Team Wilder

TEAM

Welcome to Team Wilder, where we share the stories of local people coming together to take action for wildlife.

Arun taking part in an intertidal survey.

Arun Curson, Marine Champion

As Wildlife Trust volunteers go, few are more inspiring than 14-year-old, aspiring marine biologist Arun Curson.

The teenager became interested in marine wildlife aged six when he started rock pooling and became obsessed with identifying the creatures he found.

He has since become the Trust’s youngest ever marine champion. He joined his fi rst intertidal survey at the age of 10 and impressed so much with his knowledge and enthusiasm that he’s now a reliable regular (usually the surveys are for over 16-year-olds).

So far, he has completed intertidal surveys at Lepe, Keyhaven and Calshot near his New Forest home. He hopes to join a survey on the Isle of Wight this summer.

Outside of the surveys, Arun encourages his friends to do beach cleans, quizzes seafood restaurants over their sustainability and is developing a website to educate children about sharks.

When he’s older, Arun is aiming for a degree marine biology followed by a master’s in teuthology – the study of cephalopods – and would love to become the fi rst person ever to witness a colossal squid (his all-time favourite animal) in the wild!

Lucy Tipper, Environmental Art Campaigner

Hampshire-based artist Lucy Tipper is campaigning for wildlife through her nature-inspired illustrations.

After hearing about the proposed developments that would destroy legally protected nature sites at Tipner West in Portsmouth, Lucy wanted to give a voice to the wildlife that calls it home through her art.

She collects natural resources, such as seaweed, plant materials and water, from Tipner West before using an environmentally-friendly process to dye the paper for her illustrations.

Lucy, whose professional name is Tangled Muses, said: “Tipner has been a pleasure to work with; it’s history, wildlife and tranquillity captured my imagination.

“The views and wildlife have inspired me each time I visit and it’s my hope that the spirit of Tipner West has poured into the images.

“Development will always be inevitable as people need homes; however, it’s my belief that we should prioritise making it sensitive to the wildlife that already calls it home.”

See Lucy’s incredible series of artworks, Voices of Tipner, at her website: tangledmuses.co.uk

Sammy Audley, Seagrass Ambassador

Brading Haven Yacht Club, Sailing Sustainably

When it comes to raising awareness of the marine environment and reducing human impact on nature, the members of Brading Haven Yacht Club (BHYC) go the extra mile.

The Isle of Wight-based club, which is in a wildlife-rich conservation area of special scientific interest (SSSI), has taken numerous measures to support its natural surroundings.

BHYC’s commitment to being environmentally friendly includes carrying out monthly beach cleans and wildlife surveys, monitoring seagrass habitats and reducing its use of singleuse plastic.

Several of the club’s members have also become Marine Champions with the Trust, supporting the Secrets of the Solent project, while BHYC sailing instructors compete to see who can haul out the most rubbish from the sea each month.

Members are also encouraged to take care when dropping anchor to help protect and limit the damage to vulnerable seagrass beds.

The Trust has delivered several talks and workshops to BHYC’s young sailors who have since produced posters that are displayed in the club to promote environmental awareness. Eleven-year-old Sammy Audley (left) harnessed the power of seagrass to win a public speaking competition at his school.

The Year 6 pupil of Stroud School in Romsey wowed his teachers and fellow classmates with a presentation on the marine plant after learning about the Trust’s Solent Seagrass Restoration Project.

Sammy became inspired by seagrass after finding out his mum, Vicky, had signed up to become a Solent Seagrass Champion with the Trust.

During Sammy’s three-minute talk he described the importance of seagrass, how it is threatened and how the Trust is helping to recover it in the Solent.

Sammy said: “I thought it would be a good idea to give my talk on seagrass as it’s an amazing plant and saving it is so important.

“I wasn’t expecting to win the competition, but I was overjoyed when they announced I was in first place.”

Many of the school’s staff and parents said they knew nothing about seagrass before Sammy’s talk and were fascinated by the Trust’s project.

Sammy, who received a trophy for his winning presentation, says he wants to use his love of engineering to create a seagrass-planting machine when he’s older.

Be a part of Team Wilder

Anyone can become part of Team Wilder. It doesn’t ma er whether you’re an individual, a local business, a school or a community group, as long as you are enthusiastic about helping nature. If you’d like to find out how you can get involved, please email wilder@hiwwt.org.uk or visit our website for more information.