I am nominating brothers Jack and Alex for their involvement with Action for Conservation (AFC) in 2023. Jack and Alex attended one of AFC’s summer residential nature camps in 2023 and became AFC Ambassadors following that. Jack and Alex were part of a small group of 8 AFC ambassadors who were invited to run a workshop at Chester Zoo’s Youth Symposium for other young (16-35 year old) conservationists. In three planning sessions, Jack and Alex clearly communicated their ideas, and actively listened to and considered the ideas of others and how they could be brought together. The group chose the following workshop theme "Conservation Action - From research and habitat restoration through to campaigning and volunteering, this is all about individuals and groups taking direct action to help prevent extinction". As such, Jack and Alex put forward, planned and led the main activity: making sustainable bug hotels out of recycled/natural materials. In doing so, they showed their flair for creativity and demonstrated excellent leadership skills. 

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Attendees (28) gained insights into insect conservation, learning practical skills from Jack and Alex's bug hotel activity. Their hands-on approach empowered participants to take immediate action, emphasising the impact of small efforts. In doing so, they inspired the next generation of conservationists to protect the environment actively.

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Ellen has been a Young Ranger for 4 years and in that time has completed many practical conservation and skill events for the national park. Ellen is also part of the Eco Club at her school and has represented the Eco Club at the SPEED conference in Croatia held by Social Enterprise International Ltd (SEi).

 

Ellen, along with fellow students, presented their LocoSoco Community Store. Their very own thrift shop with recycled clothing and a recipe book that promotes health and the use of local produce. They also showed their ambitious plans to build their own ECO Centre with an application for funding being submitted.

 

Ellen was also the face of a BBC Newsround interview about being a Young Ranger and looking after nature and the environment. 

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Ellen is a valued member of the Young Rangers and brings lots of knowledge to fellow Young Rangers and also Leaders.

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Bailey has been a Young Ranger since 2021 through a National Lottery Heritage Funded project to work with young people who might otherwise not have the opportunity to visit or gain skills in a national park. Bailey continued his volunteering beyond the Young Ranger programme and joined the funded project's Explorers with his family. 

 

Bailey is now a core Young Ranger member and also assists with our Explorer core families. Bailey has also offered his time at Middlesbrough Mela in both 2022 and 2023. Volunteering to encourage other young people and adults to volunteer their time with the national park to make a difference to nature and the environment. 

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Bailey is an invaluable member of the Young Rangers and will be helping to support new and younger Young Rangers in years to come.

Rewilding Youth have become the leading provision in Hull aiming to connect young people to nature. Using a process involves building positive relationships with the groups they work with and using environmental education, experiential education, pedagogy of place, community-based education, and education for sustainability as key approaches to working with YP from areas of deprivation. A range of projects involve engaging young people who may not usually get the opportunity to take part in nature-based education and activities. Activities and projects include tree planting initiatives, teaching sustainable earth building skills and techniques, teaching traditional nature-based crafts and bushcraft skills, connecting YP to local green spaces and more. The team work tirelessly with several groups of YP from different areas across Hull and East Riding. These provisions work to ensure that young people living within urban areas have equal access to enriching nature-based activities. They have also created a Rewilding Space on the edge of one of Hulls estates and have been working with local groups of YP that have been crucial in the design and development of this green space. The nature-based skills and activities that are offered to these groups provide an ideal platform for experiential learning as it requires direct interaction with the natural environment and encourages the YP to actively engage with their surroundings. 

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The impact of the project has been nothing less than immense. The various projects that have taken place across Hull and East Riding have given the YP transformative experiences. Being involved in pro active environmental projects have helped the groups foster a deep understanding and responsibility for the natural world around them.

This group of young people have been enthusiastic and unwavering in their commitment to their local greenspaces and local wildlife. Responding to the needs of their community and looking for opportunities as they present themselves the group have been involved in litter picking, community gardening, wildflower seed planting, bulb planting, pathway clearance, creating safe walking routes to local greenspaces and advocating for urban wildlife. They are fantastic role models for other young people and inspire many people that feel despondent about their community, They transform perceptions about young people and about the possibility that people living in urban areas can have a positive impact through doorstep action on the climate and biodiversity crisis. 

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Greenspaces have improved and get more use from the community. People can navigate their local area and access nature because of street trails that the group have created. Community areas and gardens are more nature rich and a better place for pollinators. People are more optimistic about their community.