The whole of the Isle of Wight Team pulled together to support the Prince’s Trust community project hosted at Wilder Little Duxmore, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s first rewilding site on the Island last autumn. 

The weather was very challenging, with some of the worst local flooding in recent history on the Island, but this did not deter the young people from creating several new homes for nature onsite including a wildlife pond, bug hotel and stumpery.  

Locally, The Prince’s Trust Programme is powered by the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, whom deliver three programmes each year.  

The course offers young people aged between 16 – 25 the opportunity to build confidence through team challenges, work experience placement and a community project. It also gives them a chance to break down personal barriers and overcome obstacles, so they become better prepared for the world of work. They also receive a qualification in Employment, Teamwork and Community Project as well as further support with mentoring and training to help them achieve their personal and professional goals along the way.  

This is the second occasion Wilder Communities Project Officer Tina Whitmore from HIWWT has teamed up with the HIoWFRS team, having supported a sensory garden rebuild at Bodster Equine Assisted Learning Centre earlier in 2023.  

Tina said: “By the time the young people arrived at Wilder Little Duxmore, they had carefully planned and researched the work to enhance the area near our office and barns for nature.  

“Team members had been assigned roles and fundraised for the materials they needed to complete the two week project, which mainly consisted of outdoor work.  

“There was a great deal of rain, which very quickly churned up the clay underfoot making working extra difficult.  

“As the project progressed, the weather deteriorated. However, the young people showed commitment and great resilience – digging wet clay in the pouring rain is not a fun job! The second week brought flooding, however, the team were determined to get onsite and made it safely through the floodwaters to continue with their work”. 

Under the guidance of Trust staff, the young people worked on:  

• Digging and creating a new wildlife pond 

• Building an enormous bug hotel aka ‘The Critz’  

• Building a stumpery providing habitats for insect larvae such as stag beetles 

• Creating a hibernaculum – a winter refuge for hibernating reptiles and amphibians 

• Assembling hazel dormouse boxes. 

• Building a bespoke trough planter planted with native herbs for pollinators 

• Designing and illustrating some beautiful signage for each of the nature stations 

Natural materials, timber and logs from the reserve and recycled materials were used as much as possible. 

Zoe, a Team programme participant said: “I really enjoyed the community project, it was lovely to engage with nature and create a space for the Wildlife Trust team. I really liked doing different jobs each day and it was great having the Wildlife Trust staff there to support us in completing our project by answering any queries we had and by getting stuck in as well. I’m really proud of our completed project”. 
 
Thanks to the excess of rain, the pond quickly filled and the wildlife swiftly moved into the new habitats created. Solitary bees and a common darter dragonfly have been spotted using the pond and various minibeasts have taken up residence in the bug hotel. 
 
Tina said: “The HIWWT staff were really impressed by the attitude of the young people towards the project and towards the sensitivity of the nature reserve here at Wilder Little Duxmore.  

“The standard of work was very high. In time, we hope to showcase this project to interested groups visiting the site, inspiring them to create their own versions in their respective community greenspaces. 

“The young people approached the tasks with enthusiasm, smiles and an excellent sense of humour. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the project and working with the whole HIWFRS Team across the two weeks.  

“We would like to thank the young people for creating these brilliant new homes for wildlife; we’re looking forward to seeing the habitats develop and recording the species they attract. We would also like to thank Donna Newman, Southern Co-op member Pioneer Ryde for arranging healthy drinks and snacks for the young people through the Co-op Community Programme which helped fuel the fantastic work”.