Take a look at the locations and activities below and if you're interested, you can book your place on the trip via our events feed. If the trip you want to book is full, you can join a waiting list and we'll contact you if a place becomes available.
ECOWild
Our nature and wellbeing project on University land and in collaboration with partners across the North of England.
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Explore the natural world with us
Our ECOWild project provides our community with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural world through wildlife observation, creative activities, and mindful invitations. Rooted in the theme of nature and wellbeing, the project is based on the 5 ways to wellbeing – enabling you to connect, be active, take notice, learn and give – as well as the 5 pathways to nature connection to help you nurture your relationship with nature, through contact, beauty, meaning, emotion and compassion.
The programme follows the rhythm of the passing seasons and is underpinned by seasonal themes. With the help of binoculars, ID sheets and other material, we learn about the surrounding nature, from plants to wildlife through to fungi. With simple resources and items harvested form nature, we create sustainable crafts and finally, through mindful activities and invitations, we learn tools to connect with nature.
There is a regular programme of opportunities available, from local adventures to trips further afield. Visit the events feed to find out more about upcoming events.
Our ECOWild partners
Green Lancaster collaborates with a range of partners across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria on projects that aim to see nature and people thrive. Our ECOWild field trips offer individuals the opportunity to travel to new locations to develop their biodiversity monitoring skills and knowledge as well as their connection with the rest of the natural world.
The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery
Morecambe Bay, like many coastal communities in the Northwest of England, has been impacted heavily by loneliness and isolation during the global pandemic. Reconnecting with nature can have a positive impact on wellbeing. The project delivers various activities including guided walks, rock pooling, beach cleans and art. Visit The Bay website for more info.
Wild Garsdale Pike
Based near Sedbergh in Cumbria, the Wild Garsdale Pike Project is a youth-led environmental project that gives young people a voice and opportunity to explore conservation and environmental issues and gain practical conservation and research experience. Stretching across 195 acres of high hill land, the project holds enhancing biodiversity as its core objective. For more information about the project visit the Wild Garsdale Pike website.
Lower Winskill
Lower Winskill is a working farm set in spectacular limestone scenery overlooking Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Hay meadows are central to the farm, at the crossroad between encouraging wildlife and sustainable farming. They are a nationally rare habitat rich in wildflowers and insects, especially butterflies and bumblebees. Find out more about Lower Winskill on their website.
Why Get Involved?
At the same time as the climate crisis and ecological emergency are escalating, our relationship with nature is breaking down. The loss of knowledge and personal connection with the rest of nature is both a consequence and a driver of the social and environmental challenges we are experiencing. As such, research shows that tending to our relationship with nature responds to the challenge of the climate and ecological emergency.
Through the 5 ways to wellbeing and the 5 pathways to nature connection, the ECOWild project aims to enable nature connection and foster positive transformational change in the way that we interact with nature. We spend time in a rage of natural ecosystems, learning about their health and biodiversity – or lack thereof – and cultivating a meaningful, emotional relationship with them.
Dedicated Events
Every year, we run a number of dedicated events for specific groups such as teaching modules, departments, or societies.
Dates and times are flexible and there are lots of benefits to taking part in an ECOWild event. They are good for getting out in the open, building team spirit and give participants a great level of satisfaction. If you are interested in booking a dedicated event for your group, email us at green@lancaster.ac.uk.
Recent Walks and Field Trips
ECOWild 2021
Here's a selection of photos from our most recent trip to Duddon Valley showing our volunteers helping with the Restoring Hardknott Forest project. The team were involved in native tree planting and Spruce removal, bringing back felled (Spruce) Christmas Trees to decorate campus with!
ECOWild 2021
Here's a selection of photos from our most recent trip to Duddon Valley showing our volunteers helping with the Restoring Hardknott Forest project. The team were involved in native tree planting and Spruce removal, bringing back felled (Spruce) Christmas Trees to decorate campus with!
ECOWild 2021
Here's a selection of photos from our most recent trip to Duddon Valley showing our volunteers helping with the Restoring Hardknott Forest project. The team were involved in native tree planting and Spruce removal, bringing back felled (Spruce) Christmas Trees to decorate campus with!
ECOWild 2021
Here's a selection of photos from our most recent trip to Duddon Valley showing our volunteers helping with the Restoring Hardknott Forest project. The team were involved in native tree planting and Spruce removal, bringing back felled (Spruce) Christmas Trees to decorate campus with!
ECOWild 2021
Here's a selection of photos from our most recent trip to Duddon Valley showing our volunteers helping with the Restoring Hardknott Forest project. The team were involved in native tree planting and Spruce removal, bringing back felled (Spruce) Christmas Trees to decorate campus with!