Appeals

Our future is in the balance

September is when school starts for another generation of children — the young people for whom we hold the environment in trust. Our education programmes are being circulated to schools at present, and we have an increasing input into the environmental education of young people in this area, with courses based both at Willsbridge Mill and Folly Farm, as well as the work we do with junior members through Watch and directly with schools.

It is, however, of grave concern to us that whilst our conservation activities increasingly attract support from funders such as Heritage Lottery and Landfill Tax, our education work is severely underfunded and faces a period of great insecurity.

We are not allowed to move funds given for conservation projects across to support our education work, and it is becoming alarmingly apparent that unless we increase income in the second half of this financial year our current activities will be threatened.

At Willsbridge Mill - we run structured activities for Infant and Junior age children, all of which support literacy and numeracy work as well as giving breadth and balance to the school curriculum

With our School Grounds Project - we advise and help with transforming sterile playgrounds to mini nature reserves, with ponds and wildlife gardens, and involve children, teachers and parents in looking after the grounds

With Watch - the junior wing of the Trust, we set up clubs which give children the chance to discover local wildlife and get involved with practical projects such as recycling, barn owl surveys and pond dipping

At Folly Farm - through the Earthkeepers programme we offer full days of hands-on ecological activities, which are a springboard for many aspects of science and geography, as well as introducing children to wider issues about the environment and sustainability

"My favourite activity was the concert, it was fun and it made me feel peaceful. I did not know that Folly Farm was so full of wild animals and birds. I loved the walks over bridges, over ant hills aand over muddy ground." A child from St Johns Primary School.

We desperately need to raise £10,000 to ensure that this programme of work is maintained and developed — please see below to read about how you can help.

By making a donation to our education work, you will be supporting our commitment to getting children in touch with nature so that they will enjoy it and want to protect it in the future. I am sure that you will agree that this is one of the most valuable lessons we can pass on to the next generation.

• if you have a CAF CharityCard you can donate on-line by clicking here

• print off the form below, fill it in and send it with your cheque made payable to Avon Wildlife Trust (unless you are paying by Visa/Mastercard - see below) to:

Nature Reserves Appeal, Avon Wildlife Trust, FREEPOST, Bristol, BS8 1YR.

Avon Wildlife Trust
32 Jacobs Wells Road
Bristol
BS8 1DR