Bryony James is our Community and Volunteering Officer. Here she tells us what she’s been up to over the past couple of months and about key events coming up.
I’ve been getting into the swing of things as the newly appointed Community & Volunteer Officer and hosting an array of activities and events bringing communities closer to nature. It’s been wonderful to meet so many different people and to work with local providers and hosts who share their enthusiasm for their craft with others.
Since September we’ve run a scything course for community nature groups, dormice surveying sessions, watersport sessions for Tavistock Youth Café groups, created journals with local artists, held a series of Open Farm days, experimented with drawing techniques in historic locations, held a community action for nature day, journaled for wellbeing, made charcoal, petted care animals, shared first aid instruction, gone foraging, welcomed environmental speakers to talks, involved ourselves with partners’ projects, and have got through lots of tea and coffee!
One of my favourite so far was the Community Action for Nature Day in Bere Alston (pictured). We invited local community groups, environmental organisations and individuals to share what they have been doing for nature in their area, plus how others could get involved and do similar things. The array of engaging activities was wonderful to see! We had some lovely feedback from members of the community who attended and went home with their minds full of creative ways to make their community a better space for nature.
To carry on the momentum, we’re hosting a series of talks on local, environmental topics over the next couple of months including regenerative land management, native bees and pollinators, and fisheries, dams and other barriers. All our Tamar Talks are free to attend and will take place at the Tamar Valley Centre. To book your free ticket, visit our Eventbrite page.
Stay tuned via our social media channels to hear about the latest upcoming events and activities.