By Isle of Wight Observer
A new collectable card scheme, in Sandown, is encouraging families to connect with nature while supporting local shops.
The ‘Nurture Nature’ cards were created by Christine Jackson, founding member and long-serving chairwoman of Sandown Green Town Volunteers (SGTV), with the aim of showing how easy it is to help wildlife at home, from planting for pollinators to providing bird baths or hedgehog shelters.
Thanks to a grant from the Co-op Community Fund, the scheme has come to life with the support of 12 Sandown retailers, each displaying one of the free cards at their counters. The cards feature colourful wildlife photography and practical tips, and Christine hopes they’ll particularly appeal to local schoolchildren.
“We hope children and adults collecting the cards will explore shops they haven’t visited before and discover more of what Sandown has to offer,” she said.
The 12 designs are grouped into three themed sets: Green Gardens, Nurture Nature, and Plant for Pollinators, each set includes four cards with titles such as Lazy Lawns, Hedgehog Habitat, and Plant for Butterflies.
The cards were designed and photographed by SGTV treasurer, Nicky Parker, who said: “Connecting with wildlife boosts our well-being, seeing a hedgehog in your garden is magical. I hope this project shows our younger generation that nurturing nature helps both the planet and ourselves.”
The cards are available now, free of charge, from 12 participating shops in Sandown.
