Britain was once cloaked in deciduous forest interspersed with wetlands and meadows, with wolves, bears and lynx running free. Centuries of human endeavour have changed the landscape, out of all recognition. All remaining areas of natural woodland are precious and deserve protecting for their biodiversity and historical value. The Wildwoods project in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire aims to give children and adults an experience of what wild Britain once was, and what larger areas could be again.

Siren works at Hinksey Heights Nature Park with local partner Oxfordshire Forest Schools Project. Siren has teamed up with wildlife experts to conduct surveys at the site and build up a picture of the natural communities that this 110acre area of magical wildspace supports.

Around 120 children from under-privileged areas of Oxford are currently visiting the site via the forest schools programme. Spending time in nature and engaging in practical and team-building activities has been shown to enhance children's social and practical skills, and can also impact on their academic confidence. This Forest schools approach has been shown to be particularly beneficial to children from challenging backgrounds.

The project

• Works with scientists from Oxford University, enabling children to learn about wildlife from expert naturalists and observe first hand the careful collection of data from living creatures.

• Enables local children to plant trees, which they will nurture over their school career, engendering understanding of the requirements of living things and of how ecosystems form and change.

• Provides information resources on biodiversity to the schools involved.

• Develops and delivers a programme of education activities, including a nature trail, arts-based activities, music and dance, as well as curriculum-related activities.

• Has developed a new nature trail at Hinksey Heights (click here for more details)

To set the scene… The trees of Angling Spring Wood are eagerly awaiting their visit by the Green Man, guardian spirit of vegetation. When he's about the woods seem more alive.

Armed with audio tracks and a map, the listener wanders through the woods, with carved posts indicating interesting places to stop and listen. As you travel deeper into the woods, you find some very talkative trees. Visit www.anglingspringwood.org.uk to listen in.

The new woodland trail, close to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire is an innovative way for family outings and schools to experience and learn about woodlands. Eleven skilled actors and actresses contributed their voices to the project. Familiar voices include film actor Toby Jones, the voice of Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Toby's father, Freddie Jones, a character actor with an illustrious career in film, theatre and TV, (currently to be seen on the small screen as Sandy Jones in Emmerdale) plays the Oak.

Siren produced the Angling Spring Wood audio trail with project partners Chiltern District Council, Prestwood Nature, the Chiltern Woodland Project, and the Forestry and Woodlands Partnership. The trail was also funded by SEEDA and the Chilterns Conservation Board.

Siren's Environmental Festival for Kids, sponsored by the Glade Music Festival, is an annual event for children in Aldermaston, Berkshire. In 2006, a day of nature awareness workshops was rounded off with a tale from story-teller and musician Chris Park, pictured here.