To make nature familiar to people, to ensure there are opportunities for people to engage with nature in all aspects of everyday life.
To spark an interest in people of all ages. To show them that nature is fascinating and to make them yearn to know more! To provide fun activities with a variety of different learning opportunities, catering for a range of ages, interests, levels of prior knowledge, and abilities.
To make nature accessible to all by providing free resources. Some people want to help nature but can’t afford to. Some want to help but don’t know where to start. Some have absolutely no interest at all so would never dream of buying a bird box or flower seeds. Wild About Huntingdon does not discriminate and people are not means-tested or questioned about their income. Resources are free to all and people are encouraged to try something without pressure. Eg ‘Pop a bird box up in your garden and see if you get any tenants.’ ‘Here’s some free flower seeds. Sprinkle them in your garden and let us know what happens’ .
To encourage everyone to play a part, even those without gardens! You can still grow herbs or houseplants without a garden. You can still have plants in pots and bird feeders on a balcony. You can create havens for nature at your workplace, school or community garden. You can volunteer at parks and take part in national citizen science studies.
To work with local authorities to increase planting for wildlife in Huntingdon. Many people suggest ‘Guerilla planting’ (planting without landowner permission or knowledge). This unlawful planting is of huge concern to Natural England and local councils. People genuinely think they’re helping the environment by planting trees but sometimes they unwittingly cause harm to invaluable habitat, such as meadowland, or destroy rare plants or grasses, by digging the area to plant trees. Working with local authorities and landowners is more likely to enhance nature without causing damage to existing ecosystems as they will have surveyed the area first. The process can be long-winded and frustrating but Wild About Huntingdon has already successfully planted trees, verges and even created a new orchard with permission on local authority land.
To connect areas of planting to create wildlife and pollinator corridors. Some species will not travel across open ground and can become isolated in small pockets of planting. This can cause issues with the spread of disease, an adequate food supply or finding a mate to breed. Other species will travel but open ground is dangerous. There are risks of being seen by predators, becoming disorientated, risks of being hit by traffic or not being able to find food or shelter. Corridors are vitally important to wildlife and can be created with hedgerows, areas of long grass and/or wild flower planting. Wild About Huntingdon is currently working with businesses along St Peters Road Industrial Estate to provide free planting and homes for wildlife on their premises. The aim is to link the Great Stukeley Railway Cutting SSSI to Spring Common County Wildlife Site by providing patches of cover. 12,000 spring flowering bulbs have also been planted along the verges.
To loan and/or provide resources to promote local nature. There are already a number of free, printable resources on the WAH Facebook page. These include colouring sheets, information signs, quizzes and nature trails. Residents, community groups, schools, care homes etc can borrow a ‘trail cam’ to record nature visiting their site during the day and also overnight. Nature ‘rubbing plaques’ have been installed on wooden posts at Spring Common. These are accessible 24/7 and free for parents/childminders/carers to use with families. Two giant insect hotels have been positioned at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, alongside information about the bugs which may live there and how to create homes for insects in gardens. A nature sign loan scheme is being introduced in 2026, where organisations can borrow sets of nature signs for 6-8 weeks at a time and then exchange them for a different set. This ‘library’ of resources will be added to over time, to increase people’s contact with nature in their everyday lives.
To promote growing native trees from seed. In collaboration with the rangers at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, we would like the community to plant and grow local tree seeds from healthy stock. They then nurture them at home for 2-3 years. It is easier for 1 household to look after 6 tree seeds than it is for one ranger to look after 100 seeds. The lovingly nurtured saplings can be taken to the new tree nursery at the Park. This will give the Rangers additional trees from stock which we know is thriving in this area, meaning they have a better chance of survival. They can then be planted around the district.
To help people to genuinely make a difference. Many people have huge concerns about our planet and are already doing what they can for the environment - they recycle goods and walk instead of using the car etc - but they don’t see the results of their actions. Wild About Huntingdon aims to help people to do something which empowers them and is tangible. Putting a bug hotel in their garden or workplace and seeing an increase in bees, bugs, birds shows results. Being able to take part in a community litter pick is instantly rewarding. Volunteering to help with planting trees will give results for many years to come. And all of these things, when added together, will really make a difference to the wildlife in our town.
