Go Wild Book launch at the Northmoor trust in Oxfordshire

This weekend saw the launch of our new book Go Wild! 101 things to do before you grow up.

Despite rather challenging weather many families rugged up in warm clothes and braved the elements. A fun day was had by all, evident by all the smiling faces of the many young people running around. It was also lovely to see so many parents not being scared to getting their hands dirty, and having a go at things they had never experienced before; building shelters, lighting fire without matches, making junk bows from plastic plumbing pipe and making and throwing atalatl spears further than you ever imagined you could. Plenty of marshmallows were toasted and then eagerly consumed around the fire and amazingly children (as young a 6 yrs in some cases) were in trusted with knives and taught how to whittle without cutting themselves!

We are very grateful to Harry Barton, Chief executive of the Northmoor trust, who kindly explained a little about all the wonderful things the Northmoor trust are doing to promote conservation and nature awareness. He also introduced our book, and Duncan Mackay, Principle Specialist of Natural England. He helped put our book into context, and explained the wider message behind our book, the need to reconnect our young people to the Natural world. "If we don't encourage our children to learn these basic skills and to appreciate wild places and nature then we will regret it...Natural England will be consulting this year on a new policy for understanding the natural world and I hope that this important book will shape societies response and ensure that we all recognise how critical this subject is for the happiness of everyone who live here."

Of course our heartfelt thanks must go to everyone who has been involved in making Go Wild a reality.

Thanks to our publishers Frances Lincoln, everyone there have been so supportive, especially Jo Christian, Andrew Dunn, Sarah Slack, Anne Asquith and Emma O'Bryen.

Thanks must also go to The Northmoor Trust whose staff were so committed and helpful in every way and helped make our launch such a success. Special thanks must go to Harry Barton, Charlotte Clarke, Zoe Burns, Angela Dearlove, Chris Parker, Loretta Waters and Oliver Rathmill.

We mustn't forget mentioning all our other helpers at the launch. Duncan Mackay from Natural England, Martin Maudsley, Peter Hearn, Alex Travers, Rod Anderson Boyle, Mick Rudman and Micheal Danks.

It is so lovely to finally have it in our hands, and we hope the word will spread and more families and children will go out and have some fun outdoors! Memories made now will only help towards making a more healthy generation and a more healthy environment!