WILDLIFE CHAMPIONS are taking actions across Chester, Ellesmere Port and the surrounding areas, creating and maintaining spaces for wildlife whilst connecting communities to their outdoor spaces.
Wildlife Champions are people who make a real difference for UK wildlife in our communities. They are connected to community groups, schools, friends of groups and more!
To build confidence in delivering community activities for wildlife, Chester Zoo run a course with Wildlife Champions which shares knowledge about wildlife, habitats and engaging with the wider community. Champions take this knowledge back to their groups and continue to create fantastic spaces for wildlife and people.
We also support a network of Wildlife Champions to continue to connect with each other. They share knowledge, experiences and resources with each other to form a real Network for Nature.
GET INVOLVED
1. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST in becoming a Wildlife Champion
Complete the form and we’ll be in touch with how you can get involved.
2. KEEP UP TO DATE with our regular Networks for Nature newsletter
It includes news from the network, updates from us, UK wildlife information and volunteering opportunities.
3. READ MORE about our Champions in Conservation awards
Take action for wildlife as an individual, group or community and be recognised for it!
4. EMAIL US on wildlifeconnections@chesterzoo.org to find out more
CONNECTING THE NETWORK
Wildlife Champions do not register as Chester Zoo volunteers but rather manage themselves in their own settings. We invite Wildlife Champions to join a network where they support each other in creating thriving ecosystems for wildlife. Wildlife Champions can attend in-person networking event, practical conservation skills sessions, join and online network and gain support and advice from contacts at Chester Zoo.
FIND OUT WHERE THE WILDLIFE CHAMPION SPACES ARE:
GET INSPIRED BY THE WILDLIFE CHAMPIONS
Westminster Park
Annemarie noticed her local park in Chester needed a little bit of attention during lockdown. Herself and others started to make small changes like creating paths, planting wildflowers and building bird boxes to encourage people to see and use it differently. Over time, more and more people wanted to help improve the park. Through becoming Wildlife Champions Annemarie and others have developed more ways to create habitats for wildlife and a wonderful wellbeing space for the surrounding community.
Hedgehog Friendly Campus, University of Chester
Lyndon is one of the coordinators to the Hedgehog Friendly Campus project at the Universty of Chester. They set up the project to encourage hedgehogs onto their site by providing shelter and food. Over time, and with the help of several other volunteers they set up camera traps, wildlife tunnels and more and have seen a huge variety of wildlife coming to their campus. Lyndon took park in Wildlife Champions to learn more skills and to be part of the network of other Champions who are doing great work across the city.
Wildflowers of Cheshire
Chris is a Wildlife Champion who has a passion for wildflowers and helping the community.
Wildlife Recording
Clare is a Wildlife Champion who has a passion for helping native species and photography.
Dig the Quarter
Dig the Quarter are a community group in the Garden Quarter of Chester. They transformed a patch of land by planting an orchard, installing habitats and planting seeds.
Upton 1st Brownies
The leaders of Upton 1st Brownies took part in the Wildlife Champions course to share their learning with the Brownies.
Salvation Army Church
This site in Ellesmere Port decided to turn an unused piece of land into a community garden. Since, they’ve planted wildflowers and created bug hotels.
Meadow Park
Local people in Ellesmere Port wanted to learn more about what lived in their park and how to help. From doing the Wildlife Champions course they implemented lots of actions for wildlife.