WILTSHIRE Wildlife Trust launched its exciting new Wild Connections programme earlier this month with two major events.

The three year programme, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donors, hopes to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with, enjoy, learn about and care for their local wildlife and natural heritage.

It promises to offer volunteers training in basic surveying skills and help getting started with sound identification and recording skills as well as training people in conservation skills and running conservation management tasks.

Wild Connections was officially launched on Friday, July 10, at the Trust’s beautiful Langford Lakes nature reserve.

Funders, other key supporters and partners attended a presentation and a walk around the reserve.

Guests were shown the new toilet facilities, pond and dipping platform and walked the new circular route around Long Pond Lake.

Much of the new screening, bridge and kissing gates were recently installed by Wild Connections volunteers.

The much larger public launch took place on Saturday, July 11, at Lower Moor Farm nature reserve, near Oaksey.

The sun shone and there was a chance to make puppets and have a go at crafts such as weaving and traditional wood turning using pole lathes.

Guests got to try their hand at slacklining, and various other activities included guided walks, woodland yoga, pizza making, bug-hunting and pond dipping.

There were also opportunities to get close to hedgehogs and learn about these fascinating creatures.  Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre, based at the Trust’s Blakehill nature reserve,  brought along some rescued hedgehogs to let people see these amazing animals and explain how they are cared for until they are ready to be released into the wild again.

Amy Blount, of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the organiser of the launch activities, said: “The day was fantastic and a great success, thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the launch.

“This is just the start of our project so for more information go to wiltshirewildlifetrust.org or follow us on twitter at @WWTWildConnect. ”

For those who missed the public launch, you can join the Wildlife Trust at their second big activity day at Langford Lakes, near Steeple Langford on Saturday, July 25, from 10am to 4pm.

The event is free and there will be a wide range of action-packed and fun things to do for all ages.

For more information contact wildconnections@wiltshirewildlife.org.