Green 2014: Walthamstow Marshes with TCV

So, following on from my previous post about New Year's resolutions for 2014 (and the benefits of green exercise or "ecotherapy"), here is a post about how I've been keeping my resolution to continue volunteering in nature conservation.

On Tuesday 7th January I headed out with TCV's Biodiversity Action Team in East London to tackle bramble at Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve. Although I've been involved with TCV for two years now, this was my first trip out with this particular project, and my first visit to Walthamstow Marsh. The marsh forms part of the Lee Valley Regional Park, and lying within Greater London it is a valuable space for recreation as well as for wildlife.

In spite of heavy rainfall, we made good progress with the task of cutting back bramble, and the sun made an appearance in the afternoon. Interestingly, we were working at the site of the first all-British powered flight, by Alliott Verdon Roe (founder of the Avro company) over the marsh. We were also close to the River Lea, with views of passing boats. It was great to see a new site and learn a little about its history, and the work to control bramble on the marsh should benefit a range of wildlife (which at Walthamstow Marsh includes Water Vole, Reed Warbler and Creeping Marshwort).

Walthamstow Marsh, with plenty of water in the ditches that run across the site. The River Lea
and boats can be glimpsed in the background, and beyond it the urban landscape of London intrudes.

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Take a look at the next post in the series, which talks about my volunteer work with the Barnet Green Gym!

Green in 2014

Happy New Year readers! While thinking about New Year's resolutions for myself, I couldn't help but reflect a little on resolutions generally, research a little about the word, and look at the success of the New Year's tradition.
   
res·o·lu·tion  /rɛzəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ (thefreedictionary.com)
n.
1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.


Do people still make New Year's resolutions? More importantly, perhaps, is the question: do people manage to keep them? One study in 2007 by the University of Bristol found a failure rate of 88% (although it suggests that setting small and measurable goals has more success: instead of "exercise more", you could instead aim to "go for a walk twice per week").

Frequently, goals include: improving physical well-being, improving mental well-being, making new friends, improving careers, and volunteering. This is great news for me, as I can tackle multiple goals with one fell swoop: I will continue to be involved in volunteering within nature conservation! I've been really impressed with the variety of benefits from volunteering. For someone committed to working in nature conservation, volunteering is a good way to keep skills up to date while between paid conservation jobs. There is the feel-good factor from helping to conserve wildlife and valuable green spaces. And there is an emerging body of evidence which points to the range of health benefits from "green exercise" or "ecotherapy", from reducing stress and feeling good to prolonging your life and improving your fitness - plus many people find it easier to keep up outdoor exercise such as walking or conservation tasks than exercising in a gym! I've also found volunteering to be a great way to see new places, encounter wildlife, and make new friends.

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So, how have I been tackling my New Year's resolution so far? Take a look at the next post to read about how I've been working with TCV to achieve my aims for 2014!

What resolutions do you have for 2014? Will you be making it a greener year? Why not comment with your New Year's resolutions, or tweet to @TorHeenan!

Hockley Woods (Autumn 2013)

It would seem Autumn is now underway, as the leaves begin to change colour and nature's harvest appears in the form of berries, nuts and seeds. Something else is making its presence known now too, popping up in the yet-mild and moist conditions: fungi!

A common sight in Autumn, fungi can burst through the
leaf litter to appear literally overnight!

Here are some images of Hockley Woods in Essex, a delightful place for a walk. The woodland trees include oak, hornbeam, hawthorn and sweet chestnut, and all seem to be growing and throwing down their respective seeds, berries and nuts with impressive abandon just now. These trees of the woodland, a mix of maiden and coppice, shelter the mycological interest which is very much evident now too. On a brief morning walk through the woods three weeks ago I saw a gratifying wealth of fungi, and captured some photos of them to both share here and to aid later identification!

Hockley Woods in Essex is an area of ancient woodland
which still shows the effect of Medieval management.

A "Blusher" Amanita rubescens and an "Amethyst
Deceiver" Laccaria amethystina stand side by side.

Another "Blusher" mushroom standing tall in Hockley Woods.

If this gets you excited about Autumn, perhaps you'll be pleased to hear that we have a dazzling display of colour to look forward to from the trees as they turn over the coming weeks. According to Brian Muelaner, the National Trust's ancient tree advisor,“Summer conditions have been ideal for a perfect autumn show”. If you'd like to find out more about why the weather this year has been just right for Autumn colours, the Guardian have an article here.

The Independent have also published an autumnal article, featuring the top 10 best Autumn walks of the UK. So, if you are looking for inspiration for your next walk, you can visit the article here!

Barnet Green Gym: Zero to Launch

TCV London Health Manager, Chris Speirs (front centre), and Cllr Robert Rams
of Barnet Council (front right), discuss the exciting new project which launched today!

Today was one of those milestones, the kind that are really worth shouting out about. It was the official launch of TCV's new project the Barnet Green Gym. This project, the first Green Gym in the borough, is in partnership with Barnet Council, who are very much on board. Councillor Robert Rams has spoken up in support of the project: "“It is fantastic to see an initiative such as the Green Gym in Barnet and I wish it every success in Barnet" said Councillor Rams (see article here). He also came along to the launch event today, and enjoyed his morning judging from his tweet!

Great morning with the #greengym in West Hendon Playing Fields pic.twitter.com/cfF8OlMQ9p

— Cllr Robert Rams (@CllrRobertRams) September 11, 2013

So what is a "Green Gym" anyway? Green Gyms are a fantastic idea that unite environmental and social aims, projects that get local people active and healthier but also achieve nature conservation at the same time. Local people learn skills and help to look after their local green spaces. Win-win! Yesterday's task involved cutting back some blackthorn bushes near the orchard area, and creating beetle habitats in the cleared space. Volunteers made the habitats by digging down and installing logs in an upright position, mimicking dead tree stumps that are important habitats for many invertebrates including Stag Beetles (a protected species here in the UK).

Barnet Green Gym group, with Project Officer Gareth Chalmers
(centre, in blue) and Volunteer Officer Tom Heenan (left, in green)

The project has been in progress at the West Hendon Playing Fields site since June, following the award of a grant from the Big Society Innovation Bank (read more here). Taster sessions have been taking place every Wednesday since the start of July... until today's Official Launch: the Barnet Green Gym is now officially open! I have been very fortunate to be involved from an early stage, assisting Gareth Chalmers (the TCV Project Officer) with a site survey in June and then helping on the weekly volunteer sessions. We have tackled a wide variety of tasks already, from maintaining footpaths and managing woodland areas to creating wildlife habitats. The project has really been building up steam, it's been fantastic to see the number of volunteers increasing and their involvement in the project increase too as the weeks have rolled by. TCV have been getting different organisations on board, for example a contingent of volunteers joined us today from the Martin B Cohen Centre for Wellbeing. It's inspiring to see the amount of people supporting the project, and the benefit people are getting out of the volunteer tasks as well.

Unfortunately my involvement in the project will be coming to an end now, as I pursue other goals. The Barnet Green Gym has been very close to my heart though, and I will really miss my Wednesday work session with the volunteers. It's not only the volunteers that feel the benefits of the fresh air, exercise and friendliness every week! If you are interested in the Barnet Green Gym, you can find out more at www.tcv.org.uk/london/green-gym-london/barnet-green-gym, or find out more about Green Gyms generally (and find one near you!) on the TCV website at www.tcv.org.uk/greengym.

Volunteers warm up at the first official Green Gym session today

The group get ready to work, with a wide range of tools and tasks

Tom Heenan and volunteer Lynne cut the blackthorn down to size!

Newly created loggeries add wildlife value to the site!