Learn outdoors at Wildwood

Wildwood – the natural classroom

England’s largest outdoor learning initiative, the Natural Connections Demonstration Project, has just published evidence extolling the benefits of learning outdoors.

The 4-year project has already helped more than 40,000 primary and secondary school pupils from 125 schools to receive education in natural surroundings, and the findings reveal that children are happier, healthier and more motivated to learn when outside of the classroom.

Environment Minister Rory Stewart stated that ‘we learn to love nature as children, and our commitment to nature later in life – respecting it, protecting it, restoring it, or simply enjoying it – is built on that childhood foundation. That’s why it’s so important we give all children the chance to experience the natural world.’

With over 200 native British animals set in 40 acres of ancient woodland, Wildwood is a place where children can do exactly that. With our wealth of knowledge on our native wildlife, as well as our wide variety of education/conservation programmes, there is plenty here to engage curious minds and allow children to explore the senses.

Every day over the summer, Wildwood hosts a variety of engaging activities and talks for all ages and all visitors and our experienced keepers and education team are always on hand to impart their expert knowledge about our wildlife and natural surroundings.

For curriculum-linked programmes, our qualified tutors and fantastic educational resources make learning come alive. The education team at Wildwood are proud to be LOTC (learning outside the classroom) accredited and provide learning for Pre-School, Primary, Secondary and A Level to Postgraduate levels.

Teachers and group organisers are always 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.

Please e-mail education@wildwoodtrust.org to arrange your free trip or find out more about what we can offer you.

-ENDS-

www.wildwoodtrust.org

For further press information, please contact:

Dan Farrow

Marketing Manager

E: dan.farrow@wildwoodtrust.org

T: 01227 712111

Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT6 7LQ

Registered Charity No. 1093702

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Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland, see wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

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Thursday, 7 July 2016

Wildwood celebrates as three rare little kittens take a bow

Three extremely rare Scottish Wildcat kittens have made their first appearance at Wildwood, near Herne Bay in Kent.

The two females and one boy are now 11 weeks old but have been off show to visitors until all their vaccinations had been completed.

Keepers have a pattern of naming Wildcat kittens after places in Scotland. So without further ado allow us to introduce boy Oban and girls Fearn and Rhu. As she is the smallest, keepers have nicknamed her 'Little' Rhu.

Dad, RJ, is currently separated from mother Carna and her kittens for their safety.

Keeper Sally Holt said "If we decide that it is possible, we will carefully integrate them in a few weeks when the kittens are bigger and stronger."

Scottish wildcats are seriously in decline, and face genetic extinction due to interbreeding with the domestic cat. Just 100 remain, making them rarer than the Bengal Tiger and the Giant Panda. As the name suggests, the cats are only found in Scotland. They once roamed all over the UK, but were persecuted and their habitat destroyed driving them north.

Said Sally: "The reason they look so much like your average tabby cat is because they breed with our domestic moggy. Hence, diluting 'wildcat' genetics and producing what we call a hybrid cat, with altered markings on its coat. It is vital we try to conserve what we have left in the wild and in captivity."

All Wildcats at Wildwood have been genetically tested for their purity in order to determine whether they are good candidates for joining the conservation breeding programme, run by Scottish Wildcat Action.

Even though the kittens may look cute and cuddly, do not be fooled! Wildcats are exactly that -WILD.

Sally commented: "At just 4 weeks old, the kittens were already showing off their bold and fiery attitude with hisses and spits when keepers entered their enclosure. They are certainly not to be messed with!"

Ends

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Wednesday, 27 July 2016