Share

Keeping It Wild Residential: Sherwood Species Special

Keeping it Wild members on a walk at Birklands, guided by Andy and Ann of Birklands Ringing Group - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Lily Leatherland of Keeping it Wild recounts her experiences of an amazing weekend out and about exploring Sherwood Forest

Between the 27th and 29th of June, I embarked on yet another unforgettable Keeping it Wild residential – a weekend that, as always, delivered the perfect mix of adventure, learning, and exciting hands-on activities. This year, however, our residential was a little different! Usually, Laura and Jamie take us to an unfamiliar corner of the country, like Norfolk or Cumbria, but this year we stayed closer to home. Instead of discovering somewhere entirely new, we focused on rediscovering our local wild spaces – in this case, Nottinghamshire’s iconic Sherwood Forest, and surrounding areas. This year was less about distance, and more about deepening our connections; with nature, with each other, and with the landscape on our doorstep.

Friday 27th June – Into the Twilight

After setting up camp and fuelling up on a well-earned chippy tea, we headed out to Birklands in Sherwood Forest, to meet Andy and Ann, our expert guides and boffins for the evening (from the local Birklands Ringing Group). As the sun dropped, we got to experience the unique calm of twilight on the heathland, a time when the day softens into night. Our mission on site was to listen for the churr of Nightjars in their natural summer habitat. Despite some strong winds, we were incredibly lucky to not only hear their hypnotic calls but also catch glimpses of them darting out the bushes and swooping overhead.

Young volunteers in the woods listening to a guide

Keeping it Wild members on a walk at Birklands, guided by Andy and Ann of Birklands Ringing Group - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Along the way, Andy and Ann shared fascinating stories about the land’s history, weaving ecology and heritage together in a way that connected past and present on the landscape. Their insights gave a deeper understanding of the heathland and local history, setting the tone for the weekend, reminding us that connection begins with noticing and listening.

Saturday 28th June- Learning and Exploring

Saturday was the heart of the residential: a whirlwind-packed discovery, exploration and learning. Before breakfast, I woke up to discover that my tent had fallen over in the night – a reminder that the outdoors will always keep you on your toes!

Once we had energised ourselves with an early breakfast and rescued the fallen tent, we kicked off the day with Ryan from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Water Vole Recovery Project, diving into the world of water vole conservation. He explained some of the pressures that Water Voles are facing, from habitat loss to predation from invasive species, like the American mink.

Young volunteers in a pond learning about water voles

Wellied up and wading into the water looking for signs of water voles - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Ryan’s passion for the species was infectious. Donning wellies, some of the team waded into the water, while others meandered along the banks searching for signs that these elusive mammals might have left behind, such as chewed stems, and latrines. Ryan also explained techniques used to trap and monitor the invasive American Mink, giving a real sense of the practical, hands-on work that goes into saving one of the UK’s fastest declining species the Water Vole. By the end of the session, I had a new appreciation for the quiet heroes of conservation – like Ryan who dedicates their time and energy into protecting even the smallest, and shyest species. It was inspiring to see how education, observation, and careful fieldwork all come together to make a real difference. 

Young volunteers having a meal together

Having a bite to eat, thanks to local nature enthusiasts Rob and Jill Carlyle - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Midday brought us even more inspiration, as we went to visit Rob and Jill Carlyle, whose eco-home and wildlife-friendly garden left me amazed. Every corner of their property was alive with activity; from wildflower borders buzzing with bees, ponds home to dragonflies, bird boxes tucked in the trees and compost heaps attracting countless insects. Their home reflected their sustainable approach, with clever ways of reducing energy use and waste throughout. They treated us to wonderful homemade soup and cakes for lunch, all prepared in their kitchen – a perfect example of how simple, mindful choices at home can support the environment, as well as a much-needed energy boost to fuel the rest of the day’s adventures.

Seeing how much of a difference just two committed individuals can make was eye-opening, proof that action for nature doesn’t always need to be on a grand scale. Small, thoughtful choices can create a big impact.

At 2pm, we met Michael Walker, honorary Keeping it Wild member (and living legend) for a walk through the heart of Sherwood Forest. The sun was hot as we made our way through the trails, but the forest provided a stunning background as Michael shared his insights, which made every step fascinating. 

Young volunteers at sherwood forest listening to Michael Walker on nature recovery

On a walk through Sherwood Forest listening to woodland expert Michael Walker - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Walking through the trees, it was hard not to be in awe – this forest has stood for centuries, and was alive with stories, both ancient and ongoing. Sherwood isn’t just a historical site, but a living, breathing ecosystem; birds flitting between branches, butterflies dancing across the paths to the sunlit undergrowth, and stories that stretch back through time. As we walked, Michael shared the story of the old car park that had been restored back into the woodland, a brilliant example of habitat recovery. He explained the careful management of the site and gave a real sense of the work that goes into protecting these valuable habitats. His knowledge and passion brought the forest vividly to life, helping us appreciate not just its history, but also the care and effort that keeps it thriving today.

After a well-deserved and tasty BBQ back at camp, the evening brought us even more magic. We swapped last night’s drone of the nightjars for bioluminescence at Sherwood Heath, heading out in search of glow worms with Graeme and Erin from Sherwood Forest Trust. The glow worms themselves were surprisingly easy to spot once you knew where to look, tiny greeny-yellow points of light scattered across the low vegetation. Though, there were a few moments when my eyes played tricks on me, spotting each one felt satisfying and made me pay closer attention to the little details of the heath.

Glow worm on leaves

Glow worm - Photo credit: Erin Shepard

This wasn’t all, however. Two moth traps had been set up on the heath, allowing us to see the incredible variety of moths active at night. We were also equipped with bat detectors, listening to their calls as the bats swooped through the dark, foraging or commuting. Experiencing all these creatures together (the glow worms, moths and bats) made me realise that nature doesn’t sleep when we do, and reinforced how many hidden interactions go unnoticed. Peering into this secret world, that only comes alive once the sun has set, was a brilliant experience, and one that I will certainly be bragging about. Seeing these tiny greeny-yellow pinpricks of light, glowing in the darkness, and the soft rustle of nocturnal life all over the heath, made the late bedtime more than worth it, giving a new perspective on the richness and complexity of these local wild spaces.

Sunday 29th June – Blitzing and Splashing

Sunday morning began with an energy boost from an excellent pancake breakfast, followed by a mini BioBlitz at Walesby Heathland led by our very own volunteer leader Erin who also works for Sherwood Forest Trust. Full of pancakes and armed with nets, ID guides and plenty of enthusiasm, we set out to survey the campsite area, collecting valuable data on the campsite, learning how even the smallest of observations can contribute to wider conservation efforts.

Keeping it wild members with Lina at Vicar Water

Listening to Lena of the 3 Rivers Recovery Project at Vicar Water Country Park - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Later in the afternoon, once all our gear was packed up, we headed to Vicar Water Country Park, where Lena who worked on the 3 Rivers Restoration Project, introduced us to the world of river restoration and freshwater surveying. Kneeling at the water’s edge, dipping our nets into trays, and discovering the miniature creatures that call Vicar Water, home. Highlighting how interconnected our ecosystems are – from the tiniest invertebrates to the wider water system. Conservation starts locally, and protecting even small habitats can have a far-reaching impact.

The weekend then ended not with quiet reflection, but with wild laughter as we took to Spring Lakes Aqua Park for some team building fun. Clambering over inflatable obstacle courses and plunging into the water was the perfect way to round off an intense but inspiring weekend. After a couple of days of early mornings, and late, sometimes sleepless nights, it was an excellent reminder that connecting with nature isn’t just about learning – it’s also about sharing joy, creating memories, and having fun together.

Keeping it Wild treated to a visit to a water park

Keeping it Wild enjoying a fun end to the weekend with a trip to Spring Lakes Aqua Park - Photo credit: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Looking Back...

What made this residential truly special wasn’t just the activities or the places we visited, it was the way it brought us together. Over this weekend, we gained knowledge from experts, developed new skills, and deepened our sense of connection – to each other, to passionate experts who shared their knowledge, and to the wild spaces just beyond our doorstep.

Exploring Sherwood Forest, and all the local wild spaces we visited, reminded me that conservation isn’t only about distant rainforests or far off species – it is right here, in woods, heathlands, rivers and streams that surround us. The weekend showed me that even the smallest action – whether that be recording an individual or sharing some species - is always a step towards something bigger.

I personally left the residential feeling tired, muddy, and incredibly sun-kissed, but also feeling incredibly inspired. Inspired to notice more, act more, and to appreciate the wild spaces around me. I’ve been reminded that conservation isn’t just about policies, statistics and bad news, it’s about real, lived experiences - like hearing a nightjar for the first time, spotting some water vole poop, or laughing with friends as you trudge back to camp at midnight. 

If there is one thing I’ll take from this weekend, so beautifully organised by Laura and Jamie, is that the wild is closer than we think; and that small actions, like the light of a single glow-worm in the night, can blaze the way for lasting, bigger change.

Get involved

If you'd like to learn more about Keeping it Wild, who they are and what they do, take a look at their webpage!

Find out more

Related blog posts