Visitors to Eldon Square will soon be invited to take a chance to learn more about local wildlife conservation, while taking part in their shopping trips.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be showcasing its conservation work in Eldon Square’s Community Quarter, where the charity will also be offering a range of free seabird-themed arts and crafts activities.
The sessions are being held on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 August between 11 am – 12, 12 – 1pm, 1:30pm – 2:30pm and 2:30pm – 3:30pm on both days.
The activities are open to anyone aged four and over, and they provide an opportunity for families and individuals to enjoy some creative ‘wildlife therapy’. At the same time, they can find out more about the work of Northumberland Wildlife Trust to protect nature across Northumbria.
Places are free, but booking is required if possible. To reserve a space please see here .
Northumberland Wildlife Trust has commented that “the sessions are part of the Championing Nature Project, a new programme aimed at creating positive, lasting impact in urban communities through greater connections and engagement with nature and made possible thanks to support from The Championships, Wimbledon and Emirates”.
Championing Nature
Championing Nature is a new programme aimed at creating a lasting and very positive impact in urban communities by helping people to have greater engagement and connections with nature.
The programme, described as a multi-million pound programme”, is being delivered for the next six years by four Wildlife Trusts: Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust; and the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. And the London Wildlife Trust;
All four Wildlife Trusts, including Northumberland, are receiving investment from The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates to fund bespoke initiatives and projects in their local urban areas, with a particular focus on bringing, young people aged 16-24,disadvantaged children and and families closer to nature, and in so doing, create a lasting infrastructure legacy for the benefit of future generations.
Northumberland wildlife Trust have noted:
“Research conducted on behalf of the four Wildlife Trusts indicated that roughly one out of eight children from low socio-economic backgrounds aged under 12 has never experienced nature. Lack of green space facilities nearby (21%) and the cost of transport (17%) to get to the nearest green space facilities were identified by parents as two of the key barriers to their children spending more time in nature.
“Parents identified improved mood (48%), overall happiness (48%), more active (42%) and better physical health (35%) as the top positive changes within their children after they had spent time in nature”.
Alongside the other wildlife trusts involved, Northumberland Wildlife Trust is delivering a bespoke programme to make nature more accessible through a combination of learning initiatives, engaging outreach events and infrastructure projects.
More information about the Championing Nature Project can be found here . www.nwt.org.uk/what-we-do/projects/championing-nature
Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Northumberland Wildlife Trust is the largest environmental charity in the region working to safeguard native wildlife and it is one of a network of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK. Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been campaigning for nature conservation for over 50 years now, aiming to educate, inform and engage with people of all ages and backgrounds in protecting their environment in favour of conservation and wildlife.
Over 12,000 individual and forty corporate members in the region, support the Northumberland Wildlife Trust. It protects and manages critical species and habitats at over sixty nature reserves throughout North Tyneside, Newcastle, and Northumberland.
This article is based on a media release from Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
Friends of Bylines Network
There has never been a greater need for grassroots journalism that investigates the stories that really matter, holds power to account and champions the voices of everyday citizens. We are proudly powered by volunteers but what we do isn’t free.
STAND WITH US for independent, citizen-led journalism that makes democracy stronger, and you will even get some exclusive benefits.
