Hi there, I’m Anna and I am one of the new Natural Communities Trainees for 2014. I’m also new to blogging- this is my first one ever! For the next year I will be working on the Ageing Well project, the aim of which will be to engage older people in natural exercise and contact with nature. I will be focusing on trying to engage with people living in sheltered housing, care homes and housing associations, and particularly those suffering from dementia.
So, what chain of experiences lead me to be stepping off a train at Stirling railway station one chilly January evening, with one bike and three bulging bags…?
Well, I studied art based things at collage, but then decided to follow my love of nature into the world of science and ended up doing a Biology degree. Within my degree I was always interested in environmental issues such as conservation and sustainability and wrote my dissertation on the importance of biodiversity in sustainable agriculture. To counter the time I spent looking at a computer screen during my degree I filled the rest of my time with a variety of voluntary projects including some focused on community food growing, urban fruit harvesting, environmental education and environmental and ethical campaigning…
After my degree, with a craving for the sunshine and a thirst to see some sustainable agriculture in practice I headed for Spain. I worked on a variety of farms, community projects and family small holdings, feeling the heat on my back and learning about growing vegetables and the simple life in the countryside. I returned to England this summer full of inspiration to share my love of all things nature with others.
A further big inspiration for me in embarking on this project has been my Nana, who has a diagnosis of dementia but still loves to walk, smell the flowers, feel the sun on her skin and sings with joy when she’s outside!
Leaving you with that lovely image, and a picture of a Stirling sunrise, I will say bye for now.
