How do you communicate the emotional response that nature and wildlife can have on you?

A group of young people taking part in the Keeping it Wild programme, used photography as a tool to gaze through a lens and criticality look at a London Wildlife Trust reserve. The young people from Richmond upon Thames College’s Supported Learning programme, tackled the problem of communicating their emotional response and experiences to nature by creating a digital stories social media campaign.

These digital stories allowed the young people to add context to their images and build on the photographic work by adding their ‘voice’ to their images.

The Keeping it Wild project took place at Crane Park Island.

"Nature makes me feel alive". Ruben from @RuT_College Supported Learning, taking part in #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme @CraneParkIsland. Thanks to @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon pic.twitter.com/Ndz06dLpAf

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) January 9, 2019

Moby’s story from her time at @CraneParkIsland while on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme with @RuT_College Supported Learning. Thanks to @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon pic.twitter.com/oGGdgJnDwC

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) January 8, 2019

“Nature makes me feel calm, relaxed, not stressed or busy.” Kalpil from @RuT_College Supported Learning, on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme @CraneParkIsland Thanks @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon pic.twitter.com/hTllvRMRGQ

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) January 7, 2019

Holly from @RuT_College Supported Learning, on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme @CraneParkIsland, speaks about how it’s important to get out of the classroom. @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon pic.twitter.com/lZHbHCsaKh

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) December 18, 2018

“I was brave to go into the river”. Geri’s digital story from @RuT_College Supported Learning, on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme @CraneParkIsland. @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon #digitalstory #photovoice pic.twitter.com/ck0P5xpVoF

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) December 18, 2018

Charlie from @RuT_College Supported Learning, speaking about his experience on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme @CraneParkIsland. @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon #digitalstory #photovoice pic.twitter.com/dx41JGkRDR

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) December 18, 2018

“Nature makes me relaxed and calm”: Cameron from @RuT_College Supported Learning on the #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme. @CraneParkIsland @heritagelottery @HLFLondon @Investec @gbct_uk @WildLondon #digitalstory #photovoice pic.twitter.com/JwF7MC90Ri

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) December 17, 2018

Headliners and @WildLondon have been working with young people with special educational needs from @RuT_College exploring nature on their doorstep. Here's Anila’s digital story. #photovoice #KeepingitWild #WildActionProgramme. @CraneParkIsland pic.twitter.com/vFHYaRD4xE

— Headliners London (@HeadlinersLDN) December 17, 2018

These digital stories were produced by Holly Stansby, Geri Mulvaney, Ruben Kapango, Kapil Lund, Charlie Price, Anila Lugjaj, Mobasivatul ‘Moby’ Jannat

This project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and this particular activity strand was supported by the George Bairstow Charitable Trust,  Investec and the Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity.