Action for Nature, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Ayrshire-based community engagement project, has been extended until at least 2026.
The project, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, offers a range of volunteer roles and activities to support local communities to improve greenspaces for wildlife and people. Now, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme and the Nationwide Colleague Grant Award, the Trust has announced that the project will continue for a further year.
Volunteers undertake tasks such as tree planting, path maintenance and clearing invasive plants. The project also works alongside existing community groups to enhance local greenspaces and runs regular public events to connect people to the nature on their doorstep.
Harry Richards, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Ayrshire Community Engagement Officer, said: “For 10 years now, we’ve seen how beneficial taking action for nature can be – both for people and wildlife. As well as the conservation benefits, such as the development of a tree nursery at Gailes Marsh or the protection of sand dunes in Stevenston, it’s really satisfying to see people take so much pride in their local area.
“You’ll often find us out and about on one of the Trust’s wildlife reserves around Irvine or Kilwinning, but we’re keen that the project can benefit people all over Ayrshire. We’ve had volunteers learning new skills and college students getting hands on experience by working beside community partners on sites including Stevenston’s Lockhart Campus and Troon’s Fullarton Woods.”
As well as practical conservation tasks, Action for Nature runs weekly wellbeing sessions that involve low intensity activities such as walking and wildlife watching. Participants develop social connections in a safe space while enjoying the physical and mental health benefits brought about by spending time in nature.
Action for Nature volunteer, Emma Kendon, said: “It’s always great to find your ‘tribe’, and the Community Conservation volunteers are definitely my tribe. I get a lot from discovering nature in parts of the county I’d not known about, meeting new people and learning how to help look after the various wildlife patches – and I really appreciate having the right equipment available. Looking back on the work we’ve done at the end of a day is always deeply satisfying. Even if it means some extra laundry and scraping gloopy mud off your boots!”
The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the Scottish Wildlife Trust is helping people across Ayrshire play a hands-on role in protecting and enhancing their local greenspaces. This inspiring project is a brilliant example of how our funding is helping communities come together to take action for nature. It’s exactly the community-led action we’re proud to support as it speaks directly to our environmental mission, making our natural world more sustainable and accessible for everyone.”
Kerry O’Malley, Head of Social Impact for Nationwide, said: “We’re incredibly proud to support the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Ayrshire community nature project through Nationwide’s Colleague Grant programme. The work the Scottish Wildlife Trust does strengthens our shared commitment to support local communities.”
More information about Action for Nature can be found on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website.
All images © Martin Shields