Wildlife spotting, autumnal craft and nature-themed games are just a few of the ways children in Macclesfield have been enjoying nature this month, and now a local youth group is planning a celebration for a milestone anniversary.  

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of RSPB youth groups and now the Macclesfield-based RSPB youth group is appealing for more nature-loving members and leaders to join and help them grow. 

Upcoming Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers events include hedge planting at South Park on November 17, and a festive tree dressing competition in December.

RSPB youth groups first began in 1943, then known as the Junior Bird Recorder's Club, with membership costing one shilling (12p) a year. The club gave 14- to 17-year-olds the chance to enjoy birdwatching in their local area and had 550 members across the UK.  

Archive Image: Credit: RSPB Images.

The RSPB now has different youth groups for children aged five to eight, eight to 12 and 13-to 18-year-olds, all with the aim of inspiring and connecting children to nature in a broader sense.  

Groups usually meet monthly, to learn about and take part in nature-based activities. This can include anything from pond-dipping, minibeast hunting and carrying out wildlife surveys, to tree planting, creating and managing habitats and planning events.  

The RSPB's Macclesfield youth group is aimed at children with an interest in nature and offers an exciting programme of activities in all seasons.  

Jenny Hackland, the RSPB's Education, Families and Youth Manager, explains the benefits of connecting young people to nature: "Our early experiences with wildlife and the outdoors are so powerful in helping build a lifelong connection with the natural world, as well as having proven benefits for children's emotional wellbeing, physical health, education and social skills," she said.  

Kids in the Peaks. (Image - RSPB Archive)

"Our youth groups aim to connect children to nature in a fun and informal way, which will in turn inspire and empower them to become advocates for nature, both now and in the future."  

New youth group members are always welcome, and more leaders are now being sought to help run groups, or set up new groups, as Jenny explains: "Our amazing team of volunteers are central to helping us run youth groups and give children of all ages the chance to enjoy nature.  

"To now be celebrating 80 years of RSPB youth groups is an amazing milestone, and we are so grateful to all our passionate and dedicated leaders who voluntarily run groups, as well as all our children and teenagers who are members.  

"Now we are appealing for more volunteers to help provide even more young people with these amazing opportunities to explore, enjoy and help protect the natural world."  

RSPB youth groups are led and delivered by a team of skilled adult and youth volunteers, who are recruited safely by the RSPB and given regular training to grow their knowledge, skills and experience.   

To find out more about supporting or joining the RSPB's Macclesfield youth group, visit https://group.rspb.org.uk/macclesfieldwex/ or email [email protected].  

They are also on social media.

See Also: Macclesfield good cause donates trees to kids at Bollinbrook Primary School

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