Our aims and objectives, impact on the ground and how we operate as a federation of charities.
The main themes of our work and some of our most important initiatives.
What we can do for the wide range of people and organisations that we work with.
Find out the latest about how we're changing places and lives.
Further your career or help us make a difference.
How to contact our team
23/02/10
Over 100 people participated in the Young friends of Burgess Park fun days in Southwark during half term week from 15 to 19 February 2010. The activities were organised by environmental charity Groundwork London who re-launched the Young Friends of Southwark Parks project on behalf of Southwark council. The half term activity week coincided with the International Year of Biodiversity and young people kept boredom at bay by taking part in a range of exciting organised activities each day.
Groundwork’s resident ornithologist Mark Patterson led a bird walk around the park where children used binoculars to look for birds that live in the park and listened for distinctive chirps to identify the birds. Young people then spotted mallards, coots and Pochard ducks in the lake before returning to Chumleigh Gardens to build nest boxes to give birds a place to raise their young. This coincided with National Nest Box Week.
Special activities took place each day with Ricky Magic, magician and balloon artist, providing the entertainment on Tuesday. On Wednesday, children got hands on with exotic animals at the mobile zoo including wriggling snakes, a colour-changing chameleon, a bearded Dragon and a selection of giant creepy crawlies. Tim Maynard of The Living Classroom, who brought the animals along as part of an outreach programme to promote biodiversity said: “This is a great learning experience for children as they get to learn about the animals first hand.”
Forest Schools that provides positive outdoor experiences for young people ran a bush craft workshop on Thursday where young people learnt how to make a traditional den, tie knots and make a pendant from elder stems.
Seven-year-old Alex who came with his father and two brothers said: “My favourite bit was when we were looking at the reptiles in the mobile zoo, feeding the ducks and planting flowers. I touched the snakes and stroked the chameleon.”
Mother of three, Mehnaz Khan, who lives on the nearby Ayelsbury Estate said: “My children really enjoyed the experience, especially touching the reptiles, and the Fun Day is a great thing to have locally.”
Young Friends of Southwark Parks events will be taking place monthly in Burgess, Southwark and Dulwich Parks, with dates and times publicised locally on park notice boards.
Future activities will include mini beast safaris, floating island construction for park lakes, Easter egg hunts in the April holidays, nature walks and planting activities. Contact Mark Patterson for more details on 07726696012 or mark.patterson@groundwork.org.uk
Local children planting window boxes to take home and watch grow.
