You may have been following the progress of our two Wilder Luton trainees in recent months, and they have now finished their paid 6-month placement with our team and you can find out more about their last two months work and thoughts about their time at the Trust at this link: Final Update from our Wilder Luton Trainees | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants.
Funding for their posts came from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, as part of the Wilder Luton project, which has now reached the half-way point. The project was allocated £250k to help engage more people with the wilder green spaces of Luton and to offer a clear path of skills development for younger people interested in nature and wildlife. The team is now reviewing progress to date, and we will advertise and recruit for two new traineeships at the start of summer.
Other highlights for the Wilder Luton project have been a well-attended Film Night at Luton Library Theatre, showcasing two locally made films about Luton’s chalk hills and the River Lea. More than 120 people joined us—many already supporters of local conservation efforts, and many keen to learn more about the wonderful habitats right on their doorstep. It was also a tribute to the life’s work of Dr Trevor Tween who was so instrumental in protecting and conserving Luton’s wilder Green Spaces.
Over February half term, we also delivered family craft activities at Luton’s Central Library in partnership with the Family Hub team. It was a brilliant opportunity to meet new families, introduce them to the Wilder Luton project and the Wildlife Trust, and encourage young people to explore the outdoors.
We’re excited to share that Discover Wild Luton, a new activity programme, will run from 7th–10th April at Hat Works in Luton Town Centre. The Wildlife Trust will join forces with local organisations and local artist Abbi Spendlove to offer a range of engaging, nature-based activities in this accessible town centre venue. Activities will include wood whittling, freshwater minibeast identification, spring crafts, an urban foraging walk and more.
In addition, the Little Bugs and Wild Ed clubs for children at Wardown Park resume 12th March, with a fun and inspiring fortnightly programme designed to engage preschool and primary aged children. For this and everything else related to our Luton based work please visit: Wilder Luton webpage: Wilder Luton | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants.
Our Youth Rangers programme (ages 12–17) continues to attract new young people interested in conservation and the benefits of spending time outdoors in nature and it runs in various locations across Luton and South Beds. We will have some science and research woven into the upcoming sessions, meeting on 8 April, 10:00–12:30, at Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve for water quality testing, followed by a second session on 29 May, 10:00–12:30, where we’ll carry out orchid surveying at Totternhoe Nature Reserve.
To find out more, please visit: Youth Rangers | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants
