Inspiring people
Our community work at Trumpington Meadows aims to inspire people about the natural world on their doorstep, providing opportunities to learn, experience, and take action for wildlife.
The enthusiastic team consists of Communities and Education Officer Rebecca Neal (AKA Becca Badger, Wildlife Adventurer), a qualified teacher and Level 3 Forest School Leader, our passionate Community Conservation Officer Iain Webb, with decades of experience leading groups outdoors and connecting people with nature, and our Senior "Ranger Becky" Green who has looked after Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve from the start. Our staff are supported by dedicated volunteers.
Please note that our community engagement work is not (usually) funded, and there is a charge to cover the cost to the charity of our qualified and experienced staff.
Schools and home-education
Schools
Outreach: Wilder Schools workshop
Our standard one-day, classroom-based, curriculum-linked, programme is designed for KS2 children. It covers Science and Geography topics, focusing on grouping animals, food chains, adaptations, using biological keys, OS maps, and human impacts on the environment, all using local examples.
We can cover some of the topics in a morning or afternoon session, or add a sharing activity to make the programme longer.
Additional offers
We are adaptable! Please contact us to discuss what we can offer for all age groups; below are a few ideas. Outdoor sessions may be able to make use of a local nature reserve, or school grounds if you have appropriate habitat. Please note that there are no toilet facilities at Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve so sessions onsite will be short.
- Forest School programmes for small groups
- Non-curriculum-linked outdoor sessions
- Assemblies (can be offered free or for a donation)
- 30 minute online Q and A (can be offered free or for a donation)
- Careers sessions
- School grounds advice
- Facilitated self-guided short visits
Professional development
We offer inset days and twilight courses at your site, to help staff:
- feel more confident using the outdoors
- deliver the curriculum creatively
- identify wildlife
- practice simple outdoor activities
- improve their outdoor space for the benefits of learning and wildlife
Home Education
If you have a group of families, we can offer a flexible programme of activities, or one-off sessions. Please contact us to discuss your needs.
Events
Events for families: we deliver regular Wild in the Meadows family events on Thursdays during school holidays, and monthly on Saturdays during the warmer months.
Youth Rangers: we run monthly activities for young people aged 11-17 who are interested in local wildlife and global environmental issues. These are a mix of practical and event volunteering, socials, walks, and surveys. These are usually held on Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve, or in Cambourne.
Events for adults: we have a regular programme of longer guided walks (throughout the year, usually the second Monday of the month) and shorter seasonal strolls (monthly, on a mix of days and times) for adults. New for 2025 is a series of "Nature and Natter" sociable wildlife-related activities for adults like a walk and picnic, and pond dipping. We can can also run walks specifically for your community group, and can deliver in-person and online talks on a variety of topics.
Local community
For adults
We can lead exclusive walks, or deliver talks or other activities for adults who are, for example, in care homes or part of community groups such as churches, U3As, or WIs. We work closely with local partners such as history groups, residents associations, parish councils, allotments and orchards.
For young people
If you run a youth group or after-school club, why not invite us to deliver a fun, interactive session to learn more about your local wildlife? These might be at your venue, or outdoors on Trumpington Meadows Nature Reserve.
We could offer things like:
- Mini-beast hunts
- Forest-school programmes for small groups
- Owl pellet dissection
Community events
We might be able to attend your fair or community event...please get in touch and give us plenty of notice!
Volunteering
Please check our volunteering page for opportunities to volunteer at Trumpington Meadows.
Contact Us
Reach us on TrumpingtonMeadows@wildlifebcn.org
or contact Communities and Education Officer Rebecca Neal on rebecca.neal@wildlifebcn.org