WildPlay creates playful opportunities for children across Herefordshire to explore nature outdoors.
I am sure if we all think back to our own childhood’s we have memories of our encounters with nature. Mine include lying on my belly, throwing daffodil seeds into ants nests, stirring them up a bit and watching the ants run about in panic, collecting the seeds thinking they were their babies.
It is this sort of childhood encounter that contributes to a life long interest and love of nature. Children’s opportunities to play and explore in nature have been reduced through a variety of physical and social factors, which include fear of traffic and strangers and poor spaces for outdoor play.
Children also tend to spend their time in a different ways. Much of their free time is spent with technological babysitters like computers and television or in after school clubs and holiday play schemes.
This is where WildPlay comes in. We feel that it is important that children have formative, positive experiences with nature in order for them to grow up to be adults with a love for, and wish to care for the natural environment.
This takes place through:
- Environmental play activities for children and families.
» Click here for further information.
- Working with adults and young people to offer environmental play training.
A WildPlay membership scheme offering access to resources, ideas and inspiration.
» Click here for further information.
- A ‘Where Wild Things Play’ guide to exploring and playing outdoors. The WildPlay Kitbag will give you some ideas of wild activities you can do.
» Click here for further information.
- Wildlife Watch groups – run by volunteers, supported by Herefordshire Nature Trust, Watch introduces children to nature in their own local communities.
An activities page on this website also provides plenty of information and ideas for playing in nature.
WildPlay Projects
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WildPlay Nature Rangers
Nature Rangers have been having lots of fun playing with you this year... we have been playing in Lea, Ross on Wye, Ledbury, Leominster, Hinton, Hunderton, Newton Farm, Belmont, Colwall, Bodenham and Tarrington. Thanks for joining us and keep your eyes here for more news in the Spring! In response to children’s request to play in woods and streams near their homes we’ll continue to bring nature play to green spaces near front doors and local nature places.
Contact Jo Dainty for more information on 01432 356 872 or email: wildplay@herefordshirewt.co.uk
To keep you going here are a few of our favourite pictures from the past year! Can you spot yourself?
Dragonfly and Cricket masks in Bodenham
Digging for worms in Hinton Park
Water Play in Ledbury
Den Building in Lea
Mud Play in Lea
Bug Hunting in Ross on Wye
Messy Play at Ledbury Children's Centre
WildPlay Rangers
The WildPlay project is continuing to work with Marches Housing Association to make sure that children on housing estates, particularly in North Herefordshire, get the change to engage with the natural environment.
The WildPlay Rangers run activities where the children live to help them discover the nature on their doorsteps.
WildPlay Rangers have been working in Bromyard with CSO Sue Berret... more to come next Spring!
Here are some of the pictures we took of Wildplay fun this summer!
Decorating a trye planter at Paradise Court
Dressing up as a squirrel at Steensbridge
Decorating plant pots at Paradise Court
Fun days face painting at Steensbridge
Wildplay Rangers have also been having fun at Honey Bee's Nursery in Leominster. Katrina has been working hard to show the children and nursery staff how much fun you can have on a square patch of grass whatever the weather! There has been dressing up, role play, matching and collecting games, mud play, water play, messy painting and collage, den building, story telling, fence painting and creation of a challenging climbing and balancing course... what more do you need?
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Where Wild Things Play
We’ve been exploring Herefordshire’s nature gems for the past 3 years! 3995 of you have attended events, meandering in meadows, wandering in woodlands and roaming beside rivers and over 4000 of you have done our nature trails. Our generous funding from Heritage Lottery finishes Spring 08 but fear not you can still:
Get hold of your copy of Where Wild Things Play; Explore! A guide to places to play and activity ideas. Click here to download a copy or call 01432 356 872 to get one sent in the post.
- Go exploring with one of our family activity nature trail sheets.
» Click here for more information.
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Wildlife Watch
WildPlay staff can help advise and guide you in setting up your own community nature group for children.
» Click here for information on Watch.
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WildPlay membership
WildPlay Membership is available to out of school settings and costs just £20 a year.
Contact Katrina Preston on 01432 256872 or email k.preston@herefordshirewt.co.uk
» Click here for further information.
