The Wilder Together in the Stour Valley partnership has been established to support parish and town councils so they can work with their communities to create wildlife-friendly villages and towns in the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley. 

Working together in partnership for wildlife will create more space for nature. A network of wild areas will be restored, reconnected, and maintained by residents, on both public and private land including gardens, which will not only benefit wildlife but people too.

The Wilder Together project will establish a network of Wilder Together villages and towns throughout the Stour Valley in Essex and Suffolk to make the area wilder and more welcoming to nature.

Not only will this benefit wildlife and the natural environment, but local communities will also be empowered to take action to support wildlife, creating a wilder Stour Valley which will give people a gateway to the natural world on their doorstep.

As part of the project, the partnership of organisations will run tours for local councillors, work with parish and town councils to encourage wildlife projects, host wildlife webinars and training days for volunteers and parishes and provide free expert habitat and conservation advice.

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Chair said:

“It is fantastic that these organisations have come together to help parishes create more space for wildlife and this project shows the strength of working in collaboration for the good of nature and the environment”. 

Danielle Carbott, Essex Wildlife Trust's Wilder Communities Manager, said:

“Since 2022, Essex Wildlife Trust has been working closely with parish and town councils to support wildlife-friendly changes in local communities. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with like-minded organisations, so that we can develop wildlife-friendly spaces in the Stour Valley and help local people act for nature.”

Cathy Smith, Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Community Wildlife Advisor said:

“Together we aim to harness the collective energy of community groups in the Stour Valley and enable them to act for wildlife for Suffolk’s priority species such as hedgehogs, stag beetles and swifts. It has never been so important that everyone comes together to create the space for nature that it so desperately needs. This is a brilliant new initiative that aims to make a real difference for both people and wildlife in our county.”

Amy Ward, Visitor Experience Officer at RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden, said:

“Wilder Together is a real game changer in the local area as it will empower communities to connect with the nature on their doorstep. Nature is under threat, and this will give them vital knowledge about what they can do to help. Since opening back in 2011, we’ve been encouraging our visitors from near and far to garden for wildlife, so were more than pleased to get involved as it was a natural fit with our work. We look forward to working closely with local people and our partners to help deliver real change for wildlife in the Stour Valley.”