Getting to the Art of the Matter with Rewilding

So since May I’ve been involved in a fever of forums, funding and festivals, all flipping fantastic.

Rewilding in Inverclyde and Yoker

TCV’s Green Gym at Coves Local Nature Reserve has begun as part of the Community Rewilding project in that area so we’ve had fun taking participants a walk on the (re)wild side.

Also part of the Community Rewilding project has been the opportunity to engage with youngsters from the LinKes Community Group in Knightswood Park. We’ve had a great time building dens and devising a ‘natural’ obstacle course.

Small dens helping build bigger imaginations

Finally, we’ve been rewilding Yoker, by joining forces with the TCV Glasgow midweek group at Garscadden Burn Park. The task for the day, to construct a small pond.

Funding can be Fun?

There have also been a multitude of meetings this month. The first was a review of the HLF Rewilding bid then, at the end of the month, a team meeting which touched on potential future funding sources I might be involved in.

Learning more about Art in the Gart and experiencing first hand the benefit of Gartnavel’s Hospital gardens

In amidst these funding meetings I’ve also been able to job shadow. Firstly with Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership’s Development Officer on the use of GIS in projects and then joining him and employees of West Dunbartonshire Council on a Open Space Quality Audit Assessment day. I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Action Plans for the 3 regions the Urban Rewilding project focuses on with the Central Scotland Green Network Trust’s Development Officer.

Glasgow’s Green Spaces and Galas

June saw a flurry of festivals across Glasgow. The first was the Ready, Steady Grow gardening event across much of the south side of the city including the Hidden Gardens.

Getting to the core of making nifty bird feeders

As part of the West End Festival the North Kelvinside Children’s Wood held a Nature Festival and Gala, any excuse to be a kid again.

Getting to the art of the matter saving local green spaces

The fine weather at the start of the month was added incentive to visit the Woodlands Community Garden at their Open Day.

Small spaces proving the case for urban rewilding benefits

Sadly by the end of the month the weather had become much ‘dreicher’. No matter though as the 2 Forums I attended were indoors in contrast to their outdoor subject matter. Scottish Natural Heritage’s Sharing Good Practice looked at Joining Up Nature In Practice: Making Ecological Coherence a Reality. To complement this the Central Scotland Green Network Forum held at the Glasgow School of Art looked at the Art of Placemaking.

Roof gardens at the Glasgow School of Art showing the sky’s the limit for urban green spaces

It was back out into the outdoors though for my 2 day Outdoor First Aid course held at Mugdock Park. No doubt a shock to visitors watching a number of bandaged bodies dotted about the park.

We even got arty at First Aid

I’ve also attended TCV’s Introduction to Social Media course and another training event at Mugdock Park, this time on Bumblebee identification and meadow creation run by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Buglife.

Buzzing about the hive of activity there’s bee-n this month

Time now to prepare for July’s activities – Nature play and Natural Network and Natural Talent Days Away 🙂