A new group for wildlife-keen youngsters is starting at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

The RSPB and The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough are setting up a joint Wildlife Explorers and Wildlife Watch Group. It will meet regularly at the Reserve and provide a wide range of activities to excite youngsters with the wonders of wildlife.

Activities will be both indoors and outdoors, and include games, quizzes, pond dipping, hunting for insects and other creepy-crawlies, bird watching, drawing, crafts, nestbox making, conservation tasks, visits to other nature reserves, and lots more. The new group will use the Reserve Visitors’ Centre as its base, and it can expect considerable support from The Friends and staff at the Reserve.

Above all, the group will need the active support of parents and other volunteers. You don’t have to be an expert wildlife leader, just willing to get involved and help youngsters develop their natural curiosity for the natural world. The age range of the group has yet to be decided, so we would like to know the ages of children that are interested.

RSPB Wildlife Explorers is the Society’s junior membership organisation, and Wildlife Watch is the Trust’s junior membership organisation. This combination will ensure the best possible level of expert support for the new group. Both organisations have years of experience in guiding and supporting active groups. They will provide ideas, training for leaders and they have the procedures in place to ensure the safety and well being of the children.

The launch event is an Explore and Discover morning, at the Reserve on Saturday 21st July, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Led by Debbie McKenzie from the Wildlife Trust and Kate Blincoe from the RSPB, it will include:

• special activities for the children as we explore the new Group’s home, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve
• a chance for children to meet other children who are interested in joining the group
• an opportunity for parents/carers to discover what Wildlife Explorers and Wildlife Watch groups are all about discussion of how, together, we can get the Group up and running! We want the children to come up with ideas for activities they would like the group to try (so that we can put together a programme for future meetings).

If your children are interested in coming to Explore and Discover, or joining the new group (but unable to come to the launch event), please send their names, ages and address to Karen Howard: . Please contact Karen if you are interested in helping the group as a volunteer.

Your details will be used for the sole purpose of inviting your family to the launch event for the new group or, if you are unable to attend, to send you details of the Group’s subsequent meetings.

June 2007