Community activity	In this section: Access Community involvement A resource for the village
Access Kiln Meadow is open to the public at all times. The aim of the project is twofold: to conserve and protect wildlife, and also to allow the local community to enjoy and learn about that wildlife. The site is popular with local people who come to look at the wildflowers, to spot birds, to see if there are any frogs in the pond, or just to enjoy a period of quiet reflection in pleasant surroundings. All we ask is that visitors behave responsibly, cause minimum disturbance, and let us know if they discover anything interesting. Top of Page
Community involvement There is great support for the project from the local community. All of our nestboxes are sponsored by local people - they are so popular that there is now a waiting list for vacant boxes! Our first open event attracted over a hundred visitors, and we plan to hold similar events as the site develops. To raise awareness of the project and about conservation work in general the volunteers have mounted displays in the parish church and at the village Autumn Fayre. A special display for National Nestbox Week was put on in the library. Regular reports of the activities that take place on the site are published in the village newsletter which is distributed free of charge to all households. Top of Page
A resource for the village A principal aim of the development of the wildlife site is for it to become a resource for the village of Elmswell, and we especially encourage children to come here to discover nature for themselves. The picture shows a recent visit by members of the Elmswell Cub Pack who were shown round by members of the volunteer group. The lads arrived, complete with packed lunch, on an unpromising, drizzly day, but determined and keen to learn. They were all working towards their Wildlife Badge. The pond was a star attraction, but the new tree planting, the bird boxes and the fungi were all enthusiastically examined. We hope to welcome them back soon for a return visit. Not to be outdone, the Brownies have also been to visit us, and they came in force - 40 of them, to be precise! They followed a trail around the site answering questions on a worksheet devised by one of the volunteers.