Member Article

Wild life for Gosforth schoolgirl

A schoolgirl from Gosforth in Newcastle is helping The Wildlife Trusts in a campaign to encourage people of the UK to stop for a minute and think about how to make wildlife part of their everyday lives.

Now in its third year, the My Wild Life campaign, which is run by all 47 UK wildlife trust, has the support of Sir David Attenborough, who believes contact with nature should not be the preserve of the privileged and is critical to the personal development of young people.

Sixteen year old Georgina Moroney has supported Northumberland Wildlife Trust since she was seven years old, and, in recent years, she has volunteered with the wildlife charity and assisted at a number of major events including its Our Wildlife 2015 and Our Wildlife 2016 events.

As one of the focuses of this years’ campaign is young people, Georgina, a pupil at Gosforth Academy, who just started taking her 11 GCSEs, was a natural choice for both the local and national part of the campaign, which will include adverts on social media and in print.

The message from Northumberland Wildlife Trust, one of the leading conservation charities in this region, is that as young people approach their GCSEs and A levels, rather than going on a phone or a laptop during a break from revision, they need to sit outside and re-charge their brain cells as a bit of sunshine can help young people de-stress during such a crucial time in their lives.

Taking a break from her revision, Georgina says: “When the sun shines my mother is always hustling me into in the garden with my books to get a bit of fresh air. In the past I used to twist my face, but then I realised I could do my work, eat ice lollies and get a tan, so now I don’t need too much encouraging to stretch out on the garden seat.

“I was a bit embarrassed at first about having my photo taken and featuring in a poster campaign as I thought everybody would laugh, but I’m now quite pleased with it especially as I have supported Northumberland Wildlife Trust since I was seven years old.”

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive says: “My Wild Life is a wonderful campaign and is aimed at getting people of all ages, but especially young people, engaging with nature. Young people are all too often overlooked in society but they are actually the next generation of conservation crusaders so I am therefore delighted that our poster features a teenager.

“The My Wild Life message from Northumberland Wildlife Trust is clear - wildlife is on all our doorsteps and wild places can help everybody relax in the most stressful and difficult times.”

The Wildlife Trusts have compelling evidence that the health of humans is inextricably linked to the natural world. Inactivity and obesity are escalating and poor mental health is having a significant impact on many, especially young people, with fewer than one in 10 children regularly playing in wild places, compared to almost half, a generation ago. It is estimated that if every household in England were provided with good access to quality green space, it could save an estimated £2.1 billion in health care costs.

Sir David Attenborough is one of hundreds of people taking part so far, alongside students, nurses, families, volunteers, teachers and many others from across the UK. His, and other stories, can be found at www.mywildlife.org.uk where people can add their own story and discover wild places near to them.

Everyone can share their stories of the wildlife and wild places which matter to them and why, using #MyWildLife on twitter, facebook and instagram.

• Find inspiration: explore stories about people and nature at mywildlife.org.uk • Share your wild life: share your ‘Wild Life’ and what nature means to you. Upload your story at mywildlife.org.uk or use #MyWildLife • Wild is better, pass it on: read and share our ‘10 Reasons Why Wild Is Better’ infographic at mywildlife.org.uk • Make nature part of your life: see our ideas for putting the wild back in your life mywildlife.org.uk • Ask for change: send a message to your MP asking them to and call for a Nature and Wellbeing Act in their Party’s election manifesto

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .