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Carrier bag funding helps young nature explorers discover My Wild Neighbourhood
Monday 23rd October 2017
Nature Tots having fun. Pic: Ric Mellis
Carrier bag funding from the Southern Co-op is helping families explore nature in My Wild Neighbourhood at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre near Didcot, and the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham.
Research by The Wildlife Trusts has found that over three-quarters of parents were concerned that children don’t spend enough time interacting with nature and wildlife.
The My Wild Neighbourhood campaign is supported by proceeds from the carrier bag charge, distributed by Southern Co-op to local community causes. This year’s funding is supporting the Wildlife Trust’s Nature Tots sessions at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre (SCEEC), near Didcot.
Corinne Richardson, Education Manager at SCEEC is looking forward to this autumn’s Nature Tots sessions: “The children and adults who visit Sutton Courtenay to take part in Nature Tots have a wonderful experience, exploring the outdoors and taking part in nature themed activities. The sessions reflect what is happening within the season around us.
“At our sessions this week the children are discovering the fascinating colours of autumn and pretending to be squirrels stashing their nuts away to eat during the winter. We’re very grateful to Southern Co-op for awarding us a grant of £700, so that we can provide this fantastic opportunity to more tots and their parents.”
Jone Ayres, Community Engagement officer at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham is looking forward to the sessions this autumn: “The excitement and curiosity of our Nature Tots, whether they’re playing in the mud, or seeing a grasshopper up close for the first time, is infectious and always makes my day. These moments are priceless and may spark a lifetime’s love and interest in wildlife.
“BBOWT is so grateful to the Southern Co-op for their generous grant of £2,300. This is helping us to inspire youngsters, who may one day grow up to become the David Attenborough or Michaela Strachan of the future!”
Jessica Hughes, Communications and Community Engagement Manager for Southern Co-op said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Wildlife Trusts’ work to help families get in touch with nature, because we believe in putting funds back in the communities that helped to raise them.”