World Wildlife Day – Molescroft Wildlife Network

Today, March 3rd, is World Wildlife Day – a time to celebrate and protect the incredible biodiversity that surrounds us. To mark the day, Jaydon, our Community Development Officer caught up with Karyn from Molescroft Wildlife Network (MWN), an inspiring local voluntary group dedicated to protecting and enhancing wildlife across the Molescroft Parish.

Small but passionate team

MWN is a small but passionate team of volunteers working closely with partners including the local Parish Council, local schools, and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. These collaborations have helped influence real change – from contributing to local ecological plans to reshaping vegetation management based on expert guidance. As Karyn explains, their work is about “creating a loop; a conduit between local people and regional and national groups.”

Reflecting on MWN’s achievements, Karyn adds: “An area or habitat is better now than it was before we started. When management takes wildlife into account, nature can thrive. We’re aiming to make our local patch better for biodiversity.”

Inspiring the next generation

To inspire the next generation of naturalists, MWN partnered with three local schools to establish the Environment Education Forum. This initiative gives both primary and secondary pupils hands-on experience using field studies equipment and exploring their local green spaces. Thanks to this shared learning, these schools are now better equipped to care for their own natural environments. “There is now more knowledge about what birds, plants and animals there are because we’ve been promoting citizen science. In time, we hope for a ripple effect.”

Get involved

If you’re interested in getting involved, here are Karyn’s top tips for supporting local wildlife:

1. Download the iNaturalist app – A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist where you can record and identify species in your area while contributing to valuable research. You don’t need to be an expert – the iNaturalist community can help!

2. Join volunteer action days and events – Find out more about MWN’s work and upcoming activities via their website: Molescroft Wildlife Network – Encouraging a biodiverse parish

3. Become a Site Guardian – Contact MWN to learn about taking care of a natural space in the Molescroft Parish. This could be an area already supported by MWN or a new spot near your home. MWN can provide advice and help you create a site management plan.

4. Donate – Financial support helps small volunteer groups continue their vital work protecting wildlife and habitats.

On World Wildlife Day, we want to give a huge shout-out to Molescroft Wildlife Network for their fantastic efforts. Groups like MWN play an essential role in maintaining and improving our green spaces – which not only support local biodiversity but also benefit the wellbeing of our community. We applaud Karyn, the trustees, and all MWN volunteers for their dedication, passion, and expertise. This is just a glimpse of their great work – visit their website HERE to explore more and get involved!