Charlie Tallis and Emma Fennell Hodson
The Wildlife Champions Programme is back!
The Wildlife Champions Programme 2025/26 is now well underway! We've got 22 amazing new Champions from 11 postcodes across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Each one is passionate about bringing more wildlife, more community spirit, and more optimism into their communities.
What is a Wildlife Champion?
A Wildlife Champion is a local changemaker for nature in their community.
Someone who’s had a spark of an idea and is ready to turn it into action. Or someone in need of a little support in getting their project to the next level.
Whether it’s creating a community garden or hosting bat walks, transforming unloved spaces, or rallying neighbours to care for local green spots — no two Champions are the same. You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a passion for local wildlife and a desire to enable and inspire your community into action.
The Champions network grows…
The 2024/25 Wildlife Champions achieved so much (have a watch of the video below) and continue to go from strength to strength with their community projects. In July 2025, the new cohort began their journeys and will be supported with training, mentoring, and the encouragement of a brilliant network of like-minded nature lovers.
Over the coming year, they’ll be learning new skills, testing out ideas, facing challenges, and celebrating wins, all while helping nature thrive in their communities.
The bigger picture
The Wildlife Champions Programme recognises that real, lasting change starts at the grassroots. By supporting people to lead positive action where they are, we’re building a powerful network of community leaders who are:
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Bringing wildlife back to our everyday spaces
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Building stronger, greener communities
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Growing resilience in the face of climate and ecological breakdown
We're working towards a future where every postcode has its own Wildlife Champion. Someone flying the flag for local nature. Could that be you?
Interested in the detail?
The table below outlines in more detail what you can expect to receive from the programme and also the commitment from you that will make it all worth while.
Fancy giving it a go?
We’ll be recruiting new Champions in July 2026 and we’d love to hear from anyone who wants to make a difference! Since we have the goal of having a Wildlife Champion in every postcode across the region by 2030, we have the following priority postcodes: BS1, BS2, BS8, BS10, BS21, BS39, BS41, BS48, BA2, BA3. We may still recruit in other postcodes, these are just the ones we will prioritise, should we be oversubscribed.
Are you interested in finding out more? We're running quarterly Taster Mornings so we can share more details about the Programme from our team as well as from Wildlife Champions themselves! It's a great nature-filled morning where all are welcome.
The next Taster Morning will be held on Saturday 17th January 2026 10am - 12.30pm at Grow Wilder, BS16 1EL. Book below! Or in the mean time, please do get in touch with any questions: wildlifechampions@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or call us on 07421 226079
Wildlife Champions is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund with thanks to National Lottery Players
The National Lottery Community Fund
Watch the Wildlife Champions Programme 2024 Film
Listen to the Team Wilder Podcast
Hannah Bunn
Episode 1 - shines a light on the Team Wilder movement and the importance of celebrating and noticing nature in our day to day lives.
Episode 2 - talking about the Wildlife Champions Programme, what a Wildlife Champion is, what the programme offers and how it's helping to mobilise action for nature across the Avon region.
Meet the Champions
Find out more about each of the Wildife Champions and their projects over on our blog.
Emma Fennell Hodson, Wildlife Champions Co-ordinator (c) Holly Jones
Wildlife Champions (c) Holly Jones
Wildlife Champions
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