explore the surrounding countryside while also giving opportunities to improve health and wellbeing.
Emma Matthars, Events Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said: ‘We had a superb response to our first Wild Child pack at Easter so we’ve updated those and added in five new nature reserves. We hope that by helping families discover and learn about the wildlife around them, they will join us to help protect it.’
Eric Buckmaster, Executive Member for the Environment at Hertfordshire County Council said: ‘We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust as we work to ensure our communities are future ready.
‘Biodiversity is one of the key areas we are looking to improve as part of our Sustainable Hertfordshire strategy and education is a vital part of these efforts. These activity packs provide valuable opportunities for children across the county to learn about the importance of biodiversity and what they can do to ensure animals continue to thrive in their natural habitats.’
Hertfordshire County Council has committed to improve wildlife across the county by 20 per cent, by 2050. Through its Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy and Action Plan it pledges to work in partnership with institutions, schools, businesses and community groups, to help raise awareness and knowledge amongst young people, while encouraging wider biodiversity action across the county. To download the Wild Child activity pack, visit:
www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/wildchild
Image credit: Jon Hawkins