Connecting people and local communities with nature, and in particular local chalk rivers is at the heart of a new mission for local wildlife charity, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and their Wilder Communities Officer, Kate Sheard. As a community organiser, Kate will be encouraging everyone in Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield to recognise that nature is there for them, and that developing a relationship with the natural world can be mutually beneficial. She will be exploring the health and wellbeing benefits nature provides, as well as listening to how people want to play a part in protecting their local areas and offering them the tools, advice and contacts to do just that. 

Kate’s appointment follows on from The Wildlife Trust’s two-year Nextdoor Nature programme which was designed to bring communities together to help nature flourish where they live and work. The project was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and resulted in 95% of its participants recognising there is now greater collaborative working between residents, local organisations and groups, and 82% feeling there is now greater decision-making about wildlife in the hands of local people. In particular, Kate will be inspiring communities to think about just how important our local chalk rivers are.

Chalk rivers are as globally rare as rainforests, with only 260 worldwide and around 10% of these in Hertfordshire. These unique ecosystems are a precious resource, supporting wildlife such as, Kingfishers, Water Voles, and Brown Trout. Encouraging communities to take pride in them and appreciate how vital they are is key to their protection and reversing the declines we are seeing in our natural world, with one in six species at risk of extinction. For example, the wildlife charity is introducing a new Chalk Stream Challenge for youth and uniformed groups at Panshanger Park later this spring, and is also building awareness of the importance of wetland habitats more generally, looking to increase the numbers of ponds locally by encouraging people to ‘Pledge a Pond’ and record their new pond on a digital map.

Kate Sheard, Wilder Communities Officer for says,

“Nature is really important to me; it’s helped my own mental health struggles so I want to enable others to connect with their local wildlife and empower them to help create space for nature in their everyday lives.

“I hope that in a year’s time more people are helping wildlife to thrive and sharing their stories to inspire others to do the same. As well as upping awareness of just how vital our local chalk streams are for people and wildlife, I aim to increase the number of ponds in gardens and community areas in Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield and eventually countywide. Ponds are a fantastic way to encourage wildlife and they don’t even need to be that big - a container pond is a great feature in any space.

“I’m excited every day by nature from ducks in a local park, a buzzing bee, a Robin struggling to eat a worm in a car park, to watching a Starling murmuration! Nature is for everyone if we just stop and take notice.”

Kate is looking to hear from anyone living or working in Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield who would like to do something positive for the environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Individuals, groups and businesses
• Schools, colleges and other educational groups and organisations
• Under-represented groups in the local vicinity

Examples could include, building a pond in a garden or community space, arranging litter picking events next to a stretch of river, people or groups starting to grow their own vegetables and flowers, schools creating more areas for wildlife within their grounds, businesses or groups turning highly urbanised or unused areas into natural spaces for wildlife and communities to enjoy. The exciting thing about the project is that everyone has the power to be heard, be involved and to make the positive change that they want to see.

This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Anyone interested in finding out more or wanting help or advice on individual, group or business wild projects, please email wildersupport@hmwt.org or you can find out more about how to ‘Pledge a Pond’ at hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/pledge-pond-for-wildlife