Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts, all standing up for the natural world. Together we are the nation’s most active and influential nature conservation partnership, protecting wildlife in every part of the British Isles. Each Trust works within its local community to inspire people and bring about change. With the invaluable support of volunteers and members we manage over 60 nature reserves. We also work with other organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live.
For the next decade, the Wildlife Trust will be working on its Wilder 2030 strategy, a strategy that aims to rewild at least 30% of our lands and seas across our two counties and bring more people on nature’s side.
It doesn’t matter who you are – you have an important role to play in our strategy. You have the power to make decisions in your own life. You can choose what you eat, what you wear, how you travel, where you put your money, who you vote for. You also have the power to make space for nature in your own home or in your community. And the Wildlife Trust is here to support, empower, mentor, and cheer you on as you embark on your wilder journey.
The Wildlife Trust is building a network of individuals, groups, businesses, and schools, all of whom are taking action for nature one way or another. This network is lovingly called Team Wilder and people from all over the UK are signing up.
How can you get involved in Team Wilder? We have a Facebook group you can join here: facebook.com/groups/TeamWilderHIWWT or you can sign up for our monthly e-newsletter here: hiwwt.org.uk/join-team-wilder.
But what if you wanted to do something more? Well, that’s a great question and something we can definitely help with. We are always recruiting for volunteers and supporters who can take our Team Wilder messages further.
Campaign Leaders
Our Campaign Leader Programme is designed to give you the skills and confidence to push for change to protect the natural world. We will provide advice and training through our dedicated platform so you can develop the most effective techniques and tools to start your own campaign. By growing your voice and empowering people with the skills they need to campaign, we hope to get local councils and MPs to realise the urgency of the nature and climate crises. It isn’t too late to act, and by harnessing the passion of so many people who want things to change, we can still make a better future for people and nature.
Wilder Community Leaders
Are you a part of a community group? Are you pretty serious about setting one up? There are so many groups around Hampshire and the Island who are doing some great things for wildlife. There are also many individuals who’d love to make a bigger impact. With Team Wilder, we’re trying to reduce the barriers to finding out about the different community groups and projects by linking up these “wilder” groups into a network of groups who can share knowledge and experience. If you’re leading the way for your group to become wilder and would like to become part of the network, sign up as a Wilder Community Leader.
Wilder School Leaders
Wilder Schools is a Trust run project to encourage schools to get involved with wildlife. Your school can train its teachers to be outdoor learning tutors or forest school leaders; your school can dedicate some of its land for wildlife; your school might like to incorporate nature into the curriculum; or your school can choose to fundraise for an environmental cause. Whatever your school chooses to do, you can sign up a member of staff as a Wilder School Leader who will lead your school in its wilder journey and will be closely connected to our Wildlife Trust staff for all your needs.
Wilder Garden Champions
Are you passionate about wildlife gardening? Do you think you could share your experiences and knowledge with people to make their wildlife gardening journey easier? The Wildlife Trust is recruiting wildlife gardening experts to give 1:1 advice to people who need some help with their gardening projects.
Wilder Event Champions
We’re looking for volunteers who’re outgoing, enthusiastic, and passionate about wildlife to help us out at festivals and fetes we attend. As a Wilder Event Champion, you’ll talk to all sorts of people. You’ll help us to run various activities to connect people with nature and inspire them to take action for wildlife.
Wilder Communication Champions
We’re looking for creative volunteers who are keen to tell stories of our amazing wilder individuals and community groups through writing blogs, recording audio clips, or filming vlogs. With these stories, we hope to raise awareness of the extraordinary work that’s happening right on people’s doorsteps and to show everyone that we are not alone. Together, we are making an impact and we will tip the scales back in nature’s favour.
You can find out more about our volunteering opportunities, what’s required, and how to apply on our website: hiwwt.org.uk/team-wilder#vol or get in touch with our team at wilder@hiwwt.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
