My name is Wilfred, I am 15 years old and I have lived in Derby all my life. My love of wildlife has come from my parents and spending time outdoors ever since I was born. One place that has always been really special to me is Allestree Park.

When I was very young, I used to go to the animal enclosure outside Allestree Hall to feed the animals, and I even planted a tree on the recreation field. As I got older, I spent lots of time in the park going for long walks and looking for lost golf balls in the woods and long grass. Later on, I learnt to play golf and played there a bit too.

As a family, we also walked a retired guide dog called Allie. Whenever we walked her, we would pick up litter as we went. During lockdown, I spent even more time walking Allie and collected lots of litter around the park. I was really proud to receive a Blue Peter Green Badge for the environmental work I did.

I first became involved with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust after a friend told us they were looking for Junior Rangers to help at Allestree Park. I have always loved being outside in nature, so I thought it sounded like something I would really enjoy. Since becoming a Junior Ranger, I have had the chance to do lots of different activities. We have done Himalayan balsam bashing - to remove this invasive species - planted trees, been on bird and fungus identification walks, built dams to help reduce flooding, dug holes to encourage dormant seeds to grow and planted seed bombs. My favourite part has definitely been getting really muddy and stuck into the practical jobs because you can actually see the difference you are making.

When I had to organise my Year 10 work experience, I knew I wanted to do something outdoors and working with nature. I asked Wilder Connections Officer, Andy Honman, if I could do my work experience with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and he said it was a great idea and that he would look into it. When he told me it had been arranged, I was really happy because I knew I would be doing something I enjoyed, and giving others the chance to do the same.

During the week we did lots of different jobs. We carried on with Himalayan balsam bashing, helped dig out an area for a new path and spread wood chippings over an existing path to make it more level and accessible for everyone. We got into the lake to pull out old logs and pieces of wood to help improve the water quality, and we also planted reeds in the lake. We carried out soil sampling to identify the different types of soil around the park, made videos encouraging people to visit Allestree Park and visited a local infant school where we ran wildlife-themed games to inspire younger children. We also learnt about the different jobs and careers within Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

The highlight of the week for me was definitely working in the lake. It was really muddy and everyone kept getting stuck, with people losing their wellies in the bog. The funniest moment was when my friend went into the lake wearing waders to retrieve the grapple we were using to pull logs out. He stood on a log which suddenly snapped, and he fell straight into the water and got completely soaked! It was a brilliant week, and I am really glad I suggested the idea of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust running a week's work experience. It felt good working in a small group with other people who enjoyed outdoor work as much as I do, and I made a couple of new friends. It even inspired some of the people in my group to sign up as Junior Ranger volunteers afterwards. All of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust staff were really friendly, passionate about what they do and made us all feel very welcome.

Outside of Junior Rangers, I still spend a lot of my free time in Allestree Park helping local wildlife. I regularly go down to the lake where I help feed and keep an eye on the different species of birds to make sure they all look healthy. I also pick up litter, especially dangerous fishing tackle and discarded fishing line that has been left around the lake, because these can seriously injure wildlife.

As part of Junior Rangers, I helped build the bird hide, which helps protect the birds, and I have also helped repair and build up the barriers around the lake whilst out walking. I am really passionate about protecting the wildlife, and I have helped Derby Parks by putting up posters asking people to keep dogs on leads around the lake, especially during nesting season, because it helps keep the birds safe.

One of the best things about volunteering with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is seeing the difference over time. Since I started volunteering, I have watched the trees we planted get bigger and seen the other species we planted begin to take root and grow. It makes all the hard work feel worthwhile because you can actually see that what you have done has made a difference.

I think other young people should get involved because, if you enjoy being outside in nature, then you will really enjoy being a Junior Ranger. It makes me really happy to see the small changes I have helped make and watch habitats recover because of the work we have done. I have learnt that you do not always have to do something huge to help the environment. Small things like not dropping litter, keeping dogs on leads around the lake and taking responsibility for your own actions all add up and can make a really big difference.

Maybe when I am older, I would like to work in nature helping wildlife and the environment, perhaps even for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust! Until then, I want to carry on helping to look after Allestree Park because it is a place that is important to me.

Play Your Part for Derbyshire's Wildlife

As Wilfred rightly points out, you don't have to do something huge to make a difference. Every small action contributes to a wilder, more resilient county!

That’s why we need everyone across Derbyshire to play their part - whether that’s keeping dogs on leads near sensitive nesting sites, creating space for wildlife in your own garden, or giving your time to support local habitat restoration.

Feeling inspired by Wilfred's story? You can help nature thrive:

• Become a member – join our growing community of members to rewild your local places, support wildlife, and help people connect with nature.
• Volunteer with us – get stuck into practical work on the ground, build green skills, and join a friendly community working for nature.
• Gain green skills - explore opportunities to learn practical nature-based skills and inspire the next generation of conservationists.
• Join our events - from training workshops to family fun, there are so many activities to get involved in.