Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 123
country life
Island Life - December 2010
walks, talks, countryside courses and
local Trust members’ groups throughout
who want remote access to wildlife
family events. With membership now at
the county. Their work is varied and
experts, there is WildLine, the Wildlife
over 28,000, the Trust is now fulfilling
includes organising walks and talks in
Trust’s free wildlife information service,
the role that could have only been a
their local area, attending local shows
answering your wildlife queries, and
dream at the outset.
and events to promote the Trust,
providing a wide range of information
fundraising and undertaking practical
on the habitats and species found in
been the development of Wildlife
conservation work on local reserves.
Hampshire and the Island.
Watch, the Trust’s club for youngsters,
All local groups are run by volunteers
which is a wonderful way to inspire
who give their valuable time and
much time and effort in helping people
and enthuse young people. With over
enthusiasm.
to understand and enjoy their local
Running alongside this progress has
12 groups now across the two counties
As the Trust has evolved and grown,
Over the years, the Trust has invested
wildlife. This investment will continue
and flourishing on the Island, they are a
so has its ability to touch the lives of
to be the cornerstone of the Trust’s
vital resource to help carry on the work
new audiences. Our youth volunteer
approach today and into the future,
to secure the quality of the world in
work, together with the delivery of
making a real difference to local people
which we and our children will live.
schemes like Forest Schools, pioneered
and wildlife.
Underpinning the ‘people
involvement’ message, there are 14
on the Island, are innovative ways of
widening our impact. And for people
Future Plans
This year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust launched
a brand new ‘Connecting People and Wildlife’ strategy. The
strategy sets out the key areas of work that aim to inspire
local people about the natural world, raise awareness of the
Trust, and to motivate local people to take practical action to
help wildlife and the environment, of which we are all a part.
There are encouraging signs that the British public is more
aware of wildlife and concerned about our environment
than ever before. But we cannot rest on our laurels. If we
are to nurture a new generation of supporters to value and
take responsibility for our local wildlife and wild places, we
must find new ways of inspiring and involving people. Our
education centres and nature reserves will remain a valuable
asset to the Trust and our education work, but we will also
need to invest in reaching out beyond their boundaries, into
the local communities in our cities, towns and villages across
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Island Group Update
The Wildlife Trust’s newest members’ group, formed by
an enthusiastic team of Island members, has enjoyed a
successful first meeting. It was an illustrated talk about
marine life presented by Jolyon Chesworth, the Trust’s
South East Marine Conservation Manager.
The Trust has almost 600 members on the Island and
this new group wants to support the work of the Trust by
raising its profile and organising a selection of events for
members to enjoy throughout the year.
The group is co-ordinated by a small committee,
which is now looking for additional members to join it.
The group’s Chair, Christine Hall, said: “This is a very
exciting time for our new group, and we have lots of
ideas. If we’re going to make a success of this group, we
need a few more people. I would be delighted to hear
from anyone who could help to organise, run or attend
events.”
If you have a passion for wildlife, are interested in
getting involved and meeting new people, why not let us
know. You’d be very welcome.
Please contact the Wildlife Trust on membership@hwt.
org.uk or call 01489 774400 for more details.
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com
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