Old School Garden

Here we are, Noah and I, starting out on one of our early morning fishing adventures. We make a beeline to a spot that still has a new feeling to it. Down the steep wooded bank we scuffle brushing branches aside to reach the water’s edge. It is still, quiet, and the summer sun is […]

A Chance Encounter — PlayGroundology

I’m delighted to feature the second of two new posts by Steven Robb. Steven also contributed an earlier post providing an overview of Edinburgh’s council housing from 1890 to 1945. He is Deputy Head of Casework for Historic Environment Scotland.  With qualifications in building surveying and urban conservation, he has a particular interest in early […]

Edinburgh’s 1919 Act Housing, Part II: ‘Healthy Houses for the People is the Best Public Health Insurance’ — Municipal Dreams

The Science of Sustainability The post The Science of Sustainability appeared first on Specifier Review – Architecture – Design – Innovation Kirsty Hammond Continue reading The Science of Sustainability at Specifier Review.

The Science of Sustainability — Specifier Review

In July 2019 I was proud to be on the team that organized a loose parts event on the Halifax Common that attracted 200+ kids on a perfect summer’s day. Dr. Michelle Stone of Dalhousie University, with support from The Lawson Foundation, led the Summer of PLEY project including this loose parts pop-up. She invited […]

Never Gets Old — PlayGroundology

This year was always going to be interesting for the Collections Department of Norfolk Museum Service, with a major transformation of Norwich Castle set to begin, but nobody could have predicted how different this year truly has been! Following another excellent round of applications, we were joined earlier this year by not one but two […]

Say Hello to the 2020 Collections Trainees — Shine A Light

We left Preston in last week’s post on the eve of war. The town, unlike some industrial centres, emerged relatively unscathed from the war itself but the post-war ambition to build a better Britain was fully felt – and for good reason. Half the town’s houses had been built between 1840-1890; of these, the experts […]

Council Housing in Preston, Part II: ‘Changing Fashions in Planning’ — Municipal Dreams

In 1709, Preston was described as ‘a very pretty town with abundance of gentry in it; commonly called Proud Preston’.  The gentry may have disappeared and the town (a city since 2002) changed out of all recognition but the appellation has remained. Local pride might be seen now in what has been dubbed the ‘Preston […]

Preston’s Council Housing, Part I to 1939: ‘Compactness, Convenience and Taste’ — Municipal Dreams

The impact of the pandemic on health- especially mental health- seems likely to be a long term issue. But in recent months many people have discovered the power of nature to help cope with the stresses and strains, and the result is that nature -based projects have seen demands rise and new opportunities for creativity. A new initiative is hoping to use this growth to further promote ‘green care’ across Norfolk, England.

So what is ‘Green Care’?

It covers a wide range of activities and settings, from walking in the countryside to gardening and other activities with a specific aim to improve someone’s health- see the diagram below.

How has the pandemic affected Green Care?

Iris Van Zon, who runs Clinks Care Farm, near Beccles says:

‘During lockdown there were many people offering to volunteer with us, and some of those are still volunteering with us today. The feedback we had from these volunteers and our existing volunteers is that it kept them staying positive and focussed.‘

Clinks Care Farm arranged for all activities to take place outdoors, and so were able to open up their day service at the end of May, a lot earlier than other providers. Farm helpers benefited enormously from attending the care farm again with stimulating outdoor activities.  ‘It really has improved people’s physical and mental health’ says Iris.

And it doesn’t end there. The pandemic seems to have stimulated a greater interest in fresh local produce, direct from the grower. As a result of increased demand, Clinks Care Farm have doubled the amount of veg they grow. Iris feels ‘People have started to think differently about food and where their food comes from.’

And what about the birds?

Many people have noticed how much quieter it has been in recent months, and this creates space for natural sounds like bird song and the wind through trees and grasses.  The Homesounds project encourages everyone, particularly young people, to become active ‘environmental listener’s for the benefit of their creativity, health and education. Founder and Director of Recast Music Education Martin Scaiff, which runs Homesounds says:

‘The imposition of the Lockdown encouraged us to develop our online activities. We began running live-stream sound-walks, broadcasting through the HomeSounds youtube channel. As a consequence we reached a much greater audience and had a significant impact on the well-being of those who joined us, from all over the UK and beyond. We were also able to deliver a limited number of in-person sound-walks at various sites across the County. Some of the feedback includes:

‘Walking silently was really hard but almost acted like a detox for my mind’.

‘The experience was really intriguing, calming and enjoyable. It made me respect the environment and wildlife we heard even more’.

‘I loved the experience and it felt amazing to be surrounded by wildlife’.’

And gardening has also boomed with a third of a million Britons visiting the Royal Horticultural Society website for advice, seed companies seeing a 600% increase in sales and a recent poll showing that 7 in 10 of us think gardening has helped our mental health.

What is Norfolk Green Care Network?

Norfolk Green Care Network is a new collaboration of over 150 organisations, projects and people across the County that is hoping to build on this new wave of engagement with nature. Nigel Boldero, an initiator of the Network says:

‘There is a strong and growing body of evidence that shows Green Care’s positive impact on personal and community wellbeing. The government has recently announced an investment in pilot projects to promote ‘green social prescribing’ which is all about relieving pressure on the NHS and providing effective options to complement traditional medicine. We want the Network to help build and develop these opportunities across Norfolk and to promote engaging with nature more generally.’

The Network is holding its first get together on Monday 2^nd November at The Nurture Project near Fakenham, a project run by Carlyn Kilpatrick that provides a range of gardening and nature -based activities with a clear therapeutic aim. Nigel says:

‘This event, for a limited number of people, will allow us to hear about the wonderful work Carlyn and her team are doing, share ideas and discuss the next steps for the Network.’

The Network has a new website and its activities will eventually include giving online and other training and support to those involved in providing green care, as well as promoting green care in areas that lack access to it.

Old School Gardener

Links:

https://ngcnetwork.wordpress.com

https://clinkscarefarm.org.uk/

https://www.recastmusiceducation.com/homesounds

https://www.thenurtureproject.co.uk/

“The UK’s set of climate projections are the best window we have on how climate change is likely to affect us out to the end of the century,” said Professor Jason Lowe OBE*, the lead for UKCP – the UK’s climate projections. The latest iteration of climate projections for the UK were released in 2018, […]

Climate projections show extreme UK’s weather will become even more extreme — Official blog of the Met Office news team

I’m very pleased to feature the second post from Peter Claxton on Cottingham. Peter rekindled his love of history at university following his retirement having spent 40 years working in IT. He now focuses most of his research time on Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire during the 19th and the first half […]

Cottingham’s Council Housing, Part II from 1930: New Forms of Housing Provision — Municipal Dreams