A Ruddington based nature group, run by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, is inviting more village children aged between 8 and 12 to get involved with its monthly sessions.
Leader Geoff East from the Trust says: “Nature is a human need – central to the quality of our most fundamental needs, as well as our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. If society is serious about supporting green initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, we need to find ways in which we can all contribute.
“We must ask ourselves how important we believe engagement with the younger generation is to conserving life on this planet? How can future generations learn how to play their part in helping combat global warming if we don’t engage with them?”
Well, certainly a very good start would appear to be with Rushcliffe Wildlife Watch group! They promise a “fun, wild and fantastic time for kids” when they meet up each month (except August) – usually at our Country Park on the second Saturday at 11am, outside the Education Centre by the lake.
“Watch groups are like a wild club for kids, packed full of wildlife activities and aimed at 8 to 12 year-olds, though we can take under 8-year-olds if accompanied by an adult” explains Geoff. “We arrange great activities like building a minibeast hotel, fungi hunt, pond dipping, den building and much more. The group is led by the activities the children want to complete, including lots of time spent outdoors meaning a fun, creative and enthusiastic learning experience!”
Geoff adds that young people aged 13 years and older can also join in by becoming teenage helpers. Each group is run by enthusiastic and trained volunteer leaders and session fees are usually just £3 per child.
Why not try to persuade your youngsters to put their mobiles or tablets to one side and reconnect with nature once a month in the local and beautiful surroundings of Rushcliffe Country Park? The next ‘Wildlife Watch’ session is taking place there on Saturday 11th June, when they will be ‘Pond Dipping’. This also coincides with The Wildlife Trusts’ “30 Days Wild” nature challenge throughout next month.
You can try a taster session first by emailing Rushcliffewatch@nottswt.co.uk or by calling Geoff on 07804 297 041 to book your place.
Graham Wright via RUDDINGTON.info