Getting outside and discovering nature is important for our health, relaxation and children’s learning. Manx Wildlife Trust’s education work engaged over 9,000 people last year, inspiring others to learn and enjoy nature on the Isle of Man. The Trust has worked with 23 schools in partnership with DEFA and DECD, and ran over 100 events to get more people outside and a little bit wild with nature. As part of further work, the Trust is starting ambitious plans as part of the Ramsey Forest Project to get kids Eco-Active and want to hear more about how people on the Isle of Man are getting out and about in our countryside.
Each year the Trust educates and inspires thousands of school-age children working with teachers to provide informative, interactive indoor and outdoors events organised for school classes, Scouts and Guide packs, church groups and more. Popular events include building bug hotels, making bird boxes and pond dipping. Dawn Dickens, Manx Wildlife Trust’s Education Officer, works with teachers and other education providers to develop a range of learning resources and information to help integrate issues of biodiversity into the Manx school curriculum.
“Not only does being outdoors in nature encourage exercise,” says Dawn, “kids are happier, healthier and more creative when they’re connected to nature and exploring it. We’re helping make sure Manx nature is part of growing up, and they’re having fun doing it!”
To compliment this work, Manx Wildlife Trust has two projects starting this autumn. The first is a survey to find out how people on the Isle of Man are getting out to the countryside as well as a special focus on how children are getting outside. There is increasing concern that children are spending less and less time outside and reducing their contact with nature and all the benefits that come along with it. Please take a few minutes to tell the Trust how you interact with our countryside by following this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ManxNatureSurvey
Tim Graham, MWT’s CEO explains, “understanding how people are getting out and about in the countryside is a great measure of how important nature is in people’s lives. We often get UK statistics thrown at us, which are useful, but what we really want to know is how people in our local, Isle of Man community value Manx nature and how they interact with it. With the rise of the electronic age, one of the biggest concerns is about children’s reduced outdoor time – something that we hope to improve on. We hope from this survey to hear a Manx perspective on getting outdoors, so that we can help everyone’s lives be a little bit more wild.”
In addition to the survey, MWT will begin construction of the Island’s biggest wild play area, a 60acre nature play trail, part of the Ramsey Forest Project, this Autumn. The project has been made possible through funding from Tesco’s Bags of Help and the public are encouraged to vote for this project at Tesco’s in Douglas to help it raise even more money – and deliver even more for people and wildlife.
Andree Dubbeldam, Ramsey Forest Project Manager said: “It will take a few years and lots of hard work to build, but thousands of children and adults will benefit from this for decades to come. It will help reconnect a new generation with nature. This is the first phase of the work and it’s great to get the funding from Tesco, which will install the first part of the Eco-Active trail with temporary or installed sculptures and quirky features”
Voting is open in stores from 31 October to 13 November. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.
Photo - Copyright Tim Graham
