These Wildlife Champions will facilitate a movement of community action for nature, based on peer-led advice and training. This is part of the Team Wilder approach, where people are encouraged to share what they’re doing to make a difference for nature, in order to motivate and inspire others with what they’ve learnt and achieved.

This is part of Avon Wildlife Trust’s aim to see 1 in 4 people in Avon taking action for nature by 2030. By reaching this social tipping point, we’ll see more people change their habits to help nature recover. In order to achieve this, we need more people on nature’s side.

An initial network of 12 volunteer Wildlife Champions will co-design work with their local community, focusing on priority areas of social and nature deprivation within the Avon region (Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset). These Champions will work with residents to establish what they need to create more space for nature and improve biodiversity in their area, and then tailor training and resources to help achieve the community’s goals.

To facilitate this, Avon Wildlife Trust has recruited a Team Wilder Community Ecologist and a Wildlife Champions Programme Assistant, and the project will be led by our People and Wildlife Manager, Irene Correia.

The Wildlife Champions Programme Assistant, Emma Fennell Hodson,  will work with the Trust’s Volunteer Manager, Christian Emmerson, to support the development of the Wildlife Champions programme. Emma will be involved in coordinating the Champions’ training and resource needs, ensuring that they are empowered to deliver, and provide leadership for, community-led action for wildlife.

The Team Wilder Community Ecologist, Esther Frizell-Armitage, will be on hand to provide communities and individuals advice on creating small-scale wildlife habitats in their area. Esther will support the community-led action taking place by providing workshops and training, hosting a regular advisory service to enhance green and blue spaces across the region.

Julie Doherty, Head of Communities and Engagement at Avon Wildlife Trust, said:

“We’re delighted to have received this support for our Wildlife Champions project, thanks to the National Lottery players.

“This project is designed to resource and connect community-led activity, and champion nature in our everyday lives. We’ll be providing a free ecological advice for residents across Avon, and supporting local champions to help create a wilder, nature-rich future for all.

“At Avon Wildlife Trust, we’ve got ambitious goals we want to achieve for nature – 1 in 4 people taking action works out as 250,000 people in the West of England. That’s why we need more people on nature’s side, being part of Team Wilder and making space for wildlife where they live.”

Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: 

“At the Heritage Fund, we’re incredibly proud to be playing a role in ensuring our natural heritage and amazing wildlife is safeguarded for generations to come.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we can support Avon Wildlife Trust discover and support Wildlife Champions within our communities and help connect these communities with the nature and wildlife that is on their doorsteps.”