Team Wilder Educators Campfire recording

Thank you to the inspirational community speakers who shared practical advice and their experience at the Team Wilder Educators Campfire, online event. We all have a shared aim of bringing more nature into young people’s lives, improving school grounds for nature and encouraging nature based learning. 

Community speakers from 10 October 2024 online event

• Tom and David - Nature Connection CIC
  contact: tom@nature-connection.org.uk david@nature-connection.org.uk
• Phil - BWE Envirotech Limited
  contact: philipmatthews2010@live.co.uk

Joining us from his campfire, Tom from Nature Connection CIC gave his honest views on the challenges facing schools wanting to use their outdoor spaces, and some inspiring examples of successful outdoor learning projects. He shared examples of linking subjects to being taught outside, such as English reading outside, maths measuring angles on tree's - then adding extra learning about tree names.

Tom gave practical advice about outdoor classrooms and making them more financially viable by turning them into a bookable space. Benefits of the outdoor areas include increased wellbeing, nature connection, learning experiences related to the curriculum with raised beds to grow food, pollinator friendly plants, hedhehog houses and bug hotels.

Phil shares his experience from the perspective of a school grounds person and strives to impliment wildlife friendly practices and manages expectations - surveying what will grow where and putting a value on school resources, including wildflower meadows.

He brings insight into managing contracts in respect to mowing. Ways to mitigate meadows being saved is through the business manager and a site asset plan.

Lucy spoke about what Avon Wildlife Trust can offer local schools, youth groups, early year settings and young people. This included our school visits at Folly Farm, youth volunteering programme at Grow Wilder in North Bristol, our school grounds advice pack and the free advice and training we are currently offering to early years and primary settings. To find out more about this please email learning@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

These actions for nature will inspire more actions for nature at home and in the community and nurture a lifelong love of nature, with the view to protect it. All small actions for nature make a huge difference collectively.

Look out for future Team Wilder Educator Campfires and get in contact with topics or speakers that will help you create more nature based learning opportunities.
sophie.bancroft@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk