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Transforming Lives: Wellies in the Woods

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Froglife’s Transforming Lives Trainees reflect on their experiences shadowing Groundworks and their ‘Wellies in the Woods’ project. 

Written by Vaughan Foulkes-Arnold and Elizabeth Disdel: Transforming Lives Trainees

As part of the Transforming Lives Traineeship, we have had the opportunity to shadow other organisations to see what the sector has in terms of career options. We were kindly invited by Groundworks to see one of their flagship programmes that tried to connect some of the most deprived areas in Peterborough to a natural setting.

We arrived at Central Park in Peterborough to observe week one of ‘Wellies in the Woods’ a group session for adults with very young children that aims to promote confidence in parents to engage in outdoor activities with their families. The session was structured in a way to make everyone feel at ease, so the main activity of reading the fantastic story ‘Superworm’ was followed by a little hunt around the trees and shrubbery for cards we had placed with creatures that could be found in the book.

The session’s location had the benefit of the large amount of Squirrels, one of which took a tomato from my hands, to the amusement of the children (and adults). It was impressive to see the improvement in confidence in one session from the attendees. 

As part of the day, Hannah, the session leader, provided pots with magnifying glasses to see insects more closely, which makes the experience more exciting, more interactive and personal to the participants. We have been asked to return in 8 weeks to see the final session and it will be interesting to see the changes in confidence and engagement.

-Vaughan- 

When working in some parts of conservation, I think that you can get a little bit stuck in a ‘mechanics’ mindset. By this, I mean that you become very obsessed with the nitty gritty of certain parts of your reserve – should I remove all of those reeds? Where is the best place to build that hibernacula? When was the last time we desilted the pond? This is all incredibly important and vital work, and without it, our Nature Reserves would not flourish as they do. However, sometimes it is nice to have the opportunity to take a step back, and look at the whole picture, rather than the individual brush strokes.

For me, taking a step back looked like shadowing Groundworks during their ‘Wellies in the Woods’ project, spending time with the young people taking their first stumbles and tentative steps into outdoor spaces; watching toddlers scoop up handfuls of leaves and being nose to nose with a crawling woodlouse. It is spending time with people outdoors like this that I am reminded that conservation is more than the everyday work that goes into ensuring that natural spaces are kept habitable for the wildlife they support. A huge part of conservation is grassroots – it starts with the small humans! The more we show them how lovely wild spaces are, ensure they feel safe and secure in them, and show them how to take care of nature, the more young people will grow up with an innate investment in the world around them; they will WANT to look after their local greenspaces!

Spending time with Hannah, an outdoor learning leader from Groundwork, was an excellent opportunity to see young people connecting with nature and we look forward to coming back again to see their progress. Thank you to Hannah and Groundwork hosting us!

-Elizabeth-

 

 

 

Froglife’s Scottish Green Pathways project Shortlisted for RSPB Nature of Scotland Award

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Froglife’s Scottish Green Pathways Project (Scottish GP), working across Clackmannashire, Dundee, Falkiirk, Fife, Glasgow and Renfrewshire has been shortlisted in the Youth and Education category at RSPB Scotland’s prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards.

The Scottish GP project works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 8-18 (or up to age 25 for those with additional support needs) to improve their local greenspaces for wildlife through practical and educational outdoor learning sessions.

We work with groups or individuals during a range of one-off or longer term projects to improve young peoples confidence, social skills and positive behaviour as well as their knowledge and appreciation of wildlife, especially amphibians and reptiles, and their transferable skills through practical and educational projects such as pond creation and building bog gardens and hibernaculum.

“We are honoured to have been shortlisted in the the Youth and Education category at the RSPB’s Nature of Scotland Awards this year. We are proud of every young person we have worked with since the project began in 2017 and of all the improvements to local greenspaces we’ve been able to help them make dring that time. It’s amazing to be able to showcase this through the Awards.” Said Louise Smith, Development Officer for the Scottish GP project.

Scottish GP was announced as a finalist in the Youth and Education category at a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament, the first in-person celebration for the Nature of Scotland Awards since 2019.

On 17 November, the finalists will gather at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre to enjoy a night of celebration, where the winners of all 10 categories will be announced.  

The awards ceremony, now in its 11th year and co-sponsored by NatureScot, will be hosted by wildlife presenter Iolo Williams and radio and tv presenter Arlene Stuart. They will recognise the individuals and organisations making a difference in their local communities, businesses and schools to support Scotland’s wildlife and special places.

Following the success of the public vote for Nature Champion of the Decade in 2021, Nature-lovers are being invited to vote for this year’s Citizen Science Award, which will honour those who engage with volunteers to further our understanding of the natural world.

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland said: “Chairing the judging panel for the Nature of Scotland Awards is easily one of the best jobs I get to do as part of my role as Director of RSPB Scotland.

“I am so inspired by the number of new, exciting projects we hear about each year, working hard to conserve Scotland’s important habitats and wildlife. The judging process seems to get harder and harder every year! My fellow judges and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply and we look forward to meeting and celebrating with everyone from the conservation community at the ceremony in November.”

Young people taking part in pond dipping with Froglife’s Scottish Green Pathways project

Mike Cantlay, Chair of Awards co-sponsor NatureScot, said: “We are delighted to be the co-sponsor of the Nature of Scotland Awards with RSPB Scotland. We are joined in our national endeavour to tackle the biodiversity crisis in Scotland so that we can secure nature’s benefits and deliver on net zero. This year’s shortlisted Nature for Scotland nominees are the people, businesses, organisations and communities who work tirelessly to take positive action for nature and we wish them every success for November’s final.”

Anyone with an interest in Nature is welcome to attend the Awards, tickets are available at https://rspb.org.uk/natureofscotlandawardsceremony  

 

University collaboration helps charity demonstrate its success

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University of Hull academics from the Faculty of Education and The Faculty of Science and Engineering have come together to assist national conservation charity Froglife to demonstrate the difference its fieldwork makes.

DSC_0411 library Larkin toad and researchers
Froglife has a long and successful track record of helping children and young people gain confidence and develop a range of social skills through learning about conservation, nature and the environment. The children, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are often referred to the charity from schools and social services who recognise the impact that learning and playing in the outdoors can offer them. However, it is not always easy to communicate this success.

Ally Dunhill, Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Education said: “We are taking an inter-disciplinary approach to helping Froglife find a robust way of being able to demonstrate the positive impact their work is having on the learning and development of children and young people. We are working on new ways to collect and evaluate data as well as tracking the impact working with Froglife has on the children’s attitudes towards conservation and environmental issues over time.

“I have spent many years researching the benefits to children of learning in the outdoors and promoting Forest Schools and other outdoor learning opportunities and I’m delighted to work with Froglife so that more children can gain from what they offer.”

Prof Graham Scott, Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Science and Engineering added: “Field-based learning has many advantages for the development of a range of skills. At the University of Hull we place great emphasis on the value of field work for our own students and our trainee teachers. As a biologist and active researcher, it is an area I am particularly keen to explore further.

“The outcome of the project will benefit all the partners. Froglife will be in a better place to be able to demonstrate to future funders and other parties, the value of their work and as academic researchers, we are gaining valuable insight into field-based learning.”

Katy Wormald, CEO of Froglife said: “Policy makers are starting to understand the importance to people’s health and mental wellbeing of being outdoors and working with nature. As a wildlife conservation charity we want to ensure that we create more high quality green spaces for people to enjoy. To do that it is important to be able to have tangible evidence of the value that this can bring. By working with the University of Hull we will be in a much stronger position to provide the evidence that funders, partners and other third parties are looking for.”

From the East of England to South Lanarkshire Froglife boosted by Biffa Award

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biffa award logoConservation plans have spawned an extensive work programme to create and restore ponds across South Lanarkshire and the East of England. In total 45 ponds will be created and restored, 33 in South Lanarkshire and 12 in the East of England.

Our South Lanarkshire Living Water and River Nene Dragon Finder projects have been given a massive boost by Biffa Award with grants totaling £96,178.

Our CEO, Kathy Wormald, said “There has been a steady decline in ponds and this negatively impacts on our local amphibian and reptile species and other pond life. Building work across the UK, has destroyed habitats. Our projects are addressing this issue by helping to create new habitats and to improve existing ones”

The South Lanarkshire Living Water project is part of an ongoing scheme of habitat creation and restoration that is taking place across Scotland, and the River Nene Dragon Finder project is working all along the River Nene from its source in Northamptonshire to where it meets the sea at the Washes. In total the River Nene Dragon Finder project will be working on 160 sites of which 12 are entirely funded by Biffa Award.

The projects will also train local groups of volunteers associated with each site providing communities with opportunities to get involved in their local green space.

Gillian French, Programme Manager, Biffa Award, said “Biffa Award is keen to support projects which improve access to the countryside and encourage us to learn more about our natural environment. This project does both and the training of the volunteers will mean that more people will be able to enjoy the ponds and surrounding habitats.”

Ponds are crucial for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, as well as reptiles and a broad range of other species. These vital habitats are at risk of disappearing from areas all over the UK, both through deliberate changes to the landscape, and through mismanagement and neglect. Our projects aim to tackle this through on the ground action and volunteer support.

The work will start this spring/summer, with new ponds appearing in time for the amphibian breeding season next spring.

Profile of a conservationist – Ute Nüsken, AURING

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This week Froglife meets Ute Nüsken, a German-born conservationist, who lives in Austria with her family. Ute works for AURING a local nature conservation society in the Morova-Dyie-floodplains (March-Thaya-Auen). She specialises in amphibians and aims to inspire as many people as possible about these species. Her favourite amphibians are newts (her local species being the Danube Crested Newt and Smooth Newt).

 

Why did you choose a career in conservation?

I’ve always been interested in nature and wildlife as my dad used to work in a zoo. After studying Agriculture I moved to the very vulnerable March-Thaya-Auen in Lower Austria and returned to my roots training as a nature-guide. I also took part in an amphibian monitoring project where I learned more about these animals.

 

What inspires you about working with AURING?

AURING is a local society in the north of the Morava-Dyje floodplains. As more and more lowland rivers are straightened and dammed, many wetland habitats dry out and are lost. In order to stop this development, at least on a local scale, AURING manages replacement habitats, such as the ‘vogel.schau.plätze Hohenau-Ringelsdorf’. Research and active conservation work form the basis of our public relations activities, and thereby also the preservation of this diverse region. Some very ambitious people committing themselves to this special area and I’m proud to be part of it.

 

Why did you specialise in amphibians?

I am fascinated by amphibians’ biology which enables them to live in so many different ecological niches all over the world. The changes during the metamorphosis are like a wonder, copying evolution in high speed. Amphibians are very good flag-ship species for floodplain-areas as they play such an important role in the ecosystem.

 

What do you find most inspires the children and adults that you work with about Amphibians?

Everybody knows a frog, hardly anyone knows a newt. And more or less nobody is familiar with the life of amphibians in general. Most people are surprised to find out that amphibians don’t live in the water all their lives. By dealing with these animals people come to know that they are endangered and everybody can do something for their protection. In times where exposure to nature is unfortunately no longer a matter of course, intimate encounters with animals have received a special significance. It offers particular chances for the very reason that these species do not come with the classic ‘cuddle factor’. First insights into the lives of these species arouse curiosity, personal experience and an emotional access which lead to wonder and understanding. Enthusiasm for the creatures of our immediate environment is key for a sustainable way of dealing with nature.

 

Can you tell us more about the photograph of a young person dressed up as a Danube Crested Newt?

‘One year as a newt’ is an game where young children are “transformed” into newts. They look for hibernation-places/partners/food/reproduction ground and experience metamorphosis by lying down with closed eyes and listening to the story. Our self-designed newt costumes are a great success. Once children have experienced being an amphibian they’re much more aware of their environmental interactions. The predecessor of this, ‘one year as a frog’, was named an Austrian UN-decade projects in 2008 by the UNESCO jury of the advisory committee ‘education for sustainable development’!

 

What has been your favourite memory while working with AURING?

Children’s laughing-eyes while touching a newt or toad! And comments like “now I will look for amphibians, too!” The general public of today is not familiar with most amphibians, but participants in the AURING projects are able to to establish a relationship with these animals through learning and an intimate, hands-on experience.

 

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