Community Outreach

Learning from nature

Wildlife and People Officer Ben Stammers is returning to some of his childhood haunts to show local school children some great wildlife.

image of reserve

The visits are part of a new project launched by the North Wales Wildlife Trust at two of its nature reserves: Spinnies, Aber Ogwen & Cors Goch National Nature Reserve.
Aiming to engage with local schools and communities, the Trust's Wildlife & People Officer, Ben Stammers, is planning a variety of educational activities and events to raise awareness of the sites and their value in terms of wildlife and conservation. The project is funded by the Laing Charitable Trust and the Countryside Council for Wales.


photo of Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

Professor Aubrey Manning, President of the Wildlife Trusts said, "Education involving wildlife is less about straightforward teaching and more about engaging. Once their enthusiasm is aroused young children can be absolute sponges for information. Go pond-dipping with them and they'll soon be telling you all about the life of water scorpions and dragonfly larvae!"

Ben is hoping to build on the success of a project that has been running for the last three years at the Wildlife Trust's Cemlyn Nature Reserve on Anglesey. This has proved very successful, with good feedback from kids, teachers, and groups that took part in activities there. The idea is to get groups and individuals out exploring habitats, and experiencing wildlife in its natural setting.


"I'm really looking forward to this new project" said Ben, "and I'm hoping to share my enthusiasm with as wide a range of people as possible. Reserves like Cors Coch and Spinnies, Aber Ogwen belong to all of us. By spending time on-site, observing and finding out about different creatures and how they survive, people can build a relationship with a place, and with it a real sense of connection to the local environment."


"I remember how excited I was when, as a boy, I saw a kingfisher for the first time at Aber Ogwen - hopefully the school visits we are planning will provide similar encounters, allowing a sense of discovery to fire kids' imagination, and maybe even inspire them to take an active interest in conservation."



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