There is a significant potential to help wildlife flourish in our region and create nature-rich neighbourhoods for all to enjoy, but it’s not always easy to know where to start, or the best way to use your green space for the benefit of nature.

That’s where our Team Wilder Ecological Advisory Service (TWEAS) comes in! The advisory service provides free one-to-one support to individuals and communities in the Avon area who are passionate about taking action for nature. Our community ecologist, Amie Cook, is here to help people across Bristol, BANES, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset make a positive impact for nature.

Thanks to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this valuable service has become possible. Since its launch in March 2023, we have provided advice to so many different groups already, including local park spaces, community gardens, schools, private gardens and small holdings, resulting in 217 hectares of land now being managed for wildlife. Here is some feedback from a previous service user group, the Friends of St.Anne's Park:

" [We are] planning to implement the orchard if we can generate the funds to buy the fruit trees and everything else we need. We extended our wildflower patch and continue to have our no-mow areas. Everyone felt that they were making a positive difference to the park for nature and for people's enjoyment. We have shared knowledge within our steering group and upskilled using each other’s skills and knowledge. More of the community has been involved in positive change in the park than previously.” 

So, how does it work?

You’ll need to submit your initial request through an online form, where you’ll be able to answer questions about the support you need, and then choose a time slot for a video call with Amie. During your video call, Amie will be able to offer you practical ecological advice and determine whether a site visit is required and arrange that with you. She’ll then provide you with bespoke information, either via email or as a report, to cover what was discussed during the site visit and outlining site-specific recommendations, an action timeline and additional useful resources for habitat creation, citizen wildlife reporting, suppliers and funding opportunities. Amie will then follow up at a later date, to see how you’ve gotten on, record the progress that’s been made against the advice that’s been given, and see if you need any further pointers.

Adding your action for wildlife to our Team Wilder Community Map is a brilliant way of being part of a wider movement of a community of people working together to support local nature, and a shout about the amazing things you do for nature, while helping us with our much wider strategies on a local and national level.

If you think your project could benefit from some professional ecological advice, get in touch today on the link below! 

Get free ecological advice!