The Field Studies Council are excited to be a partner on the Wilder Connections project.
National Lottery Heritage Funding has been secured to develop a project to connect people with nature at Wilder Doddington near Lincoln.
Wilder Connections will develop a wide range of programmes to provide more access and engagement with nature. It aims to create opportunities for young people to gain skills and help find nature-based jobs.
As part of the project The Field Studies Council will research and develop a programme of visits from local primary and secondary schools and engage with young people through their innovative Young Darwin Scholarship. There will also be an adult education provision of natural history courses and the development of relevant wildlife ID guides.
“Climate change and biodiversity are two of the greatest threats we face. Wilder Connections is an alternative to wringing hands by demonstrating how working closely with nature can have benefits for all of us, and for the planet on which we depend.
We can’t expect people to care about nature if they haven’t had a chance to connect to it or experience it first hand.”
Mark Castle, CEO Field Studies Council
Wilder Connections offers opportunities for all ages, especially for those who do not necessarily have easy access to nature. It will give people the chance to not only develop green skills or increase their environmental knowledge but to also get involved as a citizen scientist.
The educational partnerships and aims of this project hope to create a resilient future for education and outreach at Doddington and in turn, will create opportunities for all to visit Wilder Connections to learn, develop skills and promise a healthy future for people and the planet.
The University of Lincoln are joining Field Studies Council as an educational partner, building opportunities for students and academics to gain fieldwork skills and complete research.
In 2021, the Doddington Estate embarked on Wilder Doddington, a 100-year nature recovery project, supported by a Natural England Countryside Stewardship Scheme. It is the largest such ‘wilding’ scheme in the East Midlands, becoming the largest inland nature area in Greater Lincolnshire.
The Field Studies Council have been providing environmental education to all ages for almost 80 years and look forward to being part of this wonderful project.
Find out more about The Field Studies Council and Wilder Connections
Find out more about the wider Wilder Doddington project
