BBC Children in Need

Froglife’s Big Night Out

September 19, 2016 by admin

What do a giant snake, a doggy agility course, and high-pitched squeaking have in common?

If you guessed “an overnight camp with Froglife” you would be right!

Peterborough-based families took part in a wildlife-themed sleep-out at Ferry Meadows over the summer holidays as part of Froglife’s Green Pathways project. The project supports disadvantaged young people to volunteer, learn about, and enjoy green spaces in and around the city, and is partly-funded by BBC Children in Need.

Froglife’s mascot Serenity, a huge soft-toy grass snake, joined in a wildlife challenge trail, got sat on in the evening whilst listening to a bat detector, and even slept in a tent to keep its occupant company.

Serenity hissed: “the instructions said it was a ‘one man’ tent, it didn’t say anything about snakes so I just sneaked in.”

Participants also set up a moth trap, paddled in the lake in wellies to pond-dip, climbed trees and went on a nature walk.

Froglife’s Conservation Youth Worker said “Many of the children had never camped out before, so this was a great opportunity for them. They all went away fired up about the outdoors, and with lots of new facts about wildlife.”

This valuable experience for our community’s most vulnerable children could not have happened without dedicated volunteer support and donations. If you are interested in donating your time or money to this fantastic project, please contact Rebecca Neal on rebecca.neal@froglife.org 01733 602102. See more about this project at www.froglife.org/what-we-do/green-pathways/

Inspired by Nature: Digging Potatoes and holding frogs

July 31, 2015 by admin

^{Inspired by Nature is a themed Croak to entertain you with some of our favourite artwork based on nature and the outdoors. We hope it will stimulate you to get creative and produce something yourself. If you do and would like to share them with us, please post them on our Facebook page, Twitter account, or email us at info@froglife.org}

^{This months feature has been written by the poet Keely Mills who worked with Rebecca Neal our Conservation Youth Worker on the Peterborough Green Pathways project, funded by BBC Children in Need.}

Digging potatoes and holding frogs

None of us say much,

Questions hang like spider webs in the air,

they can’t catch the answers though.

Just a huh or a maybe.

Its an uncomfortable mood

& it seeps into every move we each make.

Even the fire we light, can’t stay aflame.

We split off, each of us an ember.

I am not sure that it will change.

Nature overtakes any doubt.

Within minutes, we are all digging potatoes.

We take it in turns to collect and wash them.

Back together again.

Choosing which of them we will take.

As if it were ready now, the fire is lit.

It reaches the sky and feeds off our new warmth.

We share cooking duties, stories about school.

Some of us hold tiny frogs,

Make badges and boil a kettle.

After we have eaten.

And the taxi has been called.

Each of us hold onto this green feeling for as long as we can.

Now more than ever, I understand that a bad start,

can be mended with dirt, love and growing.

By Keely Mills

July 2015

Pudsey Bear loves Froglife!

October 29, 2014 by admin

Froglife have some exciting news to share: Pudsey Bear still loves us!

130129 Ken Stimpson 2 at Cuckoos Hollow gangnam style

Last week we found out that we have successfully secured a further three years of funding for our Peterborough Green Pathways project from BBC Children in Need.
This support means that we can continue to offer outdoor therapy to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the city. It will be the third time that we have run this project in Peterborough which shows that funders understand the importance and impact of the work we are doing.

In the current project, which finishes at the end of 2014, we have improved green spaces across Peterborough for wildlife and people by, for example, designing wildlife-themed murals, digging ponds, providing information boards, surveying for snakes and working in community gardens. All of these projects have been achieved by teenagers with extra difficulties in their lives. We also delivered fun sessions to those with limited access to the outdoors, doing things like climbing trees and building dens. Young people have improved their confidence, behaviour and social skills whilst learning about the natural environment, gaining new skills and having fun outdoors.
130412 OBA Easter holiday group day 2 bonfire

The new project has additional funding attached to it which means that as well as doing our usual projects and outdoor activities; we will also be able to take young people further afield to visit museums, universities and important wildlife sites. The new funding means we will be able to offer a traineeship to help someone take their first step into a career in the conservation sector.

Our Conservation Youth Worker for the current Green Pathways project, Rebecca Neal, said:
“I am so pleased that the work we do with young people can continue. Connecting people with nature has such a huge impact on wellbeing, yet so few organisations are out there working with the people who could benefit the most. I am looking forward to getting Peterborough’s young people out there feeling the dirt!”

Starting in the New Year we will be looking for referrals of young people aged 5-18 who can be considered vulnerable or disadvantaged in some way and who would benefit from getting outdoors and doing something practical. We can work with individuals, groups or families; through schools, youth groups or charities; during school time, after school or during the holidays. We always appreciate the help that volunteers can provide and need new green spaces to work in. Please get in touch if you think you can help.

To find out more about the Peterborough Green Pathways project you can visit www.froglife.org or contact the Green Pathways’ Conservation Youth Worker Rebecca Neal on rebecca.neal@froglife.org or 01733 602102. We would love to hear your thoughts on the new project on our Facebook page or tweet us your comments @Froglifers.

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