Whats not to love about being a Natural Communities Trainee?
I have completed so many training courses its been mad, jam packed… boring is certainly not the word for this job. Varied, exciting and yet to be highly rewarding once i begin to host events for my three community groups.
The most enjoyable training so far has been taking part in the Diversity Training Workshop which I found to be very inspiring. I learned about the Muslim and Hindu religion and about the challenges these communities face . I believe this training will really help me to better understand my community groups .
First Aid Training
So am I First Aid Certified, did I pass, the answer is yes Annie survived well actually Annie is a prosthetic doll and was never really breathing to begin with. I had a three day intensive First Aid Course and am now a proud and confident First Aider.
Visting Hollyrood Park
I have visted Hollyrood a quite few times now, I am working very closely with Natalie from Historic Scotland, she is fantastic and inspires me so much as she seems to have endless knowledge about the park and ideas for activities that my groups can take part in.
I’m really looking forward to going along seeing how she works with groups and stealing all her ideas for future activities as well as coming up with my own ideas too!
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/learning/ranger.htm
MENCOPP Visit
Last month I met up with Bimal Giri the South Asian Male Carers Support Worker for MECOPP a charity that provides a variety of services to Black and Minority Ethnic carers. This month we arranged for his group to visit the garden giving us all a chance to simply explore RBGE and get to know each other here I exchanged my ambitions for the Green Crags project. I loved meeting the group I ‘m and excited to work with them in very near future.Below the MECOPP group of 12 visiting RBGE www.mecopp.org.uk
I
I took part in a 1 day i spot workshop this month here I have discovered how photography can be used to help can help with biological recording.If you have any pictures of a random insects or plants that you can’t identify It’s definitely worth uploading to spot at: www.ispot.org.ukI will be using i spot as an activity for my groups.
The welcoming Group
I am now officially working with the Welcoming group, this project brings together refugees, asylum seekers and people from Scottish and local minority ethnic communities.Please see there webpage: http://thewelcoming.btck.co.uk/
The group helps people to learn together and improve English language and literacy skills. The project supports new migrants to get to know the local culture through outings, music, drama, visual arts and talks. So it’s my plan to get involved in the outing side of things and encourage the group to form a relationship with The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and to explore, learn and appreciate the green Crags sites.
Its all been finalised I now have two groups coming to visit the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.These groups are:
The Welcoming Group and The Nepal group and its’s all over facebook!Have a look at the below schedule :
1. Take part in and ice breaker activity
2. Have a guided walk of the Rock Garden
3. Have lunch
4.Take part in potting activities/ sowing seeds
Below The Palm House at the Botanics: www.rbge.org.uk/
Lastly I worked with Plantlife at an event here at the garden, I got to work with Plantlife staff and see how they host events and now we have a great relationship. I really enjoyed engaging with the public, talking to families and getting them interested in wildflower plants.
Many of the people that took part in the activities said they will now visit suggested sites and use there new plant I.D cards to discover new plants and places. For plant information and sites to visit see: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland
Now It’s back to preparing for my upcoming events due to take place and getting in contact with the third group. I would like to work with a youth group from the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Thanks for reading
Claire