Maidenhead & Windsor

Young Maidenhead nature enthusiasts have taken Braywick to the top of the wildlife pack, winning the national Best Wildlife Watch Group of the Year award – in only their second year of participating.

Braywick Wildlife Watch Group, which meets monthly at Braywick Nature Centre in Maidenhead, won the award based on a portfolio they built up over 2006. In the previous year, when the group first entered the competition, they were named South-east regional runners-up.

The Maidenhead group – an environmental youth club for children aged seven to 12 years – has been running since 1991 and is led by Royal Borough countryside rangers Becca Flintham, Trevor Smith and Jason Mills with local volunteers, including parents.

Their winning portfolio comprised a yearbook of photos, writing and drawings compiled by the children and chronicling their activities throughout 2006. These included a visit to an indoor tropical rainforest, kite-making, pond dipping, going on a beetle safari, woodland conservation work, hunting for butterflies, red kite spotting, finding out about fungi and a night-time owl prowl. The yearbook was submitted at the start of January and the winner announced shortly after.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services, said: "Winning this national award in the second year of entering is an amazing achievement and full credit must go to the youngsters for their enthusiasm and participation and the leaders for all their hard work and encouragement.

"The more regular our contact with the natural world, the happier and healthier we are. Children are attracted to explore nature and their surroundings from a very young age, and it is something all adults should encourage and nurture.

"Having a positive and close relationship with and understanding of the natural world will not only enable young people to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives, it will also provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to face the challenges of living sustainably in our rapidly changing world."

Helen Freeston, people and wildlife manager at the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which organised and judged to competition, said: "We were impressed by the range of activities in the yearbook. The enthusiasm and hard work of the leaders was apparent and it looked like everyone was enjoying themselves. It was great to see young people's views being taken into consideration when planning their programme and the members even running a session themselves."

Athene Reiss, wildlife watch officer for Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, which supports the group, said: "It's fantastic news that Braywick have won this award. They truly deserve it. All the leaders, volunteer helpers and kids have worked ever so hard over the last year and completed some really exciting and original activities. The group is going from strength to strength, having already received a runners-up award in the regional category last year."

Maidenhead Countryside ranger Becca Flintham said: "We are really excited about our success. Running the group is a very important part of my job as a countryside ranger – encouraging and supporting a new generation of children and young people to explore and understand the environment, to take the kind of delight in the natural world and wildlife that I have been lucky enough to enjoy.

"And from a purely selfish point of view, as adults it's great to be able to share our interest in wildlife with the children – they're so enthusiastic!"

The group has a waiting list of children wanting to join and there is scope for similar groups to be set up in the Maidenhead area. Funding and training are available and the countryside rangers can offer support to anyone considering getting another watch group established. Anyone interested in starting up a group is welcome to contact Becca on 01628 777440 or email the Countryside Service at bnc@rbwm.gov.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead