Wildscreen bring back the world’s largest online nature hub

Wildscreen bring back the world’s largest online nature hub

Posted on: 26 Sep 2023

Bristol based charity Wildscreen have today announced the return of ARK, the world’s biggest online nature education platform – set to launch early next year.

 

A leading conservation charity, Wildscreen are bringing back their renowned and much- loved platform, which provides young people (who have a pivotal role to play in responding to the biodiversity and climate crisis) with the resources to build on their knowledge and passion for nature, learning how they can support and protect it in the process.

 

Find out more about Wildscreen ARK here.

 

 

Wildscreen have been working alongside Bath-based software development agency Rocketmakers to develop the new ARK prototype. This prototype will focus on UK species and content, forming the foundation for Wildscreen’s test and learn process, working together with young people aged 13 to 18, thus making at as useful to them as possible.

 

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust recently discovered that young people between 7 and 13 are becoming less connected to nature and other studies show that this demographic struggles to identify with species as simple as blue tits and oak trees.

 

Through the new and improved ARK platform, Wildscreen hope to help young people understand nature, empowering them to make choices that nurture it. Speaking about ARK, Lucie Muir (Wildscreen CEO) has said:

 

“The need to connect young people with nature has never been greater. We’re hoping that the return of Wildscreen ARK will be the catalyst to inspire the next generation to have a greater sense of curiosity with nature and feel empowered to take action to protect it. 

 

“The project, which was retired in 2019, has been sorely missed by contributors, educators and young people, and so we’re delighted to bring it back at this crucial time.” 

ARK was originally created by Christopher Parsons (founding member of the BBC Natural History Unit and Wildscreen) and was a massive multimedia project documenting over 16,000 endangered species through videos, photos and fact files. At its peak, it attracted 12 million users a year, providing an education resource for millions.

 

In preparation for the relaunch, Wildscreen is looking for new content to enrich the platform as well as new partners from the industry. The renowned charity are also launching a Crowdfunder to fund and develop their educational resources. Find out more here.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.