Green Farm and Monkwood – what does the next year hold?

Friday 13 September 2024

Monkwood musings

Join Julie, the project engagement officer, and Dominique, the reserve manager, on a journey through time as we restore lost habitat on land at Green Farm, next to our beloved Monkwood nature reserve.

Monkwood in autumn by Paul Lane

Yaz, our new Green Farm engagement officer, discusses the next year of the project and how communities are getting involved...

After kickstarting the engagement elements of the Green Farm project, Julie changed roles in June of this year to begin a three-year community engagement project based along the corridors of the rivers Salwarpe and Severn.

Since joining the Green Farm project and taking the baton from Julie, I’ve been musing over what was achieved during her time on the project. Doing so has helped to paint a picture of what the future might hold for this little pocket. I thought I might share a few interesting bits and bobs with you to reflect on and celebrate what has been an exciting first year and a half for Green Farm.

A group of Scouts planting trees in a line to recreate a hedge in a green field with a woodland in the background by James McDonald — Hedge planting by James McDonald

Nearly 1000 schoolchildren across four local primary schools have been involved in a programme of woodland activities and assemblies, both on their school grounds and onsite at Monkwood and Green Farm.
Around 800 volunteer hours have gone into taking action for nature, both in the local community and at Green Farm.
Around 20 young people have been involved in practical conversation and ecological survey work at Monkwood.
There have been three successful events, including open days and discovery days that were attended by over 150 people.
Local historians have researched historical and archaeological records to help produce a booklet that tells the story of local people’s relationship with Monkwood over many hundreds of years of human history (watch this space).
Students at Wild Goose Rural Training have supported practical conservation work and green crafts at Monkwood, Green Farm and on their own Wild Goose nature reserve.

I hope you feel, as I do, that Julie and all of the groups and partners involved in the Green Farm project have achieved some amazing things. So, after seeing all of that, I was left thinking, what does the next year hold for the Green Farm project? I needn’t have worried as there’s still plenty to do!

Person in an burnt orange t-shirt standing near doors in a large shop and next to a board with some paper and post-it notes on — A bumping space in a shop

I suppose now would be an appropriate time for me to properly introduce myself. I’m Yaz; I’ve worked at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust for the last three years facilitating biodiversity enhancements and conservation habitat management work in public greenspaces and supporting community-led action for nature through the Nextdoor Nature project.

Alongside the practical conservation and habitat creation that is an important part of the Green Farm project, a key area of focus is to support young people from the local community, such as the high school, local uniform groups, Worcester College and University, to get involved in practical conservation. We hope that by working with these groups, they can develop valuable skills and knowledge around habitat management and ecological surveying (species identification).

I’ll also be encouraging community action by supporting local churchyards and other landowners to make their green spaces better for people and nature, as well as creating opportunities for local people to learn how to transform their gardens, streets and parks into havens for wildlife. Art can be a powerful way for people to engage with nature and to tell the story of the wild lives lived amongst the trees, so there are grand plans afoot for temporary community art, poetry and/or storytelling trails at Monkwood – keep an eye on the Monkwood blog to see if it comes to fruition!

If reading this has sparked a desire to be involved in the project, whether it be tree planting at Green Farm, community action in a nearby village or immersing yourself in the creative arts to facilitate nature connection, then please get in touch!

Until we next meet,
Take a moment to enjoy a tree,
They do so love to be admired.