Dorset Wildlife Trust is launching a new training scheme for volunteers who want to take action for wildlife. Champion Dorset’s Wildlife, a ‘Look Again’ project supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to activate rural communities in Dorset for their local wildlife, including fully accredited training for Wildlife Champions from across the county.
The Wildlife Champion training programme is designed to give people who care about wildlife the skills to make a difference to their local natural environment, whether they are part of an existing community group or plan to start a new project in their village, school, church, club or green space. Open to anybody over 16, the programme includes national AQA accredited training in everything from fundraising to wildlife law plus optional units ranging from leading a guided walk to pond management. There is no time limit for completion of the programme and volunteers can pick and choose how much training they do, receiving national AQA accreditation for each unit. Units consist of a half to a full day training and there are no exams!
Joy Wallis, Community Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “If you wish to be actively involved in caring for wildlife and your local environment, these training units can help you get started and empower you to set up or support local wildlife projects. Learn new skills, meet new people and care for the environment. What better set of New Year Resolutions could there be?”
The Wildlife Champions training programme will be launched with the first training session on 9th February at Brooklands Farm, near Dorchester. The training is free, but there is a £20 registration fee, refundable on completion of the full Wildlife Champion programme (four mandatory units and 5 from the optional list). For more information, visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlifechampions. [email protected] though you can register for the training programme at any time.
