Seed Funding Success - Wildlife and Wellbeing

Birdsong for beginners, May 2025

A little over a year ago Wildlife and Wellbeing approached Salisbury Transition City for seed funding. This was to help them with the launch of their venture aimed at acting locally in response to the crises in human mental health and the growing climate and biodiversity emergencies. Their endeavours are giving the citizens of Salisbury a chance to reconnect with nature and practise mindfulness techniques, whilst at the same time equipping them with the understanding required to care for their natural environment.

Over the course of the last year, they planned to run 15 events; in the end they ran 15 plus a bonus 4 week “Birdsong for Beginners” course. Over 200 people attended - 161 adults and 42 children.

A great start.

Summer Solstice Celebration 2025

They held events by using Salisbury’s amazing green-spaces and in the colder months community venues were hired. All events were planned carefully to help people feel able to attend on their own and arrive on foot/by bicycle/by public transport. Many of the events were accessible for people with limited mobility. Salisbury Transition City’s seed funding subsidised the Wild Salisbury 2025 events programme.

Building a bird box, February 2025

Over the course of the year, Wildlife and Wellbeing were able to hire an extra facilitator for their Bat Nights, and going forward, 2026 looks to be filled with even more events. Including more family focused activities and identifying locations with the best facilities for all. They are also planning community events for solstice and equinox celebrations.

So, whether it be building bird boxes, identifying birdsong, going on a bat night or simply treating yourself to the mindfulness experience of immersing yourself in the wild environment, make 2026 the year that you connect with nature and help your wellbeing by joining one of the Wildlife and Wellbeing Events.

More information can be found here: https://waw.org.uk/events/