Helping young people connect with wildlife and improve their emotional wellbeing
Go Wild at Hudnall is a Services for Young People project delivered in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust which focuses on improving the emotional wellbeing of children and young people as well as the natural habitats for wildlife at Hudnall Park through nature-based activities and practical conservation work.
The project enables young people to engage in a wide range of activities, from mindfulness and art in nature, to wood whittling and fire lighting, as well as offering opportunities to volunteer to create and improve the wildlife habitats on site.
Who is it for?
All Go Wild sessions are free for young people aged 11-24 who are at risk of, or living with, emotional wellbeing issues or mental ill health. There are also some sessions for primary-aged children vulnerable to wellbeing issues, and their families. Groups of young people from any organisation supporting young people, including charities, support services, schools and colleges, can take part.
Themed sessions
Wild Wellbeing
These sessions are all about emotional wellbeing and enabling young people to improve their mental health by connecting to nature.
Young people can take part in a range of mindfulness activities, such as breathing exercises, mindful tasting, making natural art, wood whittling, basic survival skills and creating soundscapes.
Wild About
These sessions are all about wildlife and their habitats and what young people can do to help wildlife local to them. Activities may include creating bee and hedgehog homes, traditional woodland crafts and wildlife identification, as well as some mindfulness activities.
Wild Wellbeing and Wild About are both 2-hour sessions and can either be booked individually or as a block of six weekly sessions.
Forest School sessions
These are holistic, young people led, inspiring and fun sessions where the children and young people are able to explore and take appropriate risks in the outdoor environment, enabling them to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience through experiential learning and adventure in a natural setting. Activities may include shelter building, natural arts and crafts, knot tying, sensory games and problem-solving challenges.
Forest School sessions are available to book as a block of six weekly 2 hour sessions.
All sessions enable young people to explore the natural world using the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste in a fun and engaging way. They will also learn some useful mindfulness tools that they can use to help them manage their emotions on a day-to-day basis such as anxiety, anger, frustration and sadness.
Habitat improvements and conservation
Over the three-year project, the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are leading on the delivery of a programme of conservation works which aim to create more diverse and sustainable grassland, pond, woodland and hedgerow habitats. So far, the project has completed the installation of deer exclosures and deer fencing to help improve the biodiversity within each pocket of woodland. Young people also helped to restore the pond and planted an orchard. A local grazier now grazes their sheep to improve the diversity of grasses and wildflowers within the grassland area.
Go Wild Youth Volunteer Conservation Project at Hudnall Park
The Go Wild Youth Volunteer Conservation Project is a fantastic opportunity for young people aged 13 to 17 to volunteer at Hudnall Park. Focusing on improving emotional wellbeing through nature based activities, young people will learn practical nature conservation skills and knowledge, as well as meeting other like-minded young people who want to take action for nature.
The project runs every second Saturday of the month from 10am to 1pm and booking is required by contacting the Go Wild team below.
Want to take part?
If you would like to know more about future programmes, make a booking or refer a young person to the project, please contact the Services for Young People Go Wild Team:
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