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PEOPLE & WILDLIFE The House that


Jack Built I


We asked the Wildlife Trusts to share their favourite stories. Here’s one: meet four-year-old Jack, who loves nature


first visited Hem Heath Woods three years ago, when I started


working as a Wildplay officer. This hidden gem, in the middle of a city I had worked in for ten years, quickly became my favourite place in Stoke- on-Trent. I can still remember one of the first people to arrive for my debut Wildplay session. He was a rosy-cheeked four-year- old boy hiding behind his mum, wide-eyed and shy. His mum encouraged him to say hello and listen as I explained the activities on offer. He then disappeared into the woods to build a den and hunt for bugs. At the end he left slightly muddier than when he had arrived, with a silent wave goodbye. At the next session the boy was back, eagerly tugging at his mum’s


Writer Katie Shipley is


Wildplay Officer at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust


arm: “He hasn’t stopped asking about when he can come back to Wildplay.” This time he braved a wobble on the slackline, gripping tightly to his mum’s hand. Next time he brought a friend along. With growing confidence, he showed his friend how to balance on the slackline, and the best place to build a den. Later, at a different park, with another friend, he built bug hotels, followed picture trails and created obstacle courses.


Any challenge we set, Jack took up with great enthusiasm. “We’ve never been to this park before!’ his mum exclaimed – and then a little later she asked, “Jack wants to know if you can bring Wildplay to his park?” So we did, and it was really popular. Jack had told all his friends about Wildplay. He had also told his teachers, who invited us to come in and deliver Wildplay at his school. Three years later, Jack and his mum are still regulars at our sessions across the city. He has joined Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, declared himself a Wildplay Ambassador and even sponsored me to run the London Marathon last year with his own pocket money, happy in the knowledge that he was supporting the work we do. Jack’s mum tells me that Wildplay has had a huge impact on his life:


Another ten species ticked off: Jack and Katie at a Wildplay session


40 Spring 2019


has provided a place for birds to nest


Jack is proud he


he is more confident, outgoing, independent and adventurous. He has developed a great love of the outdoors. Stories about wildlife even encouraged him to start reading. Wildplay has given Jack a lot. He has given back in return, in small ways and big ways. Not only have we been able to talk to more people about what we do; he has provided a home for a family of birds. Last February he came to one of


our workshops and built a bird box. He took it home to hang up in his


STAFFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST


MAIN PIC: HELENA DOLBY


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