Wilded
Our free education programme for secondary schools and youth groups in England and Wales
what is wilded?
Our WildED Programme is delivered in secondary schools and youth groups across our three priority regions: London and the South East, Bristol and South Wales, Manchester and the North West.
We’ll visit your school or youth group to deliver a series of inspiring sessions over the school year to deepen your young people’s connection to nature and their understanding of the natural world. They’ll gain practical skills, build their knowledge and confidence, and emerge as young leaders motivated to drive further change on their school grounds and in their local communities.
As part of the programme, we support you to join us for ‘Inspiration Day’ visits to amazing community partners, like Grow Wilder in Bristol, Platt Fields Market Garden in Manchester and Epping Forest in London, where your young people will take part in practical activities, like tree planting, that benefit their community and inspire their personal projects.
INTERESTED IN WILDED?
Our staff teams are based in London, Manchester, Brighton and Bristol and run the WildED Programme in the South East, North West and South West of England and in South Wales.
If you're interested in hosting WildED at your secondary school or youth group, then please get in touch with our Programme Team by completing the form.
Eligibility requirements
We deliver WildED for free in state secondary schools and youth groups located within an approximate 30 mile radius of Central London, Brighton, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol.
We prioritise schools and youth groups where 50% or more of the young people they work with are in receipt of pupil premium and/or free school meals, or who face other barriers to participation.
To learn more about WildED, please read our WildED Guide.
We prioritise schools & youth groups where more than 50% of young people receive pupil premium, free school meals, or face other barriers to participation.
Case studies
Whalley Range High School, Manchester
-
A group of 25 year 9 students from Whalley Range High School took part in WildED workshops in class and on their school grounds.
-
During in-classroom workshops the students expanded their environmental knowledge, learning about the importance of urban green spaces for community well-being and sustainable gardening practices.
They visited Platt Fields Market Garden, a community-supported agriculture project located in Platt Fields Park, Manchester. The students were surprised to discover such an impactful project on their doorstep. The highlight of their visit was planting potatoes, an activity that helped students develop a deeper connection to the land and to where their food comes from.
The students then planned their own legacy project for their school, a new garden space. They worked collaboratively to plan and build their garden, choosing plants such as lavender, allium, sunflowers, salvia, azalea, and shrubs for winter interest.
-
Students created a pollinator-friendly garden with a range of perennials and winter shrubs.
88% of students said WildED influenced them to do more to help nature in their everyday lives.
94% of students are more knowledgeable about ways to protect and improve nature.
100% of students would recommend WildED to other young people.
WildED inspired three students to apply and secure spots on AFC's Summer Camps in the Peak District.
Thomas tallis school, london
-
A group of 17 year 8 students from Thomas Tallis School in south London participated in WildED workshops in class and on their school grounds.
-
Students took part in a series of workshops with AFC’s South East team across the 2024/2025 academic year.
They expanded their knowledge of environmental issues during interactive classroom workshops.
They learnt how to make bird feeders from recycled and natural materials. These were then placed around the school grounds.
The students planned bigger changes for their school, planting trees across the site. They now plan to build a micropond, creating habitat for aquatic plants and animals.
-
Students planted 20 trees across their school site.
82% of students said WildED has influenced their plans for the future.
81% of students said that after taking part in WildED, they have more skills to help nature.
Young people were asked what feelings they would use to describe their experience of WildED. They said:
“Happy”
“Nature-ness”
“Exhilarating”
“Wonderful”
Cleeve school, cheltenham
-
The group is comprised of 35 students from all year groups, with the majority being Key Stage 3. Students from year 11 acted as mentors, supporting younger students to develop and deliver their project.
-
Students identified a bare and overgrown garden space on their school grounds. They created a plan to rejuvenate the space for the school community. They built a willow dome, planting flowers around it, the dome is set to be used as a calming space to enhance students wellbeing.
They enhanced the rest of the space by building a willow arch at the entrance and planting climbing honeysuckle alongside it. They added paving stones to allow exploration of the space and refurbished a vegetable growing area using raised planters and reclaimed pots.
Lastly, the group designed and built a small pond next to the willow arch to encourage aquatic species.
-
Food and herbs grown in the new vegetable planters have been used in the school canteen and food technology lessons. In addition, we saw positive impacts on students who participated:
100% of students who participated would recommend WildED to another young person.
73% of students said WildED has led them to do more for nature in my every day lives.
83% of students said WildED has influenced my outlook on the future.
"Supporting young people in expanding their environmental knowledge and putting this into action as part of WildED is exciting. The work they achieve to address social and environmental issues in their local area is incredibly inspiring."
Chloe Ly - South East Programme Coordinator
impact
“What we've been able to do at Penpont has been the most progressive form of education we've had.”
Willow, Penpont Youth Leadership Group Member