Wildchild: South West Peak

This is an archived website, available until June 2027. We hope it will inspire people to continue to care for and protect the South West Peak area and other landscapes. Although the South West Peak Landscape Partnership ended in June 2022, the area is within the Peak District National Park. Enquiries can be made to customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk

The 5-year South West Peak Landscape Partnership, 2017-2022, was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Wildchild

Project summary

Wildchild actively worked to reconnect children and their families with the landscape of the South West Peak and areas further afield through encouraging exploration and playing outside. Being immersed in the outdoors at a young age helps to create positive experiences and an appreciation for natural heritage and landscapes.

The South West Peak Landscape Partnership worked with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to encourage children and their families to be wild in a variety of ways with activities, training days and volunteering opportunities.

We delivered a range of drop-in and bookable outdoor play sessions including Wildlings which was aimed at 6 months to 5 year olds, and Get Wild and Wildplay which was aimed at 6 to 13 year olds, plus Wildfamilies for all to enjoy. These were held at 30 different sites across the South West Peak. Sessions included activities such as den building, bug hunting, natural crafts, mud painting, campfire cooking and whittling, and were held on weekdays, after school, weekends and school holidays. During the covid-19 pandemic sessions were delivered virtually on GetWild TV which could be accessed via Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s family activities Facebook page

Inspired a lifelong appreciation for the natural world
Connected more than 6,000 children and their families with the tools and knowledge to enjoy and feel comfortable in the outdoors
Delivered 23 family events which were attended by 601 families
Provided “taster” days for parents and volunteers to experience what WildChild had to offer
Offering activities at iconic sites such as The Roaches and at more accessible sites like Macclesfield Forest and Lyme Park

How to Stay Wild

Check out Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Wild At Home page for the latest on how you can continue to learn and enjoy the outdoors from your home or local area.

For ongoing activities on offer through the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, visit their Family Activities Facebook page below:

SWT Family Activities

Volunteer

Activities

Winter Wonderland Yoga Squirrels @ Brown End Quarry

Tue 14 Dec 2021

Festive Wildlings @ The Roaches

Tue 7 Dec 2021

Festive Wildlings @ Gradbach Mill

Tue 23 Nov 2021

View all

Free play in outdoor green spaces for very young children improves their ability to deal with stress and focus attention, as well as improving social skills.

Visit http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/junior-rangers

Junior Ranger Program

Visit Site

Increasing access to, and use of, good quality natural environments can help improve health.

Wildchild Final Project Report

2.3 MB

Download

United Utilities hosts event for Cheshire farmers on sustainable rush control

2022 South West Peak calendar now available

Over the last five years the Partnership, local communities and our volunteers have been working tirelessly to record and protect some of the most distinctive and important features of the South West Peak landscape. Now you can hang them on your wall!