Almond Valley Nature Action.

Exciting and active nature education projects involving bees and foraging are two of the projects being delivered by Almond Valley Nature Action. The group has begun hosting nature walks and citizen science projects with the help of its Eco Development Fund award, and is harnessing social media to increase membership and gain interest in its events.

Bringing the public into the work is key for the group, which has been very active in promoting activities with engaging and user-friendly information flyers, linking into blogs and citizen science campaigns. Through group events and social media activities, AVNA has gained 13 new members since February, engaged with over 20 event attendees and its social media following is increasing steadily.

The citizen science projects and nature walks are being led by experts. They held two BeeWalk events, on the 24 February and 30 March, attended by a total of ten participants including two children. Bumblebee monitoring events will continue until October.

AVNA also delivered a tree identification walk, attended by nine participants, and aimed at helping people getting to know what broadleaf trees are in the community. The group also organised a foraging walk for later spring, with costs being covered by the Eco Development Fund.

Organisers have harnessed the power of social media to promote events, and have engaged the public on citizen science campaigns such as Nature’s Calendar, Signs of Spring and Bumbles on Blooms.

“We provided participants with information on how to sign up and record observations, while also discussing their purpose in helping us understand the impacts of climate change on our natural environment.”

Part of the Eco Development Fund was used on capacity building, mainly on first aid training and other online and in person training opportunities for members. This will enable the group to deliver different themed walks, led by group members in the future, as well as organise further group citizen science events. It’s a fantastic start for AVNA’s community and climate education work.