NATURE DETECTIVES WANTED IN GLOUCESTER
Tuesday 28th February 2017
Pond dipping (c) Misty Hutton
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) this week launches a new series of sessions for kids to get stuck into wildlife and discover a thing or two about the natural world. Gloucester Watch Group will hold activities at Robinswood Hill on the first Sunday of every month from 5th March.
Funding from the Halpin Trust has allowed GWT to train up a team of talented Watch Group volunteers and buy a range of tool kits to make sessions exciting and inspire the next generation of naturalists to investigate their surroundings. This formal set-up of the Gloucester-based group is the next step in the project.
inspire the next generation of naturalists to investigate their surroundings.
“Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts and has over 150,000 members nationwide. It’s often the first step on the ladder for kids to get involved in conservation and being a part of a local group triggers a passion for wildlife. We’re so excited to be able to offer these practical activity sessions thanks to the Halpin Trust’s kind donation, hopefully inspiring some budding nature detectives!” said Nicola Simpson, GWT’s Gloucester Community Development Officer.
Activities will include small mammal trapping, owl pellet investigation, wildlife ID, quizzes and more. Sessions will last for around two hours and are eligible to book for children aged seven to thirteen on the Trust’s website www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/whats-on.
Claire Halpin of the Halpin Trust said: “It was fantastic to hear GWT wanted to start up a Watch Group in Gloucester. At the Halpin Trust we’re passionate about getting young people excited about the natural world so we were only too pleased to give them a helping hand in training up some dedicated volunteers and buying the kit they need to further enthusiasm and learning for wildlife. It’s wonderful to see the group come to fruition – we look forward to seeing it inspire young minds!”
You don’t have to be a member to book onto sessions but join up to GWT’s Wildlife Watch and you’ll receive a bumper box of wildlife goodies to make learning about wildlife more fun, and you’ll be helping nature at the same time. Find out more by visiting wildlifewatch.org.uk/membership.