Go Wild in Plymouth’s Parks with the RSPB

With the amount of time children and families are spending outside in nature in decline, Europe’s largest conservation charity and discount supermarket ALDI, are challenging families to get out and go wild in their local city park this summer with the RSPB.

The RSPB Connecting with Nature report revealed that children in the UK were missing out on a wealth of mental and physical benefits from not spending enough time outside, with only one in five having a healthy connection to nature.

To encourage more children and their families to take a step closer to nature the RSPB has launched Wild Parks aimed at getting people to uncover the wild side of their city.

From May until September, families will be able to join an RSPB expert in Plymouth’s parks for a range of fun and engaging activities aimed at helping families take their first steps on their own wild adventure. There are a number of activities on offer ranging from minibeast safaris and scavenger hunts, to bioblitzing and national treasure hunts, which are all free and do not require pre-sign up.

Lucy Angus, RSPB Family Events Officer for Plymouth said: “I’m really excited to be running the RSPB’s Plymouth Wild Parks project this summer. As a young child I have fond memories of exploring the outdoors and wildlife in Plymouth’s Central Park - my local green space. I remember going on walks with my family, doing bug hunts and listening out for Plymouth’s bird life. I loved exploring the variety of plants and trees that the park had to offer, learning their names and doing leaf and bark rubbings come rain or shine.

“One of the easiest ways to encourage children to love wildlife and to want to protect it when they’re adults, is to take part in activities like our Wild Park events. These free, hands-on experiences will allow families to interact and connect with their local wildlife and reveal just how much nature calls Plymouth home. Happy childhood memories associated with the outdoors will also hopefully lead to the sort of ore and wonder that I now feel for Plymouth’s wild spaces.”

For full details of Plymouth’s Wild Park events, visit: www.rspb.org.uk/wildparks
News events will be added regularly so keep checking the page

Wild Parks also offers the opportunity for families to start their own wild adventure at home with the RSPB Wild Challenge. With 24 activities to choose from, the Wild Challenge will take you from your own back garden to exploring wildlife in towns, cities, woodlands and even the coast. Participants can then log their achievements on the Wild Challenge website in order to collect their bronze, silver and gold awards.

The RSPB’s ambition is for the Wild Challenge to help more families across the country reap the benefits of spending time outside in nature. Research has shown that children who have a healthy connection to nature are more likely to benefit from higher achievement at school, better mental and physical health, and develop stronger social skills. To find out about the RSPB’s Wild Challenge, visit: http://bit.ly/WildChallenge

Jonathan Neale, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi, said: “We’re proud of what our partnership with the RSPB has achieved so far, and are pleased to help promote the importance of safeguarding the environment, while helping families get closer to nature through this new Wild Parks initiative.”

Image: David Broadbent (www.rspb-images.com)