Alongside the highlights below, we’ve been: 

• Helping groups and communities design engaging consultations to gather ideas and get more people involved in their projects. 
• Developing a partnership with Care in the Garden CIC, a not-for-profit based at Palmers Brook Community Nursery in Wootton. They provide work opportunities for adults with additional needs through gardening and woodworking, selling their plants and wood products to fund the project. We have commissioned some great nature products from them for the communities we work with including bird boxes and bug hotels.  
• Working on a new project with Independent Arts, an Isle of Wight charity that uses the arts to support well-being, improve quality of life, and bring people together. Details incoming.  
• Preparing to launch Wilder Streets, a project helping residents make their gardens wilder and more nature friendly – watch this space.  
• Creating Making Space for Nature reports tailored to different communities and outdoor spaces. 

Below are some of the highlights from the season. 

Exploring Wild Play with Barnardo’s  

This winter, we joined a few Barnardo’s play sessions to explore ways to make spaces wilder and more nature friendly. 

We shared simple, fun activities that parents can do with their little ones to support wildlife at home - like making seed bombs and building mini bug hotels. These hands-on activities can help spark a love for nature from an early age. If you'd like to explore and do some of these activities at home you can find them here. 

Building a Dead Hedge with St. Catherine’s School  

We had a great time with students from St. Catherine’s School, building a dead hedge at Ventnor Community Shed. 

A dead hedge is a simple but effective way to support wildlife. It’s made by weaving branches and cuttings between upright stakes, creating a natural shelter. Here’s why it’s so useful: 

• A Home for Birds – Blackbirds, robins, wrens, and dunnocks use dead hedges for nesting and finding food. 
• Boosts Biodiversity – The tangled branches create a haven for insects, small mammals, and more. 
• Recycles Garden Waste – It’s a great way to reuse fallen branches, leaves, and cuttings, keeping gardens tidy. 

It was great to see the students get stuck in and create something that will make a difference for local wildlife. 

Activity Day at Ventnor Community Shed  

We had a great activity day at Ventnor Community Shed where we: 

• Cut back trees to promote new growth (coppicing). 
• Cleared the pond to help maintain a healthy habitat. 
• Protected and mulched fruit trees to keep them nourished for the coming seasons. 

It was a productive day working together outdoors. 

Bug Hotel Workshop with West Wight Timebank 

We had a great time at the Bug Hotel Workshop with West Wight Timebank at Freshwater Parish Hall. Thanks to everyone who joined us! 

We started with a quick introduction to the Wilder Wight Communities Project, then got hands-on building our own bug hotels. It was a great way to learn how to create spaces for beneficial insects in our gardens and how simple changes can help wildlife. 

A big thank you to Care in the Garden for providing the kits that made this all possible. 

We hope everyone left feeling inspired to make small changes in their gardens to support pollinators like bees and butterflies. Thanks again to everyone who took part. 

Ventnor Community Orchard 

Although we couldn't be there on the day, we are happy to announce that the Community Orchard has been officially planted with the help of children from St Francis Primary Academy. 

The orchard now boasts three different varieties of apple trees, located at the top of Steephill Down Road. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in and supported this project. You can find out more here.

Boosting Biodiversity in East Cowes 

Over the past two years we’ve been working with the Communities / Events Officer at East Cowes Town Council. We are currently supporting the Community Orchard, planted in 2023 with funding from Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferry with co-creating extra space for nature onsite. 

The orchard contains 30 fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries) and will provide fresh fruit for everyone and support local wildlife in time. 

Key improvements so far: 

• Helping develop a management plan for the orchard 
• Weeding and mulching trees to retain soil nutrients and moisture 
• Leaving longer areas of grass to attract pollinators 
• Log pyramid created for Stag Beetles, in collaboration with Island Roads 
• Beetle bank with wildflowers for small mammals and insects 
• Hand woven willow wreaths with nesting materials for birds. 

Making Space for Nature support 
In February, we were invited to visits to All Saints Church, Calbourne and the Isle of Wight Crematorium – both locations are looking to enhance their greenspaces for people and nature. We then followed-up creating site specific ‘Making Space for Nature’ reports for both sites. The reports contain suggestions such as creating new homes for wildlife, changing mowing regimes to allow ground flora to flower and grasses to grow longer along with links to useful resources and funding opportunities.

We can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings!