Wildwood e-news May 2014
1) Wildwood's horses roaming free in Wales
2) Mammal Watch launch at Wildwood - Saturday 17th May
3) Exciting events at Wildwood in May!
4) Consevation dates for your diary
5) Wildwood awarded Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge
6) See the Free Beavers of the Tay
7) Wildwood animal adoptions - adopt any animal for only £25
1) Wildwood's horses roaming free in Wales
Wildwood is proud to announce yet another transfer of Konik horses, this time going to roam in Mid Wales.
The horses have gone to Wildernest; a green tourism and environmental education project run by husband & wife Hugh and Jude Crawford in the beautiful Aeron Valley, Wales. In their new home the horses will live wild and improve the wetland habitat through natural grazing.
This latest transfer, one of many carried out by Wildwood, is another triumph as we strive to improve conditions for wildlife throughout the UK through conservation grazing.
Konik horses are extremely hardy and live well on wetlands eating weeds, reeds and grass whilst boosting biodiversity through light grazing and natural fertilisation. This keeps the land open and encourages more plants, invertebrates and birds to settle in the area. Over the years, Wildwood has bred and distributed hundreds of Konik horses to similar habitats around the UK where they continue to improve conditions for wildlife in a natural and sustainable way.
Wildwood's Chief Executive Peter Smith said "We are delighted to be working with the Wildernest project. The horses are the ideal conservation management tool and will boost the area's biodiversity whilst providing a valuable resource for 'green tourism' and people learning about ecological restoration. We are sure that the horses will be very happy there and will do wonders for the habitat."
For more information on Wildernest or to book a visit, check out their website: http://www.wildernest.co.uk
Mammal society launches new Mammal Watch project at Wildwood
17th May 10am -5pm
Wildwood is delighted to welcome The Mammal Society to the park for the launch of their new project: Mammal Watch South East (MaWSE).
This exciting new project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to engage the wider public in mammal monitoring and conservation using modern technology such as smartphones.
Launching on 17th May, Mammal Watch South East (MaWSE) aims to gather as much information as possible about mammals the South East in order to paint a more accurate picture of their distribution in a South East Mammal Atlas. And YOU can get involved!
There are several ways to get involved with Mammal Watch South East:
Smartphone app: On 17th May the Mammal Society will launch the new MaWSE 'Mammal Tracker', a free app to allow anyone to identify and submit mammal records out in the field.
Website: The new MaWSE website will be packed with useful information on how to identify mammal species and links to allow users to network with others interested in mammals and mammal surveys.
Surveys: After launch, people will be able to take part in Mammal Watch surveys that have been designed with species experts.
Camera traps: Mammal Watch camera traps will be available for loan to schools or groups who want to discover which mammal species are living close-by.
All of our members are invited to the launch of this eagerly awaited project at Wildwood on Saturday 17th May from 10am – 5pm.
Events on the day will include:
- Talks on South East mammals including hedgehogs, harvest mice and watervoles – just some of the mammal species that can be surveyed using Mammal Watch.
- Stalls hosted by local wildlife organisations where visitors can discover more about wildlife in the South East
We hope to see you there!
Free event* Saturday 17th May 10am – 5pm
*Please note that Wildwood membership or entry fees apply to attend this event.
Click here for more info on Mammal Watch South East (MaWSE)
We have lots of exciting events coming up in May! Call to book your space now on 01227 712 111
Sunday 11th May - Bee Day!
Meet Wildwood's Bee?Keeper, John Holmes and discover the amazing world of bees and beekeeping.
11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm. Free event* Drop in anytime.
Tuesday 20th May - Photo Day
A day of Wildlife photography with expert tuition from our resident photographer. Gift vouchers also available.
10am - 4.30pm. £79 per person. Min age 18yrs. Must book.
Tuesday 27th May - Wolf Birthday Bash
Celebrate our wolves' birthday with games, crafts, presents and a birthday cake for the wolves.
2pm - 3pm. £2 per person, one person free per group. Must book.
Wednesday 28th May - Boo in the Zoo!
Face your fears with some of our scariest animals and make scary animal crafts to take home.
2pm - 3pm. £3 per person, one person free per group. Must book.
Thursday 29th May - Hoo in the Zoo!
Learn all about owls, meet our tame owl, learn to hoot and make owl crafts to take home.
2pm - 3pm. £2 per person, one person free per group. Must book.
Friday 30th May - Poo in the Zoo!
Learn all about animal poo! Take part in our poo quiz and make a pooing horse to take home!
2pm - 3pm. £2 per person, one person free per group. Must book.
To book any event please call 01227 712 111
*Please note that Wildwood membership or entry fees apply.
Wildwood offers a wide range of conservation courses for all levels of interest from beginner to professional. All of our courses are run by experienced tutors and often make use of our animals and woodland giving attendees the chance to get hands-on whilst developing their skills.
For more information on Wildwood's conservation courses, or to book, email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 10th May -Hedgehog Ecology & Management for Practitioners
In partnership with People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS)
A one-day course for land managers and ecological consultants with the agenda of informing greenspace management in the UK to help the hedgehog, a UK BAP species in rapid decline. The day will cover hedgehog ecology and behaviour, threats to hedgehogs, hedgehogs and the law, survey and monitoring techniques and guidance on land management for hedgehogs. It includes an outdoor session.
9.30am – 4.00pm. £50 per person. Min age 18yrs.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 17th May -Mammal Watch South East (MaWSE) Launch Event
In partnership with The Mammal Society
Wildwood is proud to be hosting The Mammal Society's launch of their new Mammal Watch South East (MaSWE) project.
The MaSWE project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is a new scheme to engage the wider public in mammal monitoring and conservation in the South East. The project includes a new Mammal Identification website, Smartphone App and camera-trap loan schemes to encourage as many people as possible to submit records of mammals living in their area and to paint a more accurate picture of their distribution in a South East Mammal Atlas.
The launch day at Wildwood will include talks on hedgehogs, harvest mice and water voles (as examples of mammal species that could benefit from the new scheme) as well as stalls from numerous wildlife organisations who will be on-hand to answer your questions about the amazing wildlife to be found in the South East.
2pm – 5pm. Free event*. No need to book, drop in any time.
Sunday 18th May -The Ecology & Identification of Riparian Mammals
Find out about Britain's native riparian mammals; the otter, water vole and water shrew along with the non-native American mink. The day will focus primarily on conservation and how to survey for each species and includes a tour to meet Wildwood's own riparian mammals with a behind-the-scenes look at our water vole and water shrew captive breeding areas. Suitable for anyone with a general interest as well as those with a professional interest in otters and water voles as BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) species.
10.00am – 4.00pm. £30 per person. Min age 16yrs.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
Sunday 8th June -Skull Preparation Course
Learn how to prepare a mammal skull for education or reference use in this hands-on course for bone enthusiasts. Deflesh an animal to produce a stripped skull to take home and finish, plus discover what skulls can tell us about the age, gender and health of their former owners. All materials and tools will be provided.
10.30am – 4.00pm. £30 per person.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
Saturday 14th June -Dormouse Handling & Surveying Workshop
This course is aimed at ecological consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. A classroom session on survey methods followed by handling, sexing and weighing captive dormice under supervision. Limited to 6 places per workshop.
11.00am – 3.30pm. £40 per person.
Please book with Suzanne Kynaston on 01227 711 471 or email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
For more information on Wildwood's conservation courses, or to book, email courses@wildwoodtrust.org
*Please note that Wildwood membership or entry fees apply.
5) Wildwood awarded Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge
Wildwood is celebrating after being awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge; the first-ever national accreditation to combine quality of learning and safety into a single award for organisations that offer learning outside the classroom.
Wildwood is currently the only wildlife park in Kent and one of only a handful of external education venues in the county to achieve this prestigious quality mark. Now anyone organising an educational visit can be assured that Wildwood offers first-rate educational experiences and manages risk effectively, as every aspect of our education service and venue safety has been thoroughly inspected and verified. This is not only great news for Wildwood but also for visiting schools who bring over 10,500 schoolchildren and students to the park every year!
Wildwood's head of Education, Anne Riddell said "We are very proud of this achievement. Education has always been at the heart of Wildwood's charitable objectives and this award recognises our hard work and dedication to offering education services of the highest quality."
At Wildwood we want to educate as many people as possible about our wonderful British wildlife and believe that learning should be fun! To do this we offer low-cost educational visits that give schools and colleges the opportunity to get out into the woods to experience the natural world at first hand. We also offer a wide range of engaging, curriculum –linked activities to bring learning to life, including variety of life, adaptation, nocturnal animals, food chains, forensic science and practical woodland ecology; all taught by our qualified, experienced tutors.
Educational visits are priced between £2 (winter) and £4.75 (summer) per person, with free adult places when you book any activity. We welcome students of all ages from Pre-School and Primary to Secondary, A Level and postgraduate, and teachers are welcome to visit the park in advance for a pre-visit inspection for FREE, either independently or to meet the education team and discuss plans for their day.
To find out more or to book an educational visit, call the Wildwood office on 01227 712 111 or visit our website: http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/education.html
6) See the Free Beavers of the Tay
Great news for anyone visiting Scotland this year! Our good friend Bob Smith, Chairman of "Save the Free Beavers of the Tay" is offering fascinating beaver walks to see the free beavers of Scotland in their natural habitat.
The Tayside walks are your chance to see beavers living wild again in the UK after a 400 year absence. Participants will also be able to see their impact on the local ecosystem and other wildlife that thrives thanks to the presence of this "keystone species" such as otters, kingfishers, red squirrels, water voles, mergansers and cormorants.
We are urging anyone who is visiting Scotland and is interested in wildlife to go on one of Bob's amazing tours as a growth in tourism to beaver areas in Tayside will greatly enhance their public profile and be crucial in influencing government decisions as to their future in Scotland.
Click here to find out more about Bob's Tayside Beaver Tours
Click here to watch Bob on Countryfile
7) Wildwood animal adoptions - adopt any animal for only £25
Did you know you can adopt any animal at Wildwood from only £25.
Wildwood animal adoptions are the perfect gift for any animal lover and support our work to save British Wildlife.
You can adopt any animal at Wildwood; from a tiny harvest mouse to a wolf! We have four different levels of adoption available to suit all occasions and budgets.
Basic Adoption Package - £25
6x4 unmounted photo
Individual Wildwood entry ticket
Certificate of Adoption
Personalised plaque at enclosure
Animal fact sheet
Newsletter
Wildwood car sticker
Premium Adoption Package - £40
A5 mounted photo
Family ticket to Wildwood?(For up to 2 adults and 3 children)
Certificate of Adoption
Personalised plaque at enclosure
Animal fact sheet
Newsletter
Wildwood car sticker
Deluxe Adoption Package - £55
A4 mounted photo
Family ticket to Wildwood?(For up to 2 adults & 3 children)
Meet an Animal Voucher* (Includes entry for up to 2 adults & 3 children)
Certificate of Adoption
Personalised plaque at enclosure
Animal fact sheet
Newsletter
Wildwood car sticker
Ultimate Adoption Package - £80
For schools, groups, companies or individuals who wish to adopt a pair or group of animals. Please call the Membership Team on 01227 712 111 for more details.
To purchase an adoption or for more information, contact our Membership Team on 01227 712 111 or visit our website: http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/adoptionspostal.html
*A private talk at the animal's enclosure. Subject to season. Advance booking required. Sorry, no animal contact allowed.
The Wildwood Team
Herne Common
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 7LQ
Registered charity no. 1093702
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