Over the next few years Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust are running a major project across the county promoting wider engagement with wildlife across the county. This is part of a long term ideal to achieve a significant growth in action for wildlife across the community. The belief is that if the nature conservation movement can develop a sufficient groundswell of activity and opinion in favour of wildlife local and national governments will also pay far more heed to the issue. It is a major ask but NWT are committing three staff members across the county to get out into the community supporting and advising existing groups and helping new groups and individuals to find their feet with direct advice, signposting etc.

To be clear what the Trust has is dedicated staff time, not bags of cash. Nor is it tied in anyway to membership of Notts Wildlife Trust or any direct association with the Trust, the charity is offering a helping hand no more, no less in helping groups work towards the following sort of things

• making your outdoor space wildlife friendly
• fundraising for an environmental cause
• encouraging nature connectedness in your community
• volunteering for a green cause
• speaking up for nature

Our community team can signpost you towards support advice, who to contact about specific issues, contact with similar groups whatever is appropriate to the challenge. It is about empowering you (sorry difficult to avoid buzz words).

None of this is rocket science, nor is it new. Over the last twenty years in Rushcliffe NWT have assisted Friends of Bingham Linear Park, Sharphill Wood, Gotham Sandbanks, The Hook at Ladybay and the Green Line West Bridgford and more besides. The difference is there is now a team dedicated to that sort of activity.

But please remember it can be all sorts of activities, not just Friends Groups ,like for example a community wildlife group such as Wild Things Keyworth, (actually an impressive self starter) or creating a U3A wildlife group or community gardens or something you as an individual want to try and do. It is about helping YOU achieve your (wildlife friendly aim)aim.

So if you are an existing group and want some help and advice OR there is something of a wildlify nature in your patch that YOU want to make a difference with contact wilder@nottswt.co.uk and see how they can help.

For me the mantra is that “every little helps” and lots of small differences build up. The groups I just quoted have all appeared in the last 20 years.

See the attached leaflet Wilder Nottinghamshire Flyer_20230501_0002 about Wilder Nottinghamshire.

Wilder Nottinghamshire is about community action, alongside this NWT is also looking to grow it`s capacity to reach out to the farming community, but that is a whole other kettle of fish.