{"id":30694,"date":"2024-09-27T11:51:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T10:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learn.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk\/?page_id=30694"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:41:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:41:45","slug":"nextdoor-nature-pioneers-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/learn.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk\/index.php\/nextdoor-nature-pioneers-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Course cost<\/h3><\/div>

Free
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Course length<\/h3><\/div>

8 weeks at
1-2 hours study per week<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learning type<\/h3><\/div>

Self-led study<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Experience level<\/h3><\/div>

Beginner
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Login to Enroll<\/strong> <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Training the next generation of nature pioneers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This course is for anyone passionate about helping their local wildlife, and will help to build the skills knowledge, skills and confidence to organise positive action for nature in a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Make a real difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With lots of plants, animals and wild spaces in decline, nature is in a state of crisis. But if 1 in 4 people take action, we can make a real difference. Imagine living in a neighbourhood where nature thrives, where there is a strong sense of community spirit and where people pull together to help each other and their local wildlife. Many of us would like to see more nature in our local area \u2013 and our Pioneers Programme is a great place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the Programme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This free online course runs over 8 weeks and covers a wide range of topics, from how to engage others in the community to how to identify practical actions for nature. Take a look at our Programme Overview here<\/a> or scroll down for a full breakdown of what’s covered in each of the programme modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Syllabus<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This 8-week course requires 1-2 hours of study time per week. The first three modules are released immediately on registration, with the next module becoming available each week thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 8 weeks, you’ll also have the choice to complete 7 additional optional modules to help you continue your learning. You\u2019ll continue to have access to all the modules and resources after course completion so you can refer back to them whenever you need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 1: <\/strong>Getting started, Introduction and Wildlife ecology 101<\/span><\/div>

Getting started<\/strong>

Introduction<\/strong>
What is Nextdoor Nature?
Programme aims and outline
The state of nature
Not all doom and gloom!
Bringing beavers back
Returning small blue butterflies to Ayrshire
Saving Scotland\u2019s Red Squirrels

Wildlife ecology 101<\/strong>
What is ecology?
What is biodiversity?
Causes of global biodiversity loss
Invasive species
Ecology basics
Food webs
Nature\u2019s needs<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 2: <\/strong>Actions for nature<\/span><\/div>

Actions for nature<\/strong>
What is an \u201caction for nature\u201d?
Assessing the needs of nature
Assessing the needs of your community
Direct and indirect actions
Impact and achievability mapping<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 3:<\/strong> Engaging your community<\/span><\/div>

Engaging your community<\/strong>
Why engaging communities is important for wildlife
What is community organising?
Getting to know your community
Finding out what the community wants
Getting your community involved
Barriers to getting involved
Developing a strategy
Motivating your group
In depth: communication skills
In depth: Hhow to run a community consultation<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 4:<\/strong> Running events<\/span><\/div>

Running events<\/strong>
What do we mean by \u2018events\u2019?
Why are events useful?
What do you need to consider when planning events?
Event top tips and checklist<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 5:<\/strong> Nature and wellbeing<\/span><\/div>

Nature and wellbeing<\/strong>
Why is nature good for us?
The science behind it
The pathways to nature wellbeing benefits
How do we get more wellbeing benefits from nature?
Using all our senses
The five ways to wild wellbeing<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 6: <\/strong>Funding your project<\/span><\/div>

Funding your project<\/strong>
What is fundraising and why is it important ?
Funding top tips: preparation, find a funder, write your application, keep records
Fundraising events
Planning your own fundraising event<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 7:<\/strong> Health and safety<\/span><\/div>

Health and safety<\/strong>
Why is health and safety important?
Your responsibilities
Health and safety policies
Lone working
The buddy system
Emergency procedures
Risk assessments
First aid training
Insurance and where to find it<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 8:<\/strong> Land and landowners<\/span><\/div>

Land and landowners<\/strong>
The importance of engaging landowners
Where to find out who owns the land
Approaching land owners and local authorities
Community buyouts
Steps to a community buyout<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWeek 9 onwards:<\/strong> Optional modules<\/span><\/div>

Optional modules<\/strong>
Working with volunteers
Wildlife surveying
Government and politics
Good promotion
How to set up a community group
Public speaking
Management plans for green spaces<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Who is this course for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone with an interest and passion for helping nature in their local areas. The course is suitable for anyone at any stage of life. No previous experience or knowledge is required to join this free, introductory course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What will you achieve?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By the end of this course you will be able to\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n