About Us
What We Do
We make nature learning more fun and memorable by using art, crafts, theatre, folklore and fun. We believe this is a much more effective way of encouraging conservation than the typical education style or just handing out leaflets. If you make something special and natural, or you have a connection to for example a wildflower, you might learn to identify it. If you can identify it, you might notice when it’s in trouble.
We do this by providing nature workshops for children and adults, both in our studio in Norfolk and at events and festivals across the UK.
People, Nature, Magic
A Cambridge study found young children could name more Pokémon characters than native animals, birds, and wildflowers. Why? Conservation projects and nature reserves do vital work, but they rarely offer experiences as engaging as TV, online time, or other modern pastimes. To compete, nature learning must be engaging. Our workshops spark engagement by letting participants create something of their own while hearing real natural history and authentic magical folklore. Almost all children—and many adults—are drawn to a good magical folk story, much of which stems from the powers our ancestors saw in native plants and animals.
That’s why we blend nature and magic in everything we do.
How We Started
Our story begins back in 2000, when Chris Rose and Sarah Wise asked their four year-old daughter where she’d like to go that weekend. “To look for fairies” she said. “What sort of place would that be ?”, they asked.”The sort of place with old knobbly trees and meadows of flowers” she replied.
Having spent years working for conservation groups which struggled to attract ‘mainstream’ families to their projects and sites, Sarah and Chris thought this was a great idea which could connect more parents and children with nature. To cut a long story short, they founded the Fairyland Trust charity.
The charity began by creating workshops and family days out such as the Fairy Fair and the Real Halloween. These events were rich in magic and nature and designed for younger children, they were a huge success in engaging families with nature and they were held in Norfolk for over 10 years. One way or another the Fairyland Trust has reached over 250,000 parents, carers, adults and children since 2001.
These days the charity aims to teach nature to all age groups, and focuses on bringing workshops to events across the country. To read more about The Fairy Fairs and The Real Halloween, click the button below.
Help us Keep Going
We are a tiny charity relying solely on donations. We don’t qualify for grants and due to our theatrical and decorative education style using sustainable, quality materials, our work is expensive! Would you like to help us? The very best thing is to become a Supporter for as little as £3 a month but we also need volunteers to help with fundraising, recruitment, promotion and practical work. If you are interested please get in touch. Can’t become a supporter? Follow us on social media and help our work by engaging with us online.
The Other Stuff
We are registered Charity no 1089771 (reg May 2001) Company Ltd by guarantee (Engl) 4210261 VAT no 102166856. Our charitable objects are:
“To advance the education of children and young persons in the conservation of the environment, in particular the conservation of woodland and other natural wildlife habitats” and “to help children and young persons through leisure time activities to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals as members of society.”
Our registered address is c/o Mapus-Smith & Lemmon, 48 King St, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1HE. Our three stalwart Trustees are Stuart and Glynis Adams and Jane Vaus.
