Roots January 2014

ROOTS Supporter Magazine

Winter 2013-14

IN THIS ISSUE…

Big Green Weekend 2013 Round-up The London Green Gym revolution Farewell to Conservation Holidays Turn over a new leaf in 2014 Puzzles and more…

Join in, feel good this winter www.tcv.org.uk

How you can support us The Conservation Volunteers receive no core funding from the government to carry out our work supporting people and places. We rely entirely upon the generous help of our volunteers and supporters. Please help us continue to transform lives, communities and places everywhere.

THANK YOU! us

on

er itt w T

w lo ts ol ee .. .f cvtw @t

Donate – Either as a one-off or a regular donation, your gift will help our volunteers transform lives and places. www.tcv.org.uk/donate Text giving – To donate £3 by SMS, text TCV to 70444 So simple, see the back page for details and the QR code for smartphones Shop – From seeds, plants and gardening tools to books and outdoor furniture, we have everything you need to transform your green place and it all goes towards improving lives of communities and people. www.tcv.org.uk/shop Recycle – We can help you dispose of your unwanted mobile phones, printer cartridges and even cars! We’ll reclaim the money to help continue our work.

Call us on 01302 388 883 Fundraise – Get your local community together and we'll help you every step of the way to get involved, have fun and raise funds for us.

E-mail supportus@tcv.org.uk Volunteer – Give the most valuable gift of all – your time. Join our volunteers and be the difference to your local area, helping others and having a great time! www.tcv.org.uk/volunteer

Find us on

2 Join in, feel good

It may be cold outside…

Looking back from deep midwinter, it’s been a busy and eventful autumn.

The Big Green Weekend was a great success, we’ve had more TV coverage than anyone can remember – topped by a truly unforgettable visit from our patron, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

But above all, our people, supporters and volunteers have been doing extraordinary work, day in, day out. I’m constantly moved by the effect we have on people’s health, prospects and places – but there’s so much more we could do with further funding!

A huge thank you, but now, a huge task for 2014 and beyond. Please keep up your support and involvement – it means the world to us and please let us know if there’s anything you feel we could improve upon or develop for the future.

Thank you so much and here’s to a truly happy and successful 2014.

Inside this issue 4-5...... Big Green Weekend 2013 round-up 6.......... TCV on National Lottery live show!

7.......... Making a fresh start with TCV 8.......... We say sad farewell to Conservation Holidays 9.......... Community groups news 10-11.... Green Gym round-up 12......... Pocket parks 13-15... Join-in, feel good!

As a charity, we rely on our supporters. Every gift, no matter how large or small enables us to continue our vital work

Rita Clifton Chair, The Conservation Volunteers

Th a n k Cover Photo: Stretching to warm up before a Green Gym

you!

www.tcv.org.uk 3

Big Green weekend round-up 2013’s Big Green Weekend (BGW) took place in brilliant October sunshine.

Thousands joined in at venues right across the UK. Everyone felt great...

Ferrets star at Skelton Grange

Ormeau Park celebrates in style

Over 3000 people, including Belfast’s Lord Mayor, joined-in creating bug hotels out of recycled and natural materials, learned about wildflower seed bomb making, paper potting, hedge laying, and bulb planting, before enjoying the fair-trade refreshments.

Meanwhile the bandstand hosted an interactive drum circle, giving a perfect soundtrack to a great event.

TCV Leeds hosted almost 600 visitors learning bushcraft, willow weaving, and green wood carving.

Everyone enjoyed the bike chariots, beautiful owls, and the hilarious ferret races!

Queues formed in the lovely autumn light for oven-baked pizzas and homemade cakes, which were greedily scoffed by the crowds – most of whom had never been to a BGW before!

Tigers run riot at Tuckingmill

Rudolph makes an early visit at Tree Life Centre Bristol and Kingswood’s Tree Life Centre hosted a brilliant day of fun activities. Kids made willow crowns and clay models, while the green woodwork workshop showed the adults how to make their own ‘rustic Rudolphs’. The on-site barbecue fed the hard-working volunteers, while the band played Autumnal tunes from the bandstand to round up a brilliant day.

4 Join in, feel good

The South-West was alive with facepainted tigers and kittens, cheering on their favourites in a series of snail races at Tuckingmill. Kids enjoyed a treasure hunt through the Valley Park and made their own insect hotels and bee houses; while the hotly-contested welly throwing competition kept the adults entertained.

Big Green weekend round-up

Scouting for Callisham Cross

Volunteers had a great day at Callisham Cross, where they erected a stock-proof fence, hung pedestrian field gates and built raised beds using sleepers. Ground was also prepared for fruit trees to be planted on the site, owned and managed by Plymouth Scouts, and will be used to teach them about healthy eating and foraging for food.

Awards time at Railway Fields

Boots and bananas at Singleton

TCV Kent hosted a wealth of fun activities where visitors made a natural cob oven, built benches from sustainable wood and took home autumn vegetables they planted in old boots and recycled food tins.

After their hard work, people gathered round the camp fire and enjoyed home grown vegetable soup while kids roasted chocolate bananas.

Yum!

Fruit monsters in White City

TCV Haringey hosted 126 people on-site and the lovely atmosphere was commented on by special guest, Chris Collins.

Volunteers turned out in force to welcome visitors and highlights were the presentation of the Conservation Award for London (from RHS London in Bloom), creative art and storytelling sessions, a scything demonstration and fascinating nature walks in the Magical Reserve.

Gloucestershire locals came out in force to support the TCV White City Allotments.

The kids had a ball making scary-looking fruit monsters from vegetables harvested by the volunteers, went away with tasty monsters to eat, and fresh produce for their families. Local MP Richard Graham joined in with the digging too! www.tcv.org.uk 5

volunteering with The Conservation Volunteers

Thank you Wolf Runners!

A special visit from our greatest supporter!

CEO Julie Hopes and HRH Prince Philip meet Eastern Operations Manager, Alan Marchant

September saw our intrepid pack run with the wolves, braving obstacles, lakes, woods, and lots of thick, glutinous mud to take part in the gruelling 10k Wolf Run, raising money for our vital cause. Our team of fifteen brave wolfen warriors trained hard throughout the summer (well, some of them did!) to ensure they could last the distance. Fortunately, the sun shone, which helped everyone brave the chilly waters and all our wolf runners made it through. So well done and a massive thank you to you all!

We’re on telly again

TCV Hollybush were featured in a short film on the National Lottery live draw in November, doing a brilliant job of telling the moving stories of our volunteers and showing what can be achieved with Lottery funding. Hollybush runs a Volunteer Inclusion and Support Programme thanks to funding from the BIG Lottery, meaning adults who are less able, can do a shorter day of practical conservation at the centre. BIG Lottery also funds support and mentoring services for volunteers. We’d love you to view the film here: http://youtu.be/ldcmuHBsvEs 6 Join in, feel good

HRH Prince Philip has been TCV’s patron for 55 years and we’re incredibly proud of the marvelous work he does on our behalf. So in September, we were especially honored to welcome him to Dersingham Bog Nature Reserve in Norfolk on his first official autumn engagement. His Royal Highness showed tremendous interest in the project restoring this site of special scientific interest; chatting amiably with volunteers. He then enjoyed a tour of the reserve, before presenting certificates to volunteers in recognition of their work; one of whom proudly received an award recognising over 100,000 hours of volunteering! Our heartfelt thanks to HRH for a day to cherish.

training & employment

The Jupiter experience

“I hated going to school – I hardly turned up over four years an Based at the Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in d en ded up in care fo Grangemouth, this 16-week programme of work r experience for youths aged 16-19 in Falkirk provides six months. But I co me here every day be an inclusive, supportive environment allowing cause them to develop vital skills and experience for the I’m outdoors doin g future. Through experience and practical activities something I like.” focused on horticulture, biodiversity and practical conservation, participants progress towards employment or further education.

Jupiter trainee

Helping Paul grow...

When Paul’s life was turned upside down 8 years ago, he felt like he’d lost everything. But once he recognised that he needed help, he got in touch with the Employability & Personal Development course at TCV Sheffield, who helped Paul secure and prepare for his first interview in 10 years. To his amazement, Paul was offered the position, and loves his new role. He told us: “The training I had at TCV got me through this! They helped me feel positive and believe in myself again.”

TCV Employability & Personal Development deliver solutions that work – go to www.tcv.org.uk/employment to find out more. www.tcv.org.uk 7

Farewell to Conservation Holidays

We are sad to announce that TCV’s Conservation Holidays programme has reached the end of its epic journey. From the beaches of Devon, to overseas destinations as diverse as Albania, Iceland, and Japan, TCV Conservation Holidays have offered a unique opportunity to improve the natural environment and protect landscapes both in the UK and abroad. Volunteers learned practical skills, tried their hand at traditional countryside crafts and found out about practical environmental conservation in beautiful places. People and groups came together – living, working and socialising together – creating friendships that would last forever – several leading to marriages!

Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who spent their holidays with us over the years – doing good and making a difference for places and communities from York to Yokohama. We also pay tribute to the Volunteer Residential Leaders; the welcoming and reassuring faces of TCV, who carried out one of the most challenging leadership roles in the charity. The wonderful experiences we’ve shared together will live on in our hearts.

8 Join in, feel good

Community Network

Birds of Fortune (Green...)

Turn over a new leaf in 2014 –

Get Active, Get Fit!

Volunteering is about doing good, but it’s also about feeling good too! Joining in with a local volunteering group can help you become more active and meet new people in your neighbourhood while helping others. Believe us, there’s nothing quite like it!

So whether you dig-in with your local conservation volunteers, join in at a Green Gym, get involved in a local sports club, or just walk to the place you volunteer – make a fresh start in the new year- get active, get fit and feel great in 2014!

Join a Green Gym today

Find one near you! – www.tcv.org.uk/greengym

TCV affiliated community group, Friends of Fortune Green (FOFG) in North London recently discovered a novel way of engaging their community in Camden, hosting a birds of prey event during half-term, to coincide with a pre-planned bulb-planting session.

This is part of FOFG’s aim to further improve their green space, which has recently benefited from being excavated and re-turfed, with help from Community Spaces. Everyone – (even the birds!) – enjoyed the lovely autumn weather and the rejuvenated space.

Mark Stonebanks from FOFG told us:

“For the first time since I’ve lived here, the grass really is green on that part of the green...”

Join the Community!

Across the length and breadth of Britain, the Conservation Volunteers are supporting local community groups protect and transform the green places that mean so much to them. From the Vat Pack in Scotland, to the Nonsuch Voles in Surrey, over £11,000 in funding from TCV last year has enabled over 40 local volunteering groups right across the UK get started and keep going – benefiting themselves and their communities. Why not join them this year and be part of the groundswell in community volunteering!

www.tcv.org.uk 9

Green Gym news

Green Crew – mining growth...

Green Crew is part of Cornwall’s Green Gym programme for adults with learning difficulties, offering less strenuous tasks, enabling people to join in and keep active.

Volunteers have been cutting out gorse and brambles to allow heather to grow, creating new areas of heathland to support a wider variety of wildlife – all part of rejuvenating King Edward mine, funded by Health Perfect from the Health Lottery. In the coming months volunteers will work to transform places near Penrose, Morvah and Truro.

The London Green Gym Revolution When Camden’s Green Gym launched in 2008, it was only the second one in the Capital.

Now, 14 Green Gyms run across London every week!

Last year, 1800 Londoners joined in, donating a massive 21,000 hours to transforming 55 spaces across the city. In 2014 we plan to launch new Green Gyms in Haringey, Hounslow, Watford and Camden, with support from our many partners including intu and the Peoples Health Trust. Come join us as we grow our ‘Natural Health Service’, making London greener!

10 Join in, feel good

Milton Keynes Green Gym goes solo...

2014 will see Milton Keynes Green Gym grow – becoming fully independent from January. The group, set up by us in 2011 with backing from the People’s Health Trust and Network Rail, started from humble beginnings, but the volunteers quickly gained skills and experience, and now reach out to other local volunteering groups.

We’re certain they’ll continue to inspire others to join in and do good. As one volunteer said: “I love the Green Gym! I eat healthier and I’ve made new friends too!”

Transforming young lives in Southeast London Working in partnership with Lewisham Youth Offending Service since 2011, Lewisham Green Gym holds food growing sessions every Saturday engaging young people on conditional cautions or court orders. These practical food growing sessions help them grow and learn while working to prevent re-offending.

Food grown on the allotment has been donated to provide healthy produce for deprived families, and has been sold to raise over £300 to further benefit local charities.

Green Gym news

Growings-on with Mondelēz!

TCV’s partnership with Mondelēz grows-on with over 90 employees taking part in employee action days at South Birmingham’s Meadow Green Community Allotment – part of Mondelēz International’s Global Volunteer Month. Throughout October, Volunteers took part in the Green Gym, ground clearance and raised bed construction, as well as rebuilding the shed and greenhouse to re-create the award-winning BBC Gardeners World Show Garden. The Health for Life in the community programme plans more Employee action days with Mondelēz during 2014, as well as Green Gyms, Sow and Grow Sessions and healthy eating workshops to further benefit the community.

Growing the next generation...

Getting kids and young people engaged in conservation early is vitally important, especially in inner-city areas. Belsize & Adelaide Green Gym are reaching out to young people, promoting practical volunteering sessions to youths aged 14+ within the community. Since it began last April, 17 young people aged 14-18 have attended, picking up practical skills and a deeper understanding of London’s hidden green spaces.

Four of them have gone further – becoming regular volunteers!

Camden Green Gym walks with the animals!

TCV’s links to ZSL London Zoo go right back to 1966, when we had our offices there! So this September, when Volunteers at Camden Green Gym were invited to carry out conservation work at the zoo, wild zebras couldn’t stop them!

Volunteers provided 10 barrels of leaf silage to provide overwinter food for reptiles, zebras and giraffes. They worked alongside the ZSL keepers, feeding the giraffes before visiting the rest of the animals!

Green Gyms sessions run four days a week in Camden and new volunteers are always welcome – visit: www.tcv.org.uk/camden

From Wick to Westminster, people are getting out, getting fit and changing lives. It’s easy to join in our ‘Natural Health Service’ and feel great this year – Go on, you won’t regret it!

Find your local Green Gym at www.tcv.org.uk/ greengym

www.tcv.org.uk 11

project news

Parks in Pocket...

TCV have been on the airwaves again. London Heath Manager, Chris Speirs, was featured on BBC London radio where he spoke about the Pocket Park initiative in Bromley, South London.

This £2m scheme, funded by the Mayor of London, will regenerate 100 underused urban spaces for the community to transform and enjoy. Funding will allow Bromley Green Gym, in partnership with Intu Bromley, to create a ‘pocket park’ which will be a haven for wildlife, and a thriving interactive community space.

Get Some Credit

TCV Scotland’s ‘Get Some Credit’ provides 16-24 year-olds with training, qualifications and work experience. Two current part-time programmes aim to develop the skills and confidence to enable the young people compete for work within the environmental, landscaping and forestry industries.

Stirling Referral Agency told us:

“Get Some Credit was a great opportunity to gain valuable experience – our young person has been able to find employment and pick up valuable skills that will stay with him throughout his life.”

We all want to change our neighbourhoods for the better – now you can find a project you love, make a contribution or create your own on Spacehive.

TCV have lots of projects on Spacehive all aimed at transforming unloved green spaces. Whether you want to support a TCV project or start your own, Spacehive can make it happen. Fundraising efforts are given a big helping hand too as contributions are combined with grants from a variety of funders.

Now it’s never been easier to join in and feel good!

Go to www.spacehive.com/initiatives/TCV

12 Join in, feel good

Pull out and keep section

Winter word search Find and mark all the words hidden inside the box.

Words may be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Test your winter knowledge and skill.

join in, feel good summer round-up

Take Roots ROOTS Take Roots with you where ever you go this winter and send a picture of yourself with a copy of Roots in your favourite green spaces – you could win a specially selected ‘Pamper set’ from the TCV shop for the best picture!

Supporter Magazine Winter 2013-14

G

Y M

I

Y

H

A

T

H

L

E

C

X

Y W O

N

V O

L

U N

T

E

E

R

F

U

L

X

T

H

G

R

E

E

S

G N

I

C

N A D

J

L

O K

J

Q B

S

A O B

X

P

A

P

D G

Z

L

C O N

L

S

A N U

A

IN THIS ISSUE…

Big Green Weekend 2013 Round-up

The London Green Gym revolution

Farewell to Conservation Holidays

Turn over a new leaf

J

N W D

B

J

A

C

V M

S

X W R

N

T

F

Z

E

O

E

T

I

M Y

U

S

G

R Q

L

T

E

E

R

E

H

E

F

E

J

E

R

Y O O A

I

R

H

S

K

B

N A

K

F

J

R

N

V O

I

O R

E

G

U

I

Z

S

B

A

B

D

L

O A M Y I

K

Y

T

B

G A

U

V

N

L

D

E

O

Z

N M H

T W

E

V O C

I

N

T

E

R

I

T

G

X W T

E

L

N

K

C O

I

Y

C

R

F

J

I

M

E

G O A O M

E

A O

I

H O

P

S

L

X W N A

L

Z

N

E

Y

E

E

Q

S

V

S

S

T

A

N

P

S

F

R

K

A

Z

U

X

T

I

M

S

P

O W P

C

G O

L

Y

T

R

A

T

S

H

S

E

R

F

R

H W K

T

M V W Z

Y

T

R

A

P

B

C

H

S

R

N W Q V

T

S

J

B

CELEBRATION FITNESS GREENGYM JANUARY PEOPLE

T

A

T

CONSERVATION FRESHSTART GOALS NEWYEAR RESOLUTION

E-mail all your es competition entri v. tc s@ tu to suppor e th ing ot qu k org.u competition.

Closing date for all competitions: 17 February 2014

Join in, feel good this winter

www.tcv.org.uk

I

E

D Q

in 2014

A

Y

E

Puzzles and more…

DANCING GAMES HEALTH PARTY VOLUNTEER

Now find the missing hidden word!

Send us your answers by 17 February 2014 and win the TCV mystery prize of the month.

Congratulations and a Storm Kettle to winner Lorraine Forman (above) in the woods with her Autumn 2013 copy of Roots.

www.tcv.org.uk 13

Join in, feel good

Spot-thedifference

Can you spot the five alterations to the cover of one of our famous practical handbooks below? If so, circle them and send your answer to win a prize!

Waterways & Wetlands is just one of a series of practical conservation handbooks we publish. See the full range at www.tcv.org.uk/shop A big thank you to everyone who shared their Christmas dedications with us for the TCV live Christmas tree – Thanks for showing you care!

Spread the word!

om/ Like us on facebook.c teers, lun vo on theconservati d tell an ts jec pro r follow ou llow Fo ! us t ou ab e on every ts – ee tw us on twitter @tcv r! nte wi s thi get tweeting

14 Join in, feel good

Make the most of winter with the TCV Shop!

During the winter, having the right tools can make those winter gardening tasks so much easier! Our online shop has a fantastic range of garden tools from Spear & Jackson.

With a heritage that dates back to 1760, they come with a 10-year no quibble guarantee so you can buy with confidence!

All ‘tooled up’? Then get some history in your garden! We’ve got a fantastic range of over 25 heritage seed varieties –

many over 100 years old such as; Autumn Giant, Long White Icicle and Mr. Wheeler’s Imperial... and start planning your heritage crop!

So, whatever you need for the outdoors, you’ll find it at tcv.org.uk/shop and best of all, everything you buy supports TCV’s essential work...

Now you’ve dug the hard ground, endured the winter winds and well, you deserve a treat – indulge yourself with something soothing from our ‘Treat Yourself’ range. Our Muscle Rub is especially formulated for gardeners and nothing eases tired muscles like it!

Volunteering changes lives – ask Claudia!

Claudia came to the UK from Chile with a university degree and a background in finance but with little everyday English, her employment prospects were poor. Through the Sheffield Volunteer Centre, she received a placement at the nearby TCV shop to improve her English and gain valuable work experience. Claudia’s confidence was low but over a 9-month period helping TCV staff run the shop and supporting customers, she has transformed her spoken English, her independence and her confidence! She has since gained a job in a local private school and says she owes it all to her experience as a volunteer with The Conservation Volunteers. If you are nearby, why not drop in and say hello at 474 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield S11 8PX. www.tcv.org.uk 15

Enjoyed this copy of Roots?

Share the love – pass it on to friends and family...

SMS text Giving

As a charity, The Conservation Volunteers receive no core Government funding for our essential work with people and spaces. We rely almost entirely on the generosity of our donors.

To donate £3 by SMS, text TCV to 70444 or scan the QR code with your smart phone.

Text cost £3 plus standard network charge. TCV receives 100% of your donation.

Please obtain bill payer’s permission. Alternatively you can make a donation through our website – www.tcv.org.uk/donate

Organise your own event Got the post-Christmas blues – need an injection of fun into your fundraising? Why not hold you own event this year? Our fundraising packs have all the ideas and practical tools you could possibly need to hold your very own tailor-made fundraising event, so why not order one now? From Great Green Adventures to Wild Warriors or for the less energetic – the Great Green Quiz. There’s something for everyone, so visit the website to download your packs and get busy this winter for TCV!

www.tcv.org.uk/getinvolved

Thank you!

Find us on

The Conservation Volunteers Sedum House Mallard Way Doncaster DN4 8DB E information@tcv.org.uk T 01302 388 883 www.tcv.org.uk

Thank you so much for your support, we hope you will continue to support us throughout 2014!

Green Gym is a Registered Name of the The Conservation Volunteers Registered Charity in England (261009) and Scotland (SC039302) Registered in England as a limited company No. 976410 Printed on 100% recycled paper