Chilterns New Shoots (2021-2025)
Chilterns New Shoots was a wildlife and conservation programme for 14-18 year-olds in the Chilterns.
Chilterns New Shoots was a year-long nature, wildlife and conservation programme designed by young people for young people. Created by the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership, the project was hosted alongside our partners, Chiltern Rangers for four years, before finding a new home with the River Thame Conservation Trust in 2025.
In it’s current format, New Shoots: River Thame Edition offers young people a fantastic chance to work with conservation organisations like Chilterns National Landscape, Chiltern Rangers, BBOWT, the National Trust and the Chiltern Society, giving participants a wide range of experiences alongside the chance to visit beautiful places in the Chilterns and learn more about wildlife. Participants also get the opportunity to get involved in helping to manage habitats and address climate change.
About New Shoots
Benefits of the programme
- Time spent outdoors – great for wellbeing and mental health.
- Groups visited some of the best nature reserves and most beautiful spots in the Chiltern National Landscape.
- Groups got up close and personal with some amazing wildlife.
- Learned from wildlife and plant experts.
- Participants had fun, made new friends and tried new things.
- Access to the best and most relevant equipment, such as high-quality binoculars.
- No pressure – no tests or exams!
- Offered the chance to find out what’s involved in practical wildlife and habitat management and conservation.
- Participants gained a stepping stone to a career in conservation and an introduction to local conservation groups and charities.
- It was free – all equipment was provided.
What did groups learn?
- Species identification
- Butterflies, birds, insects and plant identification.
- How to keep track of numbers and diversity, which is a good way to tell how healthy the environment is.
- Practical conservation techniques
- Scrub bashing and woodland management – clearing plants and trees to keep chalk grassland and woodlands in great condition.
- Chalk streams conservation and management.
- How to care for different Chilterns’ habitats
- The Chilterns has lots of really special habitats, such as chalk grassland covered in wildflowers, ancient woodland, farmland and chalk streams, and groups visited all of these during the programme.
Who took part?
Young people who:
- were aged 14-18 years old,
- loved being outdoors and wanted to explore the Chilterns countryside,
- were interested in nature, wildlife or climate change, and keen to learn more,
- were happy to get involved for a year and could commit to taking part in most of the 10 project sessions.
Over the years, lots of different kinds of young people have been involved in New Shoots. We welcomed young people from any background and experience level as long as they showed a genuine interest in wildlife and nature.
Session details
- Sessions took place throughout the year, roughly once each month on Saturdays, usually for 4 hours.
- Each session was at a different site, within 10 miles of High Wycombe, with minibus transport available.
- All the equipment was provided, including a cosy New Shoots fleece.
See what previous New Shoots have got up to
History of New Shoots
Chilterns New Shoots was launched by the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership in 2021, and more than 30 young people have taken part in the programme. Some of our New Shoots were featured on BBC’s Countryfile and won a Proud of Bucks award for all their inspiring work championing nature and wildlife as part of the project.
The 2024/25 New Shoots cohort was supported by funding from the North West Chilterns, the South West Chilterns, and the Missendens Community Boards.
For more information about the programme, please contact the River Thame Conservation Trust: enquiries@riverthame.org
Feedback
“Thank you once again for all you have done for Tom and the opportunities you have opened up for him. I’m so pleased for him and proud of him, and it’s given him a real confidence boost.” (Parent)
“What an utterly wonderful programme. F’s enjoyed herself so much, meeting new people with shared interests, learning new things, hearing from experts, getting down and dirty! Couldn’t recommend New Shoots highly enough.” (Parent)