Roots (Autumn 2014)

ROOTS

Supporter Magazine

Reclaiming green places since 1959

I

Join in, feel good

Autumn 2014

www.tcv.org.uk

TCV Shop Growing From Strength to Strength

Three years after opening our TCV Shop, following lots of hard work and a distinctly bumpy ride at first, we’re proud to say it’s all been worthwhile!

Most charity shops are merely ‘retail outlets’, but the TCV shop has become so much more. Open 7 days a week with over 30 regular volunteers helping out, there’s never a dull moment! Especially with the fantastic partnerships we’ve forged with Sheffield and Hallam Universities (recycling schemes, fairs and societies projects) and with local businesses. We have also established the shop as a base for local event Clandestine Cake Club, exhibitions and workshops. We assist local schools, giving summer work experience for young people and provide NVQ qualifications for all our volunteers.

A valued hub to the Sheffield community; the TCV shop not only provides the opportunity for local people to ‘give’, it allows us to give back - to people, to places and of course, our wonderful volunteers. Our aim is to open more TCV shops across the UK, allowing us to support even more communities at ground level. It’s a brilliant place to begin your volunteering journey, or to do some shopping - so why not join in and Help Us Grow this autumn!

If you’d like to volunteer contact Denisa at TCV Shop, 474 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8PX – Tel:0114 267 0665 She’d love to hear from you!

Whatever you need for the outdoors this autumn, you’ll find at tcv.org.uk/ shop and best of all, everything you buy helps us grow...

at www.tcv.org.uk/shop Call us on 0114 2670665 or shop online

Inside this issue 2 ��������� TCV Shop 3 ��������� Welcome to Roots 4 ��������� Big Green Weekend 2014!

7 ��������� TCV News Update 8 ��������� Happy 55th Birthday TCV! 14 ������� Retail - Moshi Monsters & Mr Bloom 16-17 �� Green Gyms

Looking back, Growing forward I’m finding it fascinating to look back at our beginnings and recognise the many incredible things we’ve achieved together since that first workday at Box Hill 55 years ago. But what’s particularly striking are the similarities – austerity, people and places marginalised and neglected –we’re busier than ever! Sharing in the incredible journey we’ve taken with our volunteers these 55 years makes me even more determined to grow our message, our vision and our work.

We have lots of great developments in store this autumn, including a very exciting collaboration with Moshi Monsters and of course, our next Big Green Weekend! I hope you’ll all join the celebrations, and help us grow this autumn. Happy 55th birthday TCV!

18 �������� Employment & Training

As a charity, your support means everything to us.

Without it, we simply cannot continue our work throughout the UK this autumn.

SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO DONATE

Julie Hopes CEO, The Conservation Volunteers

TH A N K

YOU!

www.tcv.org.uk 3

3-6 October

For full details of the Big Green Weekend events please visit www.tcv.org.uk/biggreenweekend This is your invitation to join us for this year’s Big Green Weekend and to celebrate our 55th birthday.

Our annual flagship event is now in its fourth successful year where we showcase the tremendous work our staff and volunteers do – all across the UK.

Family Fun Day Ormeau Park, Belfast BT7 2FX 07764 655 705

Our theme for this celebratory year is #volunteer55! Join in by doing 55 minutes of volunteering. We’ll be holding events for all ages and abilities around the country so there’s sure to be something happening near you! To find out where your nearest BGW event is taking place, check out our map www.

The Tree Life Centre tcv.org.uk/biggreenweekend Grimsbury Farm Kingswood, Bristol. BS15 9SE Feeling inspired? Join us at one of our events for willow weaving, bug hunts, wild seed bombing, charcoal burning, bird box making, conducting wildlife surveys, create a community garden and much more. There really is something for everyone and we guarantee lots of fun!

Wish us happy birthday

#happy55tcv #volunteer55

0117 929 1624

Tuckingmill Big Green Weekend 2014 Tuckingmill Valley Park, TR14 8NH 01209 610100

Exploring Eartham Open Day Forestry Commission Office, West Sussex, PO18 0LU 01243 814 481

Skelton Grange Open Day Skelton Grange Road, Leeds LS10 1RS 0113 243 0815

If you can’t find an event near you, why not hold your own at a time more suitable for you? Our fundraising kits have all the ideas and practical tools you need to hold you own Big Green event, so there’s no need to miss out on the fun. From holding your own ‘Great Green Adventure?’ to ‘Wild Warriors’ – or test your knowledge with ‘The Great Green Quiz’!

The G Advenreat Green ture P ack

Raising funds to help transfor The Con m live s, com servatio munitie n Volunt s and eers con green tinue places to through out the UK

Wild Warrior

Dress Down Day All you need for your school or community group to take part and inspired costumes helping dress up in your best raise much needed funds nature to protect our vanishing green places.

www.tc v.org.uk /getinv olved Join in,

feel goo d help

others

Visit our website www.tcv.org.uk/getinvolved to download your packs and get planning your event!

www.tcv.org.uk/getinvolv ed

Join in, feel good help

Join in and feel good this autumn join our celebrations and wish us happy birthday!

WIN

Send a photo of your #volunteering55 via our twitter page or email to volunteer55@tcv.org.uk The best picture will win a complete range of Moshi Monster garden tools and five runners up packets of seeds…intrigued turn to page 14.

For full details visit www.tcv.org.uk/biggreenweekend

others

55TH BIRTHDAY APPEAL - INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS In the 55 years since our story began, we’ve done much more than revitalise neglected green spaces - we’ve helped transform thousands of communities to have a healthier and brighter future.

With your help this autumn, and in celebration of our 55th Birthday we aim to raise £55,000. Your donation will directly support our dedicated volunteers as we work together to address the growing challenges facing our parks, outdoor spaces and communities every day.

Your donation no matter how big or small will support a host of social, learning and volunteering initiatives in the natural environment. We have seen how our work connects people with their outdoor places and inspires positive changes for both. With your help we can ensure these changes continue to benefit future generations over the next 55 years.

Continue to be part of our journey and help us reach £55,000 by sending your donation by one of the following ways.

DONATE

Credit card call us today 01302 388 845 Cheque made payable to; The Conservation Volunteers and send to; TCV Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB marked for 55th Birthday Appeal Online donations can be made at: www.tcv.org.uk/donate

TEXT GIVING

To donate £3 by SMS, text TCV to 70444 or scan the QR code opposite

Scan me with a Smart Phone

So if you can this autumn, please make a donation and help us grow our life-changing legacy – because our work matters more now than ever.

6 Join in, feel good

NEWS UPDATE

A Right Royal Oasis in Camden Selected to host the handover of the British SubAqua Club Presidency by The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge this July, TCV volunteers ensured the Oasis Green Gym garden looked its blooming best. Volunteers were thrilled to welcome the Royal party to their beautiful gardens in London which has been transformed into a wildlife-friendly, fruit and vegetable oasis, where surplus produce is donated to the local St Mungo’s homeless hostel. Everyone enjoyed the Royal visit – especially Prince William, who couldn’t resist a dip in the centre’s open air swimming pool!

Duke of Kent Visits Hillfoots HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent made a special visit to Stirling recently, marking the opening of Hillfoots Diamond Jubilee Way; part of Ochils Landscape Partnership’s work with TCV, organising and delivering environmental and volunteering projects across the region.

HRH viewed displays of the ongoing work at Hillfoots and a presentation by TCV’s Amanda Joaquin, who works on projects for local schools, volunteer groups and the Ochils Festival.

Prince Edward was impressed with how our engagement with local primary schools and volunteers will continue to help them grow.

Liverpool Festival Gardens goes for Gold Having lain derelict for 28 years, these stunning gardens reopened in 2012 after a major renovation. But a lack of awareness amongst people, especially children, meant locals weren’t getting the most from the site. To help kids better understand the value of conservation, TCV garden rangers, Caroline, Paul and Eleanor, together with local volunteers, run educational activities, themed school and public events highlighting the wildlife and amenities on-site.

This innovative engagement with the community, led the Land Trust to award them the Gold Award 2014 for Best Educational Project – a fantastic achievement! www.tcv.org.uk 7

Happy Happy 55th 55th

Independence in the ‘70s: Forged in the ‘50s: TCV is rooted in the

Conservation Corps; formed in 1959 by the Council for Nature, and headed by Brigadier Armstrong, with the aim of involving volunteers in practical conservation work. Our very first project at Box Hill in Surrey, involved 42 volunteers, including David Bellamy, clearing dogwood to help the distinctive chalkland flora regrow.

1950’s

We established ourselves as British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV); opening offices around the UK. Volunteer numbers grew steadily - reaching over 3,000, including the first from Northern Ireland. HRH Duke of Edinburgh became our Patron, and in 1977 as part of the Jubilee celebrations, we created a unique ecological park opposite the Tower of London with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Committee. Growing fast, we moved to new headquarters in Reading.

1960’s ‘60s Expansion: The Conservation

Corps grew to encompass education and amenity work, moving to premises at London Zoo. Our first exchange visit to Czechoslovakia, where volunteers studied wildlife in the Tatra Mountains forged a wonderful legacy of international exchanges and work projects. By the decade’s end, membership had grown to 600 - volunteers completing over 6,000 work days.

8 Join in, feel good

1970’s

55 years - Still going strong!

Our journey together has taken us through huge societal and environmental change into a landscape where green spaces have never mattered more. Join us on a trip through TCV’s 55 years of growth!

People & Places ‘90s:

We began to broaden our focus to people and society.

Our first overseas affiliate was established in Ireland (CVI). Our ‘Three Year Million Tree’ campaign saw the millionth tree planted by Vice-President, David Bellamy. The ‘Woodland Action Week’ followed, aimed at nurturing young trees. David Jacobs planted our Second Millionth Tree in 1994. We helped found the Government supported Environmental Training Organisation, promoting high quality training in the environmental sector. The 1000th local group joined us. 1998 saw a pivotal milestone when we united with Dr William Bird to introduce the groundbreaking BTCV Green Gym project. We celebrated our 40th anniversary and end the decade as a key

player in initiatives such as the Government’s New Deal.

1980’s

New Millennium, New Horizons:

We became one of the largest environmental sector providers of training and support to unemployed people in the UK, uniting with Government to deliver apprenticeships, while the Millennium Volunteers programme provided over 3,000 placements for young people. CVNI’s Millennium Tree Campaign planted more than 1.6 million trees, while the ‘Environments for All’ scheme reached out to black, minority ethnic and marginalised communities. HRH Duke of Edinburgh presented the first Green Hero awards, and we launched ‘Community Champions’.

Our alliance with RBS Group saw employee volunteering events grow. Green Gyms celebrate their 10th anniversary, with over 70 across the UK, and the

third ‘spring into Action’ campaign involved more than 20,000 volunteers at 770 sites across the UK. Our new headquarters at Sedum House wins awards for sustainability.

1990’s

2000’s

‘80s Reaching out: Our focus broadened into

urban environments and community action. With 350 affiliated local groups, the CVNI opened in Northern Ireland; volunteers and BTCV groups helped set up a conservation movement in Iceland. We celebrated 25 years with a commemorative workday at Box Hill, and after the 1987 hurricane, we initiated the National Tree Planting Campaign.

Membership grew to 10,000 (25 times that of 1959!) and our Natural Break programme became the largest of its kind in Britain, involving over 6,000 people.

The Present Day We Growing Strong!:nservation

Co became known as The with a renewed Volunteers in 2012, ces and growth. focus on people, spa people and g pin hel ue We contin their health, communities transform or places for the prospects and outdo x Hill to beyond! long-term - from Bo

www.tcv.org.uk 9

With over 70 years of volunteering for TCV between them, the stories of our volunteers’ are our story too! We’d like to share them with you…

David’s Volunteering Legacy with TCV Grows On! David Slater’s lifelong love for the outdoors gave him a burning desire to go out and ‘actually do something’ to transform local spaces.

In 1964, he joined a TCV work project and found the work innovative and challenging; giving him ‘new, wider, and bigger challenges’ and a wonderfully fulfilling social network. David immediately joined in and became a volunteer with TCV around Dover, and 50 years on, he still loves it!

Through the decades he’s learned innumerable practical skills, but the memory dearest to him is a project at Hothfield Common where his group built a bridge to help preserve Kent’s last lowland bogs; a wonderful legacy to the environment. But pivotally, David has been involved at the ground level in helping TCV transform society’s attitudes towards local environments.

He says those early TCV groups shared a ‘vision of a utopia’ where green spaces would be as vital as defence or social services. David enjoys the satisfaction in playing his part in this change.

David loves the diversity of TCV’s volunteers – people from all backgrounds digging in together. He believes this variety makes TCV unique, offering incredible opportunities for all.

David adds; ‘volunteering taught me far 10 Join in, feel good

DAVID SLATER more than any management course’.

It also led to one of the most fulfilling encounters of his life, when he met his wife on a TCV volunteering workday. 31 years on and still happily married, they both remain passionate about green spaces.

Volunteering has done so much for David, personally, professionally and in making a lifelong contribution to his environment. With half a century of experience, his advice to anyone considering volunteering for TCV is ‘Go for it!’

Growing Places - Cathy’s Story Despite being well-versed in ecology and plant identification, when a colleague took her collecting wildflower seeds for their School Ground Project, Cathy Williams (nee Thompson) had previously considered botany ‘a bit dull’. But seeing orchids and trefoils growing on piles of chippings and sparse wayside grass along disused railway sidings brought it all to life and inspired her to get involved, join in and work for TCV. She recalls; “my time with The Conservation Volunteers was one of the most enjoyable and productive of my professional life, working on

inner London sites and on some of the beautiful nature reserves in the greenbelt surrounding the city”.

Cathy subsequently went on to work as Landscape Liaison Officer for Bath City Council – (when this photo was taken), and a number of other charities before starting her own business coaching, mentoring, and facilitating - still within the environmental sector. She has retained her links with TCV and still has great memories of those formative years, where it all began for her. She says; “Thanks TCV!”

Do you have a story about your time volunteering for TCV? We’d love to hear about your experiences. Share your stories with us at supportus@tcv.org.uk and be part of our narrative!

www.tcv.org.uk 11

Not so Retiring – Pat’s Journey: Pat Alexander found that retirement gave him plenty of time to fill, so when his wife urged him to do something useful in his local community of Edinburgh, he found TCV. But at 62, he worried he ‘wouldn’t be able to keep up with the youngsters’.

Gathering his courage, he joined in, loved it and has been volunteering with his local TCV group ever since.

He loves the work, the camaraderie and especially, the social side of volunteering. He calls his group of volunteers his ‘hard-core’ and the highlight of the week is the time spent with them. Pat’s proud of everything his group has achieved, but one project really means the world to him. Taking the lead role on the construction of a Swedish summer house for a local hospital, Pat’s DIY skills were much

12 Join in, feel good

needed; especially since the instructions were in Swedish! His dedicated group of volunteers worked hard to complete this beautiful building, used by seriously ill patients; allowing them spend time outdoors in a peaceful, sheltered setting. He’s learned many practical skills over the years, but more importantly, his volunteering experience enabled him to share knowledge and help others. It’s also changed him as a person; giving him a stronger appreciation for people and their problems; ‘I don’t judge anymore, because you don’t know what the background or situation is for someone.’

He couldn’t recommend volunteering with TCV more; ‘I think people could really do with getting out in the fresh air, doing a bit of exercise, and meeting other people.’ Aged 62 when he began, Pat is proof there’s no age limit to volunteering. He’s been helping TCV grow for 18 years and he added; ‘I look forward to volunteering for another 18 years!’

Inspiring a New Generation David Meechan’s love for the outdoors saw him studying geography at Glasgow University, focusing on conservation.

After graduating, David decided that the best way to learn more was to volunteer and was immediately drawn to TCV. He volunteered for a day and found the combination of friendly people working together to improve the environment irresistible. After only one month, was appointed Team Leader with a whole host of responsibilities including organising projects, guiding volunteering teams and providing support. He feels every project is a highlight, because each one brings different needs, challenges and learning opportunities to bear.

Whether leading a biodiversity walk or working with people with additional support needs, David immerses himself in as many aspects of TCV as possible. He’s not only developed skills in conservation and outdoor work, but also leadership, presentation and communication. He works with all age groups including running workshops for children, teaching them about different species of plants and how best to grow wildlife, all of which he absolutely loves!

David’s work with special needs children saw him nominated at the finals of the Young Scot Awards 2014. The final was aired on TV. David loves working with TCV, telling everyone what a brilliant organisation it is. He says it’s a fantastic gateway for students looking for a career in conservation, but is also just great fun! He finds the support he receives ‘absolutely amazing’ and the creative and positive atmosphere at TCV ‘infectious’. David aims to channel this positivity and energy to inspire a whole new generation of volunteers.

DAVID MEECHAN Have you got a TCV story you would like to share with us?

Send your stories into us at: supportus@tcv.org.uk

www.tcv.org.uk 13

Help Us Grow...Monsters!

We have teamed up with Moshi Monstors and Mr Bloom to create a range of fun tools, seeds and wildlife products to help children enjoy the outdoors.

Moshi Monsters are a global phenomenon, giving kids a fun interactive environment to learn the importance of planting, growing and caring. Children can choose from one of six virtual monsters that they can create, name and nurture.

TCV have teamed up with the innovative world of cute pet monsters to offer a range of branded tools and seeds bringing this hugely popular game to life in homes and gardens everywhere! Launched in June, it brings the online game outdoors to create a fun, educational growing experience for kids. Our new range of colourful tools and seeds are now available from the TCV shop, supported by a new gardening website created especially for children; providing novel and fun ways to enjoy the outdoors while improving learning and skills.

Our Moshi Monster range includes all the tools a young gardener needs to get growing in the garden, and special branded seeds will allow them to grow amazing produce like purple peas, chocolate chillies and an adorable looking fruit called a Cucamelon! We think this is a brilliant way to encourage more children to grow outdoors this autumn, while helping us fund our work transforming people’s health, prospects and green spaces.

The Moshi Monsters range is available now from the TCV shop and other retailers. Call us on 01302 388 883 or shop online at www.tcv.org.uk/shop

14 

Tiddlers’ Get Growing with Mr Bloom!

If you have young children, you’ll know all about Mr. Bloom’s Nursery.

The popular CBeebies show is adored by millions of young kids and their parents. Featuring gardener, Mr. Bloom, who runs his own very special allotment complete with singing vegetables (the Veggies) and a belching ‘compostarium’ called ‘Compo. Combining live action, songs and puppetry - it inspires ‘tiddlers’ to get involved with gardening, nature and the outdoors.

Now this September, The Conservation Volunteers, in partnership with Bulldog Licencing are launching a fantastic range of Mr Bloom gardening products including ‘grow your own’ kits, toddler tools, buckets, watering cans, bird boxes and bug boxes. TCV Retail’s Douglas Palarm told us; “We’re really excited to be working with Mr Bloom and helping to bring his allotment and activities to life. This is a great way to help the youngest children learn about the fascinating natural world around them, and how they can look after it through fun gardening activities with their families.”

The new Mr. Bloom range will be available from the TCV shop from early 2015, and are the perfect gift for all your budding bloomers!

#Volunteer55 See page 5 for your chance to win the complete range of Moshi tools!

GREEN GYM NEWS

Our ‘Natural Health service’ continues to help people and spaces grow across the length and breadth of the UK. Join in, feel good at your local Green Gym today!

Cooking up a pathway in Bury!

Helping young trees grow in Hull

The completion of a 7-month project involving volunteers from TCV Manchester to restore a pathway at Elton Reservoir near Bury means visitors can now enjoy the beautiful circular walk. Before work began, the path was often impassable, with people frequently getting stuck in the boggy terrain! Over 200 local volunteers from Radcliffe created over 500m of pathways and planted 350 new trees before rounding off with an impromptu celebratory barbecue!

Part of a city-wide tree planting scheme in partnership with the William Jackson Food Group, TCV volunteers in Hull have been carrying out essential work at Kesteven Way, clearing invasive vegetation that was in danger of stunting their growth. The project has successfully protected the young tree’s prospects, while retaining the meadow as an important habitat for insects, including rare species of moths and butterflies – another example of how TCV volunteers help local communities grow!

Haringey Green Gym in awards frenzy!

Volunteers from TCV’s Harmony Gardens Green Gym in London certainly have the X-Factor; winners at the Health Lottery Tea Party hosted

by Simon Cowell at London’s Savoy.

Joining 200 guests from charities funded by People’s Health Trust, along with countless celebrities and MPs, it 16 Join in, feel good

follows April’s joint runners-up prize for ‘Gardening against the Odds’ presented

by David Bellamy. This year has also seen the start of a new weekly Green Gym at East Hale Allotments thanks to funding from the People’s Health Trust.

Haringey’s Green Gyms – growing up in the world!

Gareth clocks up 600 Green Gym sessions!

Green Gyms are addictive! Ask Gareth Jenkins, who recently completed his 600th session! A stalwart volunteer, Gareth’s attended almost every session since the Camden Green Gym opened in 2009. In addition, he’s trained as a volunteer leader, helps us deliver Employee Action Days and is involved in two Community groups in Camden; leading on 100 Community Green Gym projects. He’s also co-chair of the Belsize and Adelaide Green Gym Community Group, yet still joins in at Camden. Our warmest congratulations Gareth thanks for helping us grow!

If you go down to the woods. . .

Access2nature, funded by the Big Lottery and National Grid works to improve prospects, health and wellbeing for people in Leeds; providing social, learning and volunteering projects at TCV’s Skelton Grange centre. In the last 6 months, we’ve welcomed over 2000 people from schools and other local groups, teaching them about nature, bushcraft, active outdoors and volunteering to help look after this beautiful amenity. Those who’ve taken part say they feel happier and healthier. So, if you go down to the woods, you’ll find a growing band of people getting outdoors and feeling fantastic!

Bring on the dancing cows!

TCV Natural Communities recently joined in with Transition Stirling for The Big Woodland Event, bringing over 500 people of all ages together to engage communities and enjoy the outdoors. There was foraging and bug walks, bush crafts, storytelling, woodworking workshops, cycle tours and chainsaw carving - to say nothing of the dancing cow! OPAL community scientist, Amy was promoting citizen science and giving people the chance to try tree surveys and learn about healthy woodlands. The brilliant volunteers ensured the day was a huge success.

Find a Green Gym near you! www.tcv.org.uk/greengym Join a volunteer group in your area! www.tcv.org.uk/volunteering www.tcv.org.uk 17

TCV EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES

7 Words that mean so much When Sue came to TCV for help she suffered from anxiety and depression, had become isolated and withdrawn and suffered panic attacks, seizures and insomnia. Sue started the 7-words course with TCV, which proved to be a turning point. She realised she wasn’t alone – others were suffering similar problems.

Working with peers and her TCV Employment and Training Service advisor, she volunteered with us, now works part time and loves it! Sue says; “TCV is my support network – I owe so much to their hard work and dedication - I had given up on myself, now I am a brand new person!”

Barbara’s new beginning Since February 2013, Barbara had been sending out an average of 15 job applications a week, but despite her hard work and gaining several interviews, she’d remained unsuccessful.

Beverley, her TCV employment advisor, worked with Barbara to improve her CV, emphasised her skills and talents,

and gained valuable insight; obtaining feedback from unsuccessful interviews.

Now having successfully found work, Barbara is thrilled – as is everyone at TCV Employment and Training Service Swindon who worked so hard to help her grow.

Bring me sunshine!

Adam has been jobseeking for about 5 years, but battles with depression and anxiety had left him shy and withdrawn. However, a volunteering stint supporting TCV Employment and Training Service Cheltenham has let the sunshine in, allowed his cheeky sense of humour lift everyone’s spirits and his growing IT skills keep everything running smoothly. The TCV admin team think he’s fabulous and continue to support his ongoing job-quest. He told us; “It’s improved my outlook on job prospects - the team at TCV are a wonderful caring bunch”.

Making Julie’s dream grow! with diminished

work, When Julie came to TCV she had found herself in a rut; out of sector, but lacking esteem and self-confidence. Her dream was to work in the care advisor; she honed TCV her y, Beverle with g Workin experience, she was losing hope. sat interviews and jobs, for applied Julie As . homes care local d her CV and targete hard work her h throug of, d her confidence grew. She now has the job she dreame . Well done Service Training and ment Employ and with the help of Beverley and TCV Julie!

18 Join in, feel good

LOOK WHAT WE HAVE WON

Festival gardens in the Pink!

Eleanor is a TCV garden Ranger at Liverpool Festival Gardens and has been working on a neglected area of the site, creating a ‘Pink Garden’ utilising a species of flowering Saxifrage which was suffocating under the weeds. Eleanor added other pink and purple plant species and incorporated a stone spiral design. The pink garden sits behind the Chinese pagoda and faces the Japanese gardens and she’s since discovered, spiral shapes and the colour pink are both prevalent in Chinese and Japanese culture – an amazing piece of serendipity linking back to the Festival Gardens’ origins!

TCV Newton Abbot win in Western Morning News Countryside awards 2014!

After being the only organisation nominated in two award categories, TCV Newton Abbot took the first prize in the ‘Landscape’ category. Volunteers and staff attended a gala dinner and accepted the award for the work they have been doing on the SWW-funded Exmoor Mires project.

Dan Kent, South Devon Training Officer, said: “ This is a fantastic achievement for all of us at TCV Newton Abbot and it is brilliant that the volunteers and staff have received this award for the hard work they have put in on Exmoor.” www.tcv.org.uk 19

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 vital work with people and spaces, so we rely almost entirely upon the generosity of our donors. To donate £3 by SMS, text TCV to 70444 or scan the QRcode with your smart phone.

Text Costs £3.00 plus network charge.

The Conservation Volunteers receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800. Registered charity in England (261009) & in Scotland (SC039302) Alternatively you can make a donation through our website www.tcv.org.uk/donate

Organise your own event Can’t make this year’s Big Green Weekend? Why not help us grow this autumn by holding your own fundraising event instead? Our fundraising packs have all the ideas and practical tools you need to hold your very own tailor-made event, so order one now! Not sure what to do? From Great Green Adventures to Wild Warriors or for the less energetic - the Great Green Quiz, we’ve got something for everyone, so visit our website, download your packs and put some fun into your fundraising this autumn with 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