The last few months have been pretty hectic fitting in lots of community engagement activity and training around writing up my traineeship and exhibiting my highlights at the Natural Networks and Natural Talent Showcase in December.
Timely Training
My final training session this year has been courtesy of Living Streets who delivered an informative workshop on conducting community street audits.
Thankfully the Living Streets Community Street Audit wasn’t all rubbish
Perfecting Presentations
TCV have also held a number of FEVA Forums in the last few months one of which I gave a presentation at talking about a Natural Network trainees’ perspective on delivering outdoor sessions for ethnic minority communities.
Nature is at the heart of most faiths
The second FEVA Forum was organised by our very own Carolyn and Jenny at Kilmarnock and well attended by individuals and organisations looking for more ideas and partners involved in Outdoor Learning.
Carolyn and Jenny sharing their experiences on Outdoor Learning
Finally our very own Stephen Porch gave a presentation to his fellow Countryside Rangers at Glasgow City Council on his traineeship and even ended with a quiz to blow Tim’s out of the water.
Rapidly Rewilding
The Rewilding project is full steam ahead with lots of meetings to promote green space enhancements, network and explore opportunities to partner on environmental activities and funding (the inaugural meetings of the Inverclyde Environment Group). There has also been the chance to discuss tree planting projects and general volunteer task days with West Dunbartonshire Council.
The momentum of the Rewilding project has been strengthened also through re-establishing links with contacts made through job agencies, youth groups and housing associations to promote upcoming volunteer days and Green Gym sessions in Inverclyde and Clydebank. Feedback has been both instant and encouraging, showing a real thirst for environmental activities in each area from a range of community groups.
In Yoker attention has been focussed on delivering a festive themed community engagement event to gauge aspirations from local residents on re-imagining an area of green space sandwiched between housing and a cycle path. After dropping leaflets round local residences, Yoker Housing Association and the Yoker Community Campus we had a great turnout of young and old, all keen to see some form of environmental enhancement, from picnic areas to play parks. Yoker Primary School have also expressed keen interest to involve TCV in the greening of their new school grounds when they relocate next Summer so we’ve had a great first meeting discussing rain gardens, vertical gardens and ideas from the children themselves.
It’s Show(case) Time
Perhaps the highlight of the last few months has been the Natural Networks and Natural Talent Showcase. Held in Glasgow, the Showcase was a welcome opportunity to catch up with fellow trainees, discover some of their amazing accomplishments over the last 11 months and learn about the additional opportunities that have opened up after their time with TCV. There was also the opportunity to link some projects and partners for environmental activities next year.
Picture this – my highlights from the last 11 months
Xmas TeaPee
Feeling anything but sluggish
All set for showcasing
After many years of volunteering, the TCV Natural Networks traineeship has been an unique opportunity to gain invaluable experience in the conservation sector not to mention a great number of new friends and colleagues.
I’m off now to try and dodgy Storm Barbara so just want to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year