Blue Influencers

With funding from the Ernest Cook Charitable Trust, we are now half way through the Blue Influencers project, aimed at empowering young people aged 10-14 to take action to look after their blue spaces (local waterways and ponds). Having spent 18 months in Salisbury and Trowbridge, we are now moving into Swindon.

The project aims to remove barriers to accessing the outdoors, while helping young people create deep, lasting and meaningful connections to the natural environment via their local waterways by giving them a voice to make a change in their community, and for the planet.

Dan Moden has been appointed as a Blue Mentor, leading on the project in Swindon and joining a network of 22 Blue Mentors across the country.

If you are interested to learn more about this project and how you or a young person you know can get involved, please contact Dan: bluementor@wiltshirewildlife.org

What our Blue Influencers have been up to:

Studley Green Primary School

A group of Year 5 and 6 pupils at Studley Green Primary spent 12 weeks being Blue Influencers in their local community. As well as investigating the wildlife in their school ponds, the pupils learned all about the water cycle and the importance of blue spaces for nature, with the assistance of the Trust’s Sue Deedigan. Keen to make a difference, the group took part in a number of community litter picks around their local brook, and then finished off the project by talking to the whole school during assembly, educating the other children about what they’d learned and giving them ideas about how they too can help protect their blue spaces.

4 children pose with the rubbish they have collected from the river

Will Orr, Assistant Headteacher, had this to say about the project:

“It was a fantastic project that gave the children a good understanding of the issues affecting our rivers. They had the opportunity to participate in meaningful and enriching activities on our school grounds and in the local area. A particular highlight was the river litter pick, where every child contributed to making our environment cleaner and more welcoming for wildlife.”

Newtown Primary School

When we started working with the Year 6 class in the spring, the school pond was looking very overgrown and in need of restoration. The Year 6 pupils spent a few weeks clearing undergrowth and restoring the pond area, helping it become a nature-rich environment which the assistance of the Trust’s Sue Deedigan. The pupils were keen to share the results with the rest of the school through displaying posters and providing Spotter Sheets to encourage the younger year groups to spend time by the pond and learn about what the wildlife that lives there or visits.

Pupil clears some weeds from pond with help of WWT team member

St Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School

During April and May 2025, the Trust’s Jo Darlington had the opportunity to work with 10 Blue Influencers from St Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School in Laverstock, Salisbury. The students were in Years 7 to 9, and they initially had no contact with or knowledge of the River Bourne, a chalk stream Site of Special Scientific Interest, within a 10 minute walk of the school.

Over the course of five weeks, the Blue Influencers were able to investigate the wildlife in and around the river, clear areas to improve access, rebuild fencing with willow weaving, provide kingfisher perches, bring in log seating, create art and provide some more information for future visitors. Possibly one of the most rewarding outcomes was their enjoyment of just being in the area, coupled with their desire to maintain the natural beauty and diversity for other visitors.

Lena Rose, the school’s Safeguarding and Welfare Officer, had this to say about the project:

"Taking part in the Blue Influencer Scheme with Wiltshire Wildlife truly inspired our students. Learning about our local blue spaces and working to support wildlife in a nearby chalk stream sparked real curiosity and teamwork. It was incredible to see the students create something lasting for the community.”