Erin

I honestly do not know what I’d do without nature. Words cannot describe the absolute contentment I feel when I’m in it and the overwhelming desire I feel to be in a natural space when I am not. I have always felt a strong connection to nature and enjoyed being outdoors but only recently have I been utilizing how nature makes me feel to improve my head space and overall well-being.  

Being autistic means that the hustle and bustle of the urban world is almost unbearable to me. The only way I am able to take a breath of fresh air is in nature. I love to experience the therapeutic properties of it everywhere. All you need to do is notice: leaves swaying in the breeze, clouds drifting through the sky, the intricacies etched into a tree trunk and the familiar call of the humble wood pigeon. But when the urban world creeps into these scarce, safe corners and drowns out the natural world, I find myself seeking contentment on reserves that are free of concrete and honking horns. I’m sure many people feel the same.  

When I am older I want to be a conservationist. Someone who keeps natural spaces safe from the ever expanding urban world. I want to get lost in nature. Working with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as a wilder warden has consolidated my desire to be a conservationist and to protect nature, because we all need nature.  

Kasper

My name is Kasper and I am 11 years old. I joined Wilder Wardens at Hickling and Sweet Briar in January this year. I really enjoy being a Wilder Warden volunteer as it gives me an opportunity to learn about and help nature alongside other people that are also passionate about wildlife. 

One of my favourite places to visit is Cley Marshes as my biggest interest is bird watching, and Cley is one of the best places in Norfolk to spot birds. 

When we went to Cley Marshes this summer, the lake was alive with birds, from avocets raising chicks to swallows somersaulting, catching their insect food. As we were sitting in the hide watching this spectacle, a swallow flew in through the viewing hatch and, in the beams, three huge yellow gapes were there to meet her. The chicks were so small they could have sat on your fingertip and so close I could see their downy feathers.  

To me, experiences like this are so special. When you can sit down surrounded by nature you forget everything else and live in the moment.

Alfie

I joined the Wilder Wardens group back in March 2023, I’m currently in my second year of A levels at East Norfolk Sixth Form College and plan to go to University next year to study Biological Sciences. I have a keen interest in environmental issues and conservation, and the Wilder Warden sessions have helped with my understanding of conservation at a site run by the NWT at Hickling. 

As well as many practical skills including bridge building, reed burning, the ringing of tawny owl chicks and flood surveying, being part of this group has enabled me to expand my knowledge in team building, communication and animal ID skills. I have enjoyed helping build hibernaculums, learnt about beavers and their habitats, as well as several other practical conservation tasks on the reserve.  

Increasing biodiversity is also something that I am deeply passionate about and have been implementing at college through a rewilding project in conjunction with SOS-UK. Having a quiet place to escape to within the college is hugely beneficial to the student’s mental health and the nature there provides an opportunity to take a break from technology and other external pressures. I feel like the Wilder Wardens sessions have been hugely beneficial in providing me with more opportunities to be out in nature.

I think it’s important to get more young people involved with nature, to preserve local habitat through skills and knowledge that will otherwise be lost. If we fail to inspire more young people to conserve biodiversity on a local level then how can we expect it to be there for future generations on a global scale?  

William

My name is William and I am just starting Year 11 at high school. I enjoy volunteering on the North Norfolk Railway, playing my violin and swimming. I am also working towards my silver Duke of Edinburgh award. I am currently looking at what A-levels I should take to help with a future in marine biology and conservation. 

Nature allows me to escape from the real world and forget any worries or concerns - especially time pressures. I enjoy snorkelling on the chalk reef between Sheringham and Cromer. I love seeing all the underwater creatures, from crabs and lobsters, to eels and fish. On holiday in Wales this year I saw bottlenose dolphins for the first time - I was completely amazed by their sheer size and speed through the water. 

I sometimes think that climate change is inevitable and the planet is doomed. When I am at a Wilder Warden session I feel that at least I am doing something practical to help. 

Lots of my friends think nature is boring, and that there is nothing fun to do. So we need to find a way to convince them it’s more interesting than their phone.

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