The group are supported by The Youth Association as part of a project funded by Pears Youth funding. Committed to and enthusiastic about their local urban nature spots and their community, the group’s interests evolved out of a love of playing out and exploring.

Natural urban spaces are not always valued by visitors and the young people of Great Hortonare happy to lend a (green) hand to support the hard work of Bradford Council’s clean street team and the Countryside and Right’s of Way Service.

While the group are out discovering wildlife, playing and enjoying the peaceful green spaces they also pick litter, help keep pathways clear and unblock streams.

Although the group knew the importance of bees, they were very nervous about getting too close to them, and so Summer 2023 was spent immersed in the world of bumblebees.

Sarah, our #TeamWilder Youth Engagement Officerdid some myth-busting about bumblebees and taught the group how to ID seven bumblebees(the only bumblebees likely to be living in such an urban area).

The group soon became bee experts and started taking action for bees firstly in their community centre garden and then expanding out to offer help to local residents with their gardens.

Autumn has been spent developing some 'Wild Street Trails'to link people in the community with their local nature spaces. 

With some funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authorityfor active travel projects, the group helped create a map and three trailsto connect Great Horton Community Hub to greenspaces.

Running two community events to involve as many people as they could in the design and launch of the trails, the group are exemplars of the #TeamWilder ethos.

In 2024 the group are planning to showcase their trails to other Bradford Community Centresto inspire new ‘wild street trails’ … we are hopeful that eventually this will create a ‘Wild Walking Web’!

They are also planning to explore further afield, out into the district’s upland habitat with Yorkshire Peat Partnership , learning about how bogs store water and carbon, and getting involved in taking action for water voles.

Calling young people aged 13-25 yearswho might want to get involved in our water vole patrols...

Find out more by joining us at The Common Place in Bradford city centre 5-7pm every 1 ^st Monday of the monthor contact:  team.wilder@ywt.org.uk