July has been a month that has started and ended with lots of Nature Play sessions sprinkled with the odd Green Gym, meeting, community engagement event and some budding bidding.
Joining Forces
At the start of the month I, along with my fellow Natural Network trainees in Ayr (Carolyn and Jenny), joined up with the Forestry Commission Scotland and Seven Lochs to help run a Nature Play Day in Easterhouse.
Flying the flag for nature play at Easterhouse
I also joined forces with OPAL to help promote Pollinators at the Glasgow City Council Wild in the City Event at Bellahouston Park.
My fellow trainee Stephen giving children (and OPAL staff) at GCC’s Wild in the City Event a bee-giners guide to making clothes peg bees
One of the last activities in July was led by myself and fellow trainee Paul. It was a Nature Play session with 10 children from the West of Scotland Regional Equalities Council. As well as some environmental games and art we taught the kids some camp fire cooking skills but Paul’s Bug and Beastie hunt was outright favourite.
Children from WSREC making their mark in the outdoors
There are some budding artists in the pipe(cleaner)line at WSREC
Move over Jamie Oliver…Paul’s here with chocolate bananas
Rewilding Inverclyde and Yoker
I’ve continued working alongside TCV’s Community Rewilding Senior Project Officer and July saw the start of a Green Gym at Coves Local Nature Reserve doing some path clearance.
Helping to clear bridges for Green Health
We have also continued our Nature Play sessions with kids from Linkes. This has involved more environmental art and games and even some camp fire cooking.
Painting by nature
Helping the kids come back down to Earth with our parachute
Things are hotting up at the Linkes Camp Fire Cook Out
Fancy Meeting You Here
One of the first meetings I had this month was with my fellow trainees from Natural Networks and Natural Talent at the TCV site at Skelton Grange. Despite the fleeting timescale and our sleep deprived states it was a great opportunity to catch up, skills share and talk about our progress and personal projects.
Sue’s bread helping fuel our Skills Share Workshop
Skelton Grange cultivating innovative ideas for outdoor activities
I’ve also been part of meetings with Glasgow City Council to discuss the proposed Action Plans for the Yoker Strategic Development Area encompassing community engagement policies. One meeting took the form of a site visit with Glasgow City Council’s Access Officer and Central Scotland Green Network Trust’s Development Officer to assess active travel routes and the current Vacant and Derelict Land site.
Roaming down by the river – Yoker’s Vacant and Derelict Land Site
Finally, following a meeting with my mentor I was able to partake in a ‘Climate Conversations’ community engagement event commissioned by the Scottish Government.
Budding Bidding
To continue broadening my understanding and experience of funding bid applications I have carried out more research on TCV’s latest HLF bid. This month my attention has turned to looking into training opportunities in Green Health and levels of Green Prescribing.
Training the Trainee
July has also afforded me the opportunity to attend a number of training events. The first was for a free social media course on Improving Health and Well Being run by Mindwaves and Woodlands Community Garden. TCV also ran 2 courses this month, 1 on Sensory Awareness and the second on Green Gyms. I have also completed an online Open University course on Public Health in a Community Setting. Finally I was able to try my hand at sculpting willow at an art workshop held at Mugdock Park.
Getting to the art of the matter with some willow weaving