Earlier this year we supported Notinghamshire Wildlife Trust so they could continue their 'Keeping it Wild' (KIW) project which provides a healthy and positive environment to help local teenager act on their passion for wildlife and the environment.
Geoff reached out to the Alpkit Foundation to tell us more about the KIW projects,
"Keeping It Wild is an exciting youth development and leadership programme that is inspiring young people who care about wildlife and are determined to take action to protect it. There are two main groups being developed; KIW Champions for Wildlife group meet weekly and take part in lots of different activities like public events, wildlife conservation, fundraising, trips and campaigns; whilst KIW Young Rangers meet monthly for half a day on one of our nature reserves, assisting Rangers in important conservation activities. Participants gain new work related skills and knowledge whilst mixing with other like-minded young people, helping them stay healthy physically and mentally."
Over the course of the year, KIW Champions for Wildlife and KIW Rangers have taken part in heaps of activities that are not only benefiting their own knowledge and passion for the outdoors, but they're also having a wider impact in working with local authorities to survey and monitor our great green spaces.
Here's just a handful of some of the incredible activities these inspiring young folk have taken part in:
- Norfolk beach cleans
- Assisting in the delivey and success of Nottingham Green Festival
- Influencing Nottingham city policy changes through presenting their 'Nottingham for Nature' campaign and manifesto to Nottingham City Council groups
- Air pollution survey for Nottingham City Council
- Crayfish survey
- Adder survey
- Woodthorpe Meadow nature reserve tree survey
- Ground Bat checks at Ploughmans nature reserve
- Habitat Management Plan training
- Time lapse filming techniques to help monitor nature reserve changes
- Safeguarding training (for young adult leaders x 3)
- Mammal trapping surveying at Skylarks nature reserve
- Mammal ID and Surveying at Skylarks nature reserve
Geoff told us why KIW projects are so important to continue,
"These programmes are of enormous benefit to all those involved in the Wildlife Trust movement, as engaging young people is essential if we are to secure a liveable climate for them to inherit. Then there is the wider benefit to the population of Nottinghamshire who have come into contact with the groups and also benefit directly and indirectly to the work carried out regarding improvements to our environment. The groups actively campaign for a ‘greener future’, helping to keep the impacts of climate change high on the government’s agenda. Is there anything much more important?"