Go Wild at Hudnall sessions are for young people who are living with, or at risk of, poor mental health. They focus on improving emotional wellbeing through a wide range of nature-based activities. The young people benefit from connecting with nature, learning new skills, meeting new people and spending time outdoors in the beautiful surroundings of Hudnall Park.
During the Easter holidays SfYP ran three ‘Creatures of the Night’ events where young people aged 13-17, accompanied by their parents/carers, wrapped up warm and joined the SfYP People and Wildlife Officers at dusk to discover creatures that come out after dark.
They got involved with setting up a moth trap, looking for newts, a bat walk using bat detectors and using a thermal camera to spot deer and watch badgers. They then lit a campfire and had hot chocolate and toasted s’mores. Finally, they gathered around the moth trap to observe moths up close.
The bright light on the Robinson moth trap attracts moths which fall down the funnel and settle into the cardboard egg boxes inside.
The moths are unharmed by the trap and after they’ve been identified they are released into dense vegetation close by, safely hidden from predators until they are ready to fly again.
A parent of two of the participants said:
“Just wanted to say thank you to you all for the fantastic event last Thursday evening that myself and my two boys attended in Hudnall Park. Great venue, brilliant activities and very knowledgeable staff! My sons came back full of chatter about the activities and said that they REALLY enjoyed it. It was also great for me to be able to do something fun with them outdoors in the evening.”
SfYP will be delivering Go Wild at Hudnall sessions throughout 2023 as well as a monthly Youth Volunteer Conservation Project on the second Saturday of each month.
If you know or work with young people who would benefit from a boost in their emotional and social wellbeing, find out about how they can get involved here: Go Wild at Hudnall.
Go Wild at Hudnall is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Services for Young People in partnership with Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
