Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2012 | Page 86

COUNTRY LIFE

NATURAL

Wight
Natural Wight is a two-year project
managed by Spectrum Housing and
funded by Natural England as part of
their Access to Nature Programme.
It offers a range of activities designed
to encourage young people and
Island residents to explore and enjoy
their local environment. Blending
practical conservation activities and
educational events for young adults,
younger children and families, it also
has creative community activities
for people of all ages and abilities.
These are designed to raise awareness
and understanding of the beauty,
accessibility and biodiversity of the
Island landscape.
Since the project began in spring
2011, almost 2,000 people have taken
part in Natural Wight activities, from
bus tours exploring the Island’s most
beautiful viewpoints to annual Pond
Pirates pond-dipping and ‘park-life’
safaris in Newport.
A key element of the project is
its work with young people aged
16-25, in particular young people
fro m supported accommodation, the
Foyer and Southern Housing Group
who have joined Natural Wight on
conservation volunteering days, walks
and even a ‘Green Skills’ course.
Natural Wight’s growing ‘Green
Army’ is slowly but surely making a big
difference to the Island. They have
planted new elm trees to help create the
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new country park at Pan, made habitat
for bees in Gift to Nature’s magic Bee
Field in Newchurch and revolutionised
the woodlands at Fort Vic and Mill
Copse.
Next up, the volunteers will be
helping the Wildlife Trust on their
Heathland Restoration project in
Bouldnor Forest and off to Gift to
Nature’s wildflower meadow, One
Horse Field.
As they grow in confidence and
team spirit, the group have also begun
to design and lead their own ‘young
people’s’ walks exploring the Island

Main picture:
Making habitat
for mining bees
at Newchurch Bee
Field on Volunteer
day.
Below: Hedgerow
Harvest Day at
Merstone Station.
Far right: Tony
Ridd planting an
elm tree.