About the project
Wild Rivers combines outdoor exploration with ecology and conservation education, igniting a passion in young people for wild spaces.
Our mission is to excite young people for ecology, rewilding and restoring our natural heritage. We do this through two channels: school visits on expeditions, and educational field trips. Through exploring a diversity of outdoor environments, we create opportunities for discussion and experiential learning to better engage individuals with the natural world.
It began with building skin-on-frame canoes and paddling down the River Tay. With the help of the community at Drumduan School in Forres, we constructed three canoes and paddled the UK’s longest river over the course of two weeks. En route, we stopped off at local primary schools and led sessions to engage pupils about rewilding. What stood out was the students’ passion for wild spaces - and the limited opportunities for young people to develop their connection with nature.
We returned to Drumduan later that year to lead our first rewilding field trip: visiting Caledonian pine forests and currach building. In 2025 we went on to paddle the River Wye, and lead a field course with Acorn School on the Pembrokeshire coastline, exploring temperate rainforests and marine ecosystems.
We are now working on broadening our expeditions and field trips for 2026 and beyond.
This is a story of inspiring children to observe and connect with the natural world, recognise what it provides for them, and in turn take care of it - for now and generations to come.
