Stand for Nature Wales

Now fully established, we have 3  Youth Action Groups running in Welshpool, Llanidloes and Machynlleth. These are open to anyone aged 9-24 with an interest in wildlife or the climate. Each group runs fortnightly for roughly an hours session. See the links below for our Winter 2023 schedules. A place in one of the group guarantees you a spot on our FREE residential Youth Summit trips each Summer, where you can gain new skills and meet likeminded climate activists! Our groups are filling fast so do register soon.

If you're in the older bracket of the age group you can, if you like, help us lead the project as a volunteer and gain experience in working with a nature and climate youth programme. For more information, email Lucy on lucy@montwt.co.uk

This was a FREE 5-day camp for ages 13-17, ran in partnership with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. Read all about it in our blog here

This is a pan-Wales project meaning there are 9 Youth Action Groups across Wales right now that are learning about, and working on, climate solutions. This summer all 9 groups got together for a FREE trip to Urdd Gobiath Centre in Llangrannog. We spent three amazing days there meeting passionate young people from across the country. In the morning we took part in adventure activities such as climbing, archery or go karting. Whilst in the afternoon we did workshops on wildlife and climate. We even squeezed in a trip to the beach. Everyone left feeling inspired and further connected in their fight against climate change. 

The biggest issue our young people were concerned with in the Youth Manifesto, in 2022, was pesticides. So,  young people from across the country got together to build their first ever campaign - demanding a reduction in the use of pesticides. 

Together they built, pushed and have been leading this campaign. Most recently, they emailed their local Members of the Senedd (MS's) and invited them to come and discuss the campaign in Cardiff. We couldn't be more proud of the passion and confidence these young people have in taking this issue to the Senedd and demonstrating how hard they will work to improve our nature and climate crisis. Check out their campaign here

We were busy last year setting up another 2 Youth Action Groups! We ran bi-weekly sessions in Welshpool, Llanidloes and Machynlleth. We focused in on the nature and climate emergency and worked with our young people to build their wildlife identification skills, their campaigning knowledge and connected them with national and world leaders through the new Youth Manifesto.

This is a pan-Wales project meaning there are 9 Youth Action Groups across Wales right now that are learning about, and working on, climate solutions. Last year, for the first time, we invited all 9 groups to get together for a FREE trip to Rock UK Summit Centre. We spent three amazing days there meeting passionate young people from across the country. In the morning we took part in adventure activities such as climbing, caving or archery. Whilst in the afternoon we did workshops on wildlife and climate. Everyone left feeling inspired and further connected in their fight against climate change. 

Last year a passionate group of young people from all across Wales contributed to creating our first Welsh Youth Manifesto - 'Wildlife, Wales and the World'.  This is a declaration of what young people in Wales want to see happen for nature and the climate. It was taken to, and used, at COP15 in Canada!

"Young people from across Wales have come together to write this manifesto, a summary of our key concerns and the major changes we want to see implemented to safeguard the future of biodiversity in Wales"

Last year we attended a youth COP organised and funded by Size of Wales, an incredible charity working internationally with indigenous and local people to restore forests. Our youth groups had the opportunity to attend a panel on Gender and Climate Change, with conversation ranging from the inequality within climate refugees to climate and fashion. We we're incredibly proud of how active a role our young people took in the discussions. They had multiple thoughtful questions for the panel, which was noticed and complimented on, by a member of the Senedd!

In 2021 we set up our first Youth Action Group in Welshpool at our very own Severn Farms Nature Reserve. We collected participants in our minibus from across the local area, including Newtown and Ceri. Running multiple session across the year we were able to talk about all sorts from wildlife finds such as dragonflies and flowers to climate change around us. It was a great start to our Youth Action Groups!

We were busy, in 2021, building partnerships with three schools across Montgomeryshire. 

During our visits we aimed for students to be outside and having fun, whilst learning about wildlife! From bug hunting, pond maintenance, environmental surveys, litter picking, and more! In addition, we supported students in developing their own ideas on how they can improve their school grounds for wildlife, whilst also reducing the impacts of climate change.

It was a creative and fun-filled summer in 2021 for young people in Powys! We worked with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust to run a series of incredible workshops, giving young people a chance to channel their creative side. From creative writing, film making, printmaking and even improvisation – all with a nature and climate change theme. 

Members of our youth action group took part in The Wildlife Trust's #BigWildWalk challenge in October 2021. We walked, alongside Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, to raise money and help The Wildlife Trusts tackle the nature and climate emergency.