Get Wild at Home - for grown-ups
It is just as important for grown-ups to get their daily dose of nature as it is for kids. Spending time connecting to nature has been proven to improve mental health and wellbeing. During these difficult times we need wildlife more than ever to lift our spirits.
Our Get Wild at Home experience offers a range of activities and tips on how you can get wild at home which will see you feeling happier and healthier.
Keep checking back to our website as we'll be regularly adding new wild content
Don't forget to share your get wild at home experiences with us on social media, we love hearing about your favourite wildlife moments
Wild Webinars
Join us for our Wild Webinars as we bring some wildness direct into your home. Each webinar focuses on a new theme and usually features a presentation, quiz, a chance to ask experts from the Trust questions and there is often a wild activity that takes place for you to join in with at home!
Our wild webinars are live interactive events and upcoming ones are listed here
We record all the webinars, you can catch up with our previous ones below
In our first webinar, find out how you can make your outdoor space a haven for wildlife!
In our second webinar, learn basic bird song ID, have a go at a sound mapping activity, take part in our bird-themed quiz and learn about how to support birds in your outdoor space at home
In our third wild webinar, learn basic recording skills and we discuss how we need your help to collect records of species which will aid nature's recovery and support our vision of a wilder future for Staffordshire.
In our fourth webinar, discover all about wonderful wildflowers! Learn wildflower ID, the species wildflowers support, the work the Trust is doing to create wildflower habitats and find out how you can create your own wildflower haven at home
In our fifth Wild Webinar, join us as we go mad about minibeasts! Discover all about minibeasts from butterflies to beetles in this packed session! Have a tour of our Highgate Common Nature Reserve, a haven for minibeasts as you learn about; the life cycle of an oil beetle wasp and bee ID glow worms and what makes them glow! minotaur beetles beautiful butterflies with a special feature on the white admiral creating your own butterfly feeder what the Trust is doing to support minibeasts
In this episode, we partnered with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who ran the session on badgers
In our next episode of the Wild Webinar series we learn all about the wonderful world of mammals with special guest Derek Crawley from the Staffordshire Mammals Group
We partnered with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust again in this episode as we lean all about one of the nations favourite mammals, hedgehogs!
In this Wild Webinar session in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery learn how nature has influenced artworks throughout history. There will also be a hapa zome activity demonstration for you to get involved in.
In this very special webinar, we partner with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to discuss beavers
Wild Species
Check out our Wild Species videos below and learn more about wild Staffordshire and beyond!
Join Duncan from the Trust as he tells us about the teasel plant
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Join Shaun from the Trust as he tells us about the wonderful Wood Anemone plant
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Join Shaun from the Trust as he tells us about the garlic mustard plant
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Join Shaun as he tells us about the white dead nettle plant
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Learn about Cedar cups with The Wildlife Trust's special guest TheFUNgiguy
Wild activities
Check out our Wild Activity Sheets below that offer a range of ideas and tips on how you can get wild at home
Join Katheryn as she shows how to make a butterfly feeder
This video was made possible thanks to the funded TTTV project
Katherine helps us create a bug hotel at home!
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Credit: Nicholas Watts
Wild webcams
Check out The Wildlife Trust's webcams set up in locations across the UK and bring some wildness into your home.
Wild gardening
Get some handy tips on how you can make your garden a haven for wildlife and yourself
The Trust's Forest School Officer shows us how to create a wildlife pond
In the activity sheets below you can see how to make your own mini pond if you have limited space
Learn how to make a window bird feeder with Katie
Wild cooking
Rustle up some some wild food or drink in the kitchen at home!
Join Duncan as he makes nettle tea.
Adult supervision is required for this activity and please make sure that you have the correct plant you need when foraging
This video was made possible hanks to funding from Children in Need
Wild Forest School
Learn bushcraft basics you can try out at home
The Trust's Forest School Officer gives a demonstration on how to make your own kazoo
Wild campaigns
Be a wildlife warrior and get involved with one of our campaigns that aim to help you get wild and offer tips on how to support Staffordshire's local wildlife
If you sign up to one of our campaigns you'll get a FREE pack with lots of goodies featuring lots of tips on how to connect with nature
Thanks for your support - our work would not be possible without you!
Wild about Gardens
Each year The wildlife Trusts work with RHS to push their Wild about Garden's campaign. Each year for the campaign there is a different theme. 2020's theme is butterflies! As part of the campaign, you can download an activity booklet which tells you cool facts about butterflies as well as the different ways you can support them in your garden / outdoors space. Don't forget to pledge a patch and show that you will join us in creating a wild area for butterflies in your garden! Clicking on the link will take you to the Wild about Garden's website where you can download activity guides and resources from previous year's campaigns which featured bees, ponds and hedgehogs plus more!
Wild tours
Join our staff as they take you on a virtual tour of some of our nature reserves.
We also will be taking you on a virtual trip further afield as staff from other Trusts show you around there nature reserves
Join Shaun for a virtual tour of the Trust's Parrot's Drumble Nature Reserve
This video was made possible thanks to funding from Children in Need
Join Iolo Williams as he explores the beautiful Gilfach Nature Reserve in Radnorshire, mid Wales
From heather clad hills and flower rich meadows to oak woodland and tumbling river – Gilfach has it all! Home to over 400 species of lichen, otters, dippers and salmon to name but a few, this incredible reserve is a wildlife haven.
A tour of Chobham Common, from Surrey Wildlife Trust
Heathland is one of the most reduced habitats in the UK – we’ve lost a staggering 85% in the last 200 years! This is what makes Chobham Common so special. It is home to not only some incredible birds, reptiles and invertebrates but also some pretty impressive plants! Silver studded butterfly, sundew and Dartford warbler to name but a few!
A tour of Toll’s Hill from Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
Here Tom takes you on a tour round his local nature reserve - Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Idle Valley Nature Reserve.
Join Rupert from The Wildlife Trust of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire as he transports you to the peace and tranquillity of Southwick Wood. Bird song fills the air as he gently strolls beneath the trees. How many species of bird can you hear?
Become a wild citizen scientist
Help us monitor wildlife numbers in Staffordshire!
The Trust relies on records of wild species across the county which provide invaluable information to conservationists about what species are under threat, the trends and movements of different species, and where wildlife surveys may need to be undertaken. It is also used by planning authorities and developers who want to find out information about the wildlife in a particular area.
With people spending more time at home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the Trust is keen to remind people to look out for species and send in sightings regularly during their daily walk or in their gardens.
We’re inviting and reminding people they can still do this. From looking in their gardens, to making sure they look for flora and fauna while out on their walks by where they live, their records would be very much appreciated.
Keeping our records allows us to see which wildlife species are struggling and in need of support, so we can come up with ways to help them.
Find out more about submitting wildlife records here
Credit: Ben Hall - 2020VISION
Support us
There are many ways you can support and keep in touch with us during these difficult times
Special membership offer!
We are running a limited edition membership offer to those that signed up to our Get Wild at Home experience. Sign up to receive four themed illustrated wildlife guides that give tips and advice on how you can support wildlife at home. In addition to this, you'll get given our bumper membership pack including nature reserves guide and Trust magazine! We have memberships for individuals, joint, child and family as well as gift and life membership. There is a special Wildlife Watch wild membership for families that is brimming with action-packed activities, pictures, puzzles and a fold out nature poster. PLUS Children will receive a further three copies of the Wildlife Watch magazine throughout the year.
Wildlife needs our help more than ever as many of our much-loved species such as hedgehogs and bees face declines and extinction. Help support our work to protect Stafforshire's wildlife and wild places by becoming a member today.
Our work continues
In these difficult times our work will still continue to defend wildlife in Staffordshire. As a charity, our work would not be possible without your support.
We are hugely grateful for all donations, large or small, as they make a real difference to what we can do for wildlife.