In 2022 Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust was awarded two year funding for a Wilder Communities Officer to cover Dacorum, as part of the Nextdoor Nature Project. Funding was given by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, People's Postcode Lottery, Herts Community Foundation, Dacorum Borough Council and the Shanley Foundation.
This was part of a nationwide Wildlife Trusts initiative to engage with people where they live and empower individuals and communities to support and improve wildlife and nature on their own doorsteps. The Wilder Dacorum project built on the success of the Wilder St Albans Project, which saw hundreds of people take action for wildlife across the District of St Albans with many groups thriving still.
We worked with a number of partners across the two years, including Dacorum Borough Council, Berkhamsted Town Council, Northchurch Parish Council, Radio Dacorum, Tring Eco-Show, Mix 92.6, Community Action Dacorum, Frogmore Paper Mill and of course a great number of local residents.
Here are a few of the groups we supported:
- Re-wilding a large grass area at Evelyn Sharp House, Hemel Hempstead with residents staff and members of the Cardo (formerly Osborne) housing group
- Supporting the set up of the St. Mary's School Community Garden Group in Northchurch
- Working with local residents re-wilding in Wigginton (they are now part of Sustainable Tring)
- Working with and offering advice for re-wilding at Frogmore Paper Mill, Apsley Guise
- Collaborating with Apex360 speaking with local school children about recycling and reusing
A happy work party of residents and volunteers after re-wilding the back garden at Evelyn Sharp House, late Autumn 2023
A large group of residents came together in early 2024 at Northchurch Village Hall to discuss the potential rewilding of the front tarmacked playground of St. Mary's C of E School on the High Street of Northchurch.
Urban Re-Wilding in Apsley Guise: BEFORE
An area of ground between two streets in Apsley Guise, no more than 2 metres square, Containing just rough grass with bare patches and couple of shrubs. A common sight in our towns but one local resident wanted to make the space look nicer for passers by and help nature by planting insect friendly, attractive plants and scrubs.
Photo Lea Ellis
Urban Re-Wilding in Apsley Guise: AFTER
Local resident Barry is a very keen volunteer when it comes to helping wildlife thrive. He changed this once piece of scrub into a beautiful area for by-passers to enjoy, adding the benefits for insects to thrive and improve air quality. Get in touch if you would like to know how to do something similar: wildersupport@hmwt.org
Pupils at Hammond Academy worked with us and APEX360 to show how everyday household packaging can be reused. An activity that was part of Feeling Good Week, February 2024
A group of local residents in Apsley Guise got together to re-wild this neglected bank next to the railway line, clearing space for wild flowers and removing litter.
Frogmore Paper Mill https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/ worked with us to create a new wildlife pond on their beautiful canal-side site. This photo shows how empty it looks to begin with!
This is the Frogmore Paper Mill Wildlife Pond after it's been established for about a year. Lots of growth both on and around the pond showing that it is now full of life. You can create your own wildlife pond, it can be as small as a washing up bowl! https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/actions/how-create-mini-pond
Actions making Dacorum Wilder
If you are already taking action or plan to do something in the near future, we'd love to hear from you.
Put your name on our Wilder Actions Map!
If you'd like to find out more about how you could do something positive for nature, the Nextdoor Nature Hub has lots of information, ideas, tips and resources. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/community-hub
For further information please email us at wildersupport@hmwt.org
Layers
Key
Wilder Group
Wilder Business and Spaces
Wilder Communities
Wilder Groups
There are already many organisations and groups across Dacorum that are passionate and motivated to bring about positive changes for nature. Many of them are looking for volunteers too! Information on some of these groups can be found here, however, this list is not exhaustive.
St. Mary's School Community Garden Project: Contact stmaryscommmunitygarden@gmail.com or beloe@live.co.uk
Apsley Guerilla Gardeners
Sustainable Wigginton: sustainablewigginton@gmail.com
Sustainable Tring: hello@sustainabletring.org.uk
EcoBerko: https://ecoberko.uk/
Sunnyside Rural Trust: https://www.sunnysideruraltrust.org.uk/
Box Moor Trust: admin@boxmoortrust.org.uk https://www.boxmoortrust.org.uk/
Frogmore Paper Mill: https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/
If you are part of a group that is not listed here but want to be involved do get in touch and let us know via emailing wildersupport@hmwt.org
Building a bird box © Broni Lloyd-Edwards
Wilder Dacorum
Thanks to £5million funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Nextdoor Nature Project provided people with the advice and support that they needed to help nature on their doorstep, and leave a lasting natural legacy in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.