To develop the Lane End nature reserve warden's hut and site interpretation to benefit more volunteers and local residents.
Extra funding will enable us to create even more interpretation materials for the nature reserves to help more people find out about their local wildlife and how to get involved, as well as extra equipment for our volunteering sessions and events.
1st place in the Calor Rural Community Fund - £5,000 Category
Your community needs your help. Show your support and this project could be in with a chance of receiving a slice of Calor’s £85,000 funding pot. Projects receive 1 point for every like or share and 10 points when someone donates. Remember to log in or sign up for your points to count. Click here for more details.
Welcome to the Bug Shack!
The Bug Shack is the warden and volunteers' hut for the Lane End and Knowle Hill Nature Reserves, and a hub for local community activities. Every week, a dedicated team of conservation volunteers meets at the hut to carry out practical work on the reserves. We also hold regular community events to get people up close to local wildlife.
So what's this project about?
The Bug Shack was created relatively recently, with only basic fittings and no signage to inform the community about its function, the attached nature reserves or the events being held there.
There is high demand from the local community for nature-themed events at the site which always receive positive feedback, and our volunteer group is ever increasing with around 12 volunteers currently attending regularly and new people continuing to sign up.
What do we want to do?
We would like to purchase fittings for the Bug Shack, such as flooring, which will help ensure it is warmer and easier to clean after a day of digging or pond dipping!
This will create a better experience for our current and future hardworking volunteers and for the community members who attend events.
We'd also like to purchase more information materials for the main nature reserve access points, such as interpretation panels and leaflets, and a noticeboard for the Bug Shack exterior. These will inform community members about upcoming events, activities and volunteering sessions, and provide them with contact details. This will also give people more information about the nature reserves and the creatures they are home to, the area's importance for local wildlife, and how to find out more or get involved.
Who are Wild Ground?
We were first formed in 1986, as a group of concerned residents taking action to protect their local green spaces and wildlife. Since then, we've grown to manage 15 nature reserves across North East Wales, supported by our brilliant team of volunteers. We conserve habitats, especially for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles, provide opportunities for all to connect with their local wildlife, and create opportunities for a diverse range of volunteers.
Why support our project?
The Bug Shack is an inclusive space for all, nestled on the border between the local residential area and the wilder areas of the nature reserves. We welcome everyone to get involved and learn new skills with us while getting close to wildlife.
The Lane End and Knowle Hill nature reserves are home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including the internationally important great crested newt.
Many of the area's residents have a knowledge of their local wildlife and want to help, but at the moment the Bug Shack and attached nature reserves have limited signage and information available to help people find out more about how they can do this.
How will the money be spent?
The funding will help us to purchase flooring, interpretation panels, leaflets and noticeboards, and the fixings to install these. All this will mean that in the future we can continue to engage and support even more of the local community and provide better opportunities for people to connect with local wildlife. Including volunteers, local people who attend events, and visitors to the nature reserves, we estimate that 750 people will benefit from our project.