Wildlife Wealth
Wildlife Wealth is a project run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Its main aim are to involve getting as many people as possible involved in their local green spaces. The project began in July 2006 and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The aims of the project are varied and include; developing a committed, knowledgeable and skilled audience for wildlife heritage.
The key aims of the project endeavour to:
- Enable local communities to enjoy and learn about wild places near them.
- Provide training for volunteers in practical work, health and safety, wildlife monitoring, species identification, habitat management and traditional countryside crafts.
- Involve local people and volunteers in wildlife management and monitoring.
- Manage wildlife sites in order to protect and enhance their wildlife heritage.
- Engage communities local to Trust sites in activities in order to encourage good practice in community links, volunteer training and wildlife conservation.
- Work in partnership with external groups and organisations, both on Trust reserves and in other wildlife havens within the target area.
Project aims are implemented in many exciting and useful forms, such as practical workdays, training events, family activities and talks and guided walks. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, the project ran over 120 events in its first year! Thank you to all those involved and I hope you will continue helping make it successful. Wildlife Wealth covers the urban centres of Leeds, Doncaster, Selby and Wakefield, plus the countryside between and around them. This area as a whole has a population of 1,406,194 people.
Events
Events held at reserves, such as Golden Acre Park and YWT Adel Dam Reserve have focussed on getting people to make the most of their local wildlife; these events have been incredibly popular. During February we celebrated Nest Box week at both Adel Dam and Sprotbrough Flask, these events attracted nearly 100 people, including many local families.
During the first seven months of the Wildlife Wealth project forty three events were run by the Wildlife Wealth team, 11 of which were run on sites not belonging to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. In general events included walks, talks, workdays and family activities. During these events over 1000 people became involved in their local environment. Some of the larger projects Wildlife Wealth has participated in recently include the exciting and hugely popular Bollywood in the Park. This event brought together the Leeds Mela with Bollywood stars at Roundhay Park. At this event, nearly 300 people, new to the work of the Trust came to talk with us at the stand - exchanging ideas about how they could find out more.
Working With Volunteers
Work with volunteers has allowed us to focus on helping develop their conservation and management skills, for example through;
- Dry stone walling days at Stoneycliffe Wood,
- Bird surveying training at Stocksmoor Common,
- Fencing in Mexborough or popular woodland crafts at Oxclose Nature Reserve, where families and groups worked together on charcoal burning and a real favourite, learning how to make green furniture.
- Other volunteer activities have included learning traditional skills, such as coppicing, allowing volunteers to contribute to woodland management near to their homes.
.......The Future for Wildlife Wealth?
Wildlife Wealth will in future continue to develop the work undertaken with volunteers and communities, getting as many people as possible to get involved with their local wildlife. Other exciting plans include undertaking more joint projects, working with organisations such as People in Action, bringing together young people.
In the autumn Wildlife Wealth launches a walking and practical conservation group for 16-24 year olds from a variety of backgrounds. For which participants will get the opportunity to learn not only about nature and the environment, but also to develop key life skills which will prove invaluable in the future.
A series of nature walks will also occur in places such as the Chevin Forest Park, Adel Dam Reserve, Golden Acre Park, Roundhay Park and Malham Cove. These walks have been a gentle introduction to the countryside and so far have attracted 112 people from the Indian and Chinese communities of Leeds! Walking for fun and enjoying time out with family friends and kin groups is part of our autumn programme with short, energising healthy walks in easily accessible spots. These will be led by a guide who points the way to magic underfoot, overhead and in front of everyone's eyes. Well worth attending!
For more information regarding how to volunteer or for information regarding future events please contact, Julia Davis or Steve Meays or ring 01904 659570.
