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GreenSpace News |
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Love Parks Week 2010 launches online
The 2010 Love Parks Week website has been launched. GreenSpace is inviting community groups to register any events taking place between Saturday 24 July and Sunday 1 August on the website, where they will be advertised on the What's On? guide. Registering your event only takes a few minutes, and organisers who have posted an event in previous years will be able to use the same login details. There are free resources available, including a guide to organising events, a template press release and other publicity materials.
We are asking as many people as possible to get into parks to join our campaign for
continued investment and support for these valuable assets. By holding an event in a park, or even just attending one, you will be helping to send the message that parks are an essential part of every community.
To register your event, or to receive updates on the campaign, visit
www.loveparksweek.org.uk.
Subsidised places available for Parks for Youth conference
A limited number of subsidised places are available for community group members at GreenSpace's next conference, Parks for Youth. The conference, taking place at the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol on 20 April 2010, will focus on successfully engaging young people in parks and green spaces
The-one day event aims to share inspirational examples of best practice
from around the green space sector, while also taking a look at what can
be learned from others successfully working with young people in a wider
context.
The subsidised places are priced at £90 to cover costs, and are available to registered GreenSpace Community Network members and those in full-time education. Provisional places can be booked by calling Caroline Carsey on 0118 946 6068. More
Record number of applications for Green Flag Awards
A record high of 1,300 entries have been submitted to the Green Flag Award Scheme for the 2010/2011 round of applications. The 15% rise includes 135 sites bidding for the community based Green Pennant Award.
The Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary and community groups. Last year, 96 sites were awarded a Green Pennant.
More
Contribute to Community Bench
If you have any useful information you think would be of interest to other community groups (perhaps a website, publication or resource you have used), why not send us an email and we'll try to include it in Community Bench. We are also looking for more Community Profiles, so if your group has done something you'd like to share with others please email community@green-space.org.uk.
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Funding news |
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Ecominds funding deadline brought forward
Ecominds, a grant scheme to help people with experience of mental distress get involved in local environmental projects, is looking to fund projects with grants of up to £20,000. The programme offers grants for outdoor projects including horticultural work and wildlife habitat creation, which have been shown to benefit participants' mental health. The deadline for applications has been brought forward due to high volume of entries to 12pm, Friday 30 April.
Ecominds is run by Mind, an information and advice organisation helping people with mental health problems. It is partnered by the Big Lottery Fund, and aims to distribute £7.5m to around 125 projects.
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Financial management help available for small charities and voluntary groups
Community Accountancy Self Help (CASH) is an organisation that provides financial advice and training to small charities and voluntary groups. Its website contains details of training courses, financial information factsheets and other resources designed to help organisations manage their accounts successfully.
More
GreenSpace fund search update
The GreenSpace community fund search is currently being updated with the latest grant providers. If your group has recently received or heard of a new source of funding, please let us know by emailing us at community@green-space.org.uk so we can share it with others. Groups can use the GreenSpace fund search to identify potential grants according to region, type and amount. More
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General news and features |
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Woodland Trust launches election manifesto
The Woodland Trust is ensuring tree provision is not forgotten in the run-up to the election by releasing a manifesto calling on authorities to double native tree cover in 50 years. The Growing the Future document calls for political parties to commit to reversing the UK’s position as one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
The manifesto highlights the need for planning guidance and incentives for private landowners to plant trees. It also recommends engaging children with their natural environment through tree planting as part of their formal education. Members of the public can demonstrate their support for the trust by using their simple online tool to email local candidates. More
Community Land Bank to provide growing space
Communities and Local Government and Defra have announced plans to make it easier for fruit and vegetable growers to set up growing spaces on land currently unused or awaiting development. The government aims to cut allotment waiting lists amid the growing popularity of ‘grow your own’.
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) is exploring plans to set up a national Community Land Bank which would act as a broker between landowners and community groups looking for somewhere to grow food. FCFCG is currently in discussions with several local authorities regarding pilot schemes.
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Organic Apprenticeship opportunity
Horticulture charity Garden Organic and organic food producer Seeds of Change have formed a partnership to offer a new apprenticeship scheme.
Three successful applicants will gain practical organic gardening experience and a nationally recognised work-based vocational qualification during a year-long course. Starting in May, the apprentices will cover all aspects of horticulture, learning from gardeners at Ryton Organic Gardens, West Midlands. Applicants have until Saturday 27 March to submit their form.
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Woodland Trust begins creation of new woodland in the North East
Work has begun on a new 168 acre woodland site at Low Burnhall near Durham. A public planting day will take place on Saturday 27 March, 11am – 1pm, and the local community is invited to help plant some of the initial 21,000 trees. Contractors Lowther Forestry will be planting oak, ash, hazel, rowan and poplar trees through to 2012.
The development is being overseen by the Woodland Trust, and the £1.5m project is set to become a flagship site for the trust in North East.
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UK made to wait for spring
Annual surveys by both the National Trust and the Woodland Trust have shown how the cold winter has delayed spring by up to a month this year. The lack of spring flowering and species sightings in parks, gardens and woodland throughout the UK illustrates how wildlife is struggling to respond to the coldest February for 19 years.
Some of this data comes from the Nature’s Calendar survey, set up by the Woodland Trust to encourage individuals and community groups to record and view seasonal events that show the impact of climate change on wildlife. People taking part in the survey register the time and location of their first species sighting to build up a nationwide picture of the onset of spring.
More
National Trust releases organic gardening video and iPhone application
The National Trust is continuing its online improvements with two significant releases.
The launch of the National Trust iPhone application, which provides information on all of its sites, highlights the trust's aim to reach a broader audience. The application is free to download and install, and allows users to see photos, descriptions and contact details of sites before visiting.
The latest in the trust’s series of greener gardening videos has also been made available. The online video outlines simple steps that can be taken to help current or prospective organic gardeners. Other videos in the series include tips on saving time, money and energy in the garden and how to make compost.
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Natural England search for the nation's best school garden
Natural England has launched a search for the best school wildlife garden. Schools have until July 2010 to make as many improvements as they can in order to earn points for their garden. Gardens that reach the required points tally achieve Green Award level, and are considered for the regional and national awards. Winners will be presented with a commemorative plaque by a local personality.
To enter, register your wildlife garden on Natural England’s Big Wildlife Garden website.
More
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Events |
25 March
Growing the Future
Organiser:
Growing Schools
Location:
Oxford
Contact:
www.growingschools.org.uk
A one-day conference aiming to support all teachers, from early years through to secondary level, who are interested in expanding and improving learning outside the classroom in their schools.
3 April
Skylarks guided walk
Organiser:
The Friends of Richmond Park
Location:
Richmond Park
Contact:
www.royalparks.org.uk
A morning guided walk around Richmond Park, focusing on skylarks. Part of a series of guided walks held on the first Saturday of each month.
10 April
Plant Swap
Organiser:
Thrive
Location:
Reading
Contact:
www.thrive.org.uk
A one-day launch event for Thrive’s Plant a Difference campaign. Attendees can swap produce and plants to raise money for disabled gardeners.
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Community Profile Revisited |
Lucy Roots
The Friends of Queen’s Woods
The Friends of Queen’s Woods first featured as a Community Profile three years ago. In this issue we revisit the group to see how the park has changed over the intervening period.
When we last spoke to Lucy Roots back in 2007, she explained the group had first been set up in 1989 following the loss of their park keeper. The group was initially set up to clear litter, sweep paths and liaise with the local council. The group had successfully campaigned to save the park keepers' lodge from being pulled down and ran a number of walks around the park in partnership with the BTCV.
How have the last three years been for Queen’s Wood? What have the main projects and achievements been during this time?
We have obtained three grants to improve the wood. One of these, funded mainly by the SITA landfill tax trust, was to coppice a large area which has led to the regeneration of many plants. Another, funded mainly by BIFFA landfill tax trust, is to replace the derelict paddling pool with a wildlife pond. This was obtained with the help of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation body.
A third grant for a new management plan is being funded by the London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme. All of these projects have received funding contributions from Haringey Council, who also funded a map leaflet of the wood that has been very well received by the public. We have also commissioned a bird survey and flora survey, mainly funded by ourselves, and are considering an invertebrate survey.
What would you say is the main difference in the park today from when the group was set up 20 years ago?
Litter is cleared regularly and paths are kept open. One path, which is on the Capital Ring route, has been re-surfaced in an environmentally friendly way and the access to the Lodge café and garden has been made user- friendly. There are signs of ongoing maintenance and conservation such as steps to prevent erosion, bridges across damp areas, dead hedging to protect certain plants and evidence of coppicing.
The Lodge café and organic garden, run by volunteers, are flourishing whereas 20 years ago that whole area was derelict and dilapidated.
It can often be hard to maintain groups once the initial project or work has been undertaken, has Queen’s Wood had any problems retaining members of the group?
No, in fact our membership last year and in 2008 was 200 households, which is the best ever. Members are also coming from a much wider area of North London, not just from roads bordering the wood.
What advice would you give to groups trying to raise funds for projects or running costs?
Have a good committee with skills to help carry out all the areas of work in which you are involved. We have also been fortunate to have a good deal of help from the council’s project officer for nature conservation, who has advised us of grants on offer and helped with applications. Involve your membership by meetings, activities for all ages, and raise awareness of the group using a good publicity member on your committee. Be proactive in getting new members; have leaflets and stalls at local events and have a good website which is kept up-to-date.
How has the group's relationship with the local authority changed over the over the time of the group, and what advice would you give groups about engaging with their own local authority?
I think we are now well known to council officers and local councillors and get help from both bodies. We are regularly represented at our Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, which council officers attend. Use the expertise of any officer who is able to advise and help, with grants for example, and use your local neighbourhood manager too.
What projects do you hope to undertake in the next few years?
We intend to work from the new management plan, which may involve further coppicing. We may also uncover some surface drains for rainwater to improve the habitat for wildlife, with a series of connecting pools and damp places. We would like to turn a disused Victorian toilet into a tool store for the friends group and the garden. One long-term project is to get more paths restored in an environmentally sympathetic way.
For more information on the Friends of Queen's Wood, visit www.fqw.org.uk.
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Feedback |
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Community Bench is the online newsletter of GreenSpace aimed specifically at community groups. It reports on community green space issues across the country and the work of organisations and groups that take an interest in the green spaces.
Past issues can be viewed at:
www.green-space.org.uk/community/communitynetwork/bench.php/
Written by: Matthew Hartgrove, Network Officer, GreenSpace
Edited by: Shaun Lowman, Communications Assistant, GreenSpace
To be removed from the list reply to this email with ‘remove’ in the subject header. To subscribe to Community Bench please visit: www.green-space.org.uk/community
The Community Bench e-newsletter is published and circulated by GreenSpace. Any comments, opinions or views expressed in the Community Bench do not necessarily reflect the views of GreenSpace Forum Ltd, its staff, partners or funders. Replication or duplication of this publication, in whole, or in part, without written permission is strictly prohibited. © 2010 GreenSpace.
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