A host of new performers, campaigners, activists and businesses have signed up to take part and the charity’s staff and volunteers are now busy getting ready to cut meadows, build the stage and create a series of themed zones under the canopy of the site’s woodland.
Over the past few weeks Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been busy preparing for its unique Wilder Woodland Gathering between 1pm and 7pm on Wednesday August 21st at the Skylarks Nature Reserve at Holme Pierrepont and with just four weeks to go, the pace of preparations is speeding up.
Speaking about the event, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Head of Communications Erin McDaid said:
“We have a fantastic array of musicians, campaigners, local businesses, and artists who will be joining our gathering including musician and composer Jason Singh who can vocally re-create birdsong and entire forest environments; local artist Alex Rubes will be using graffiti art to create a new installation celebrating wildlife and our ‘on the stump’ debating area will host a wealth of passionate wildlife enthusiasts and campaigners.”
Debates will feature Tim Birch, of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who has worked across the planet for Greenpeace and other environmental organisations for over 30 years and Indy Kiemel-Green, a member of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts Keeping it Wild youth team who will be debating the future of the natural world.
Other participants will include academic and naturalist Dr Rob Lambert and storyteller and author Lucy McRobert who will debate the pros and cons of a Natural History GCSE.
Lucy McRobert and Rob Lambert
Erin added: “Our debates and discussions are really coming together. We’ve got some wonderfully passionate people coming along to share their views and experiences and the debate about the merits of a new natural history GCSE should be particularly interesting. Whilst our participants Lucy McRobert and Dr Rob Lambert sharing a passion for nature they find themselves on opposite sides in this debate - which could be interesting given that they are married!”
Companies so far participating in this unique event include Castle Rock Brewery, Five Leaves Bookshop and Shop Zero and the Wildlife Trust is keen to hear from companies keen to take part.
The Wilder Woodland Gathering will be held at Skylarks Nature Reserve at Holme Pierrepont, off Adbolton Lane, just two miles from the centre of Nottingham.
The event forms part of The Wildlife Trusts Wilder Future campaign and will see part of the reserve transformed into a series of themed zones where people can enjoy performance such as music, poetry and story-telling; learn about wildlife through interactive sessions and demonstrations. Family activities will include woodworking workshops with By our Hands, tree climbing and slack lining.
