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Prospects

Hyndburn's Community-Owned Environmental Charity

News

Invasive Non-Native Species – Himalayan Balsam

Posted on Posted in Green Spaces 'Natural Connections', HEAL project at Peel Park and the Coppice Local Nature Reserve, News

WANT TO JOIN A BALSAM BASHING SESSION? CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS PAGE.

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), it originates from the western and central Himalayas and was first brought over to the UK in 1839 as an ornamental plant to decorate Victorian gardens

Shortly after it quickly spread to a wide range of habitats, particularly along riverbanks and in damp woodlands (Tanner and Gange., 2020).

Balsam flowers from June to October, and its seeds are set from August to October. Each plant is able to produce up to 2500 seeds which sit inside explosive seed pods and, when disturbed, are capable of distributing the seeds up to 7 metres away! (Sonal et al., 2016).

It grows in dense monocultures (a large amount of a singular plant, like crops on a farm) which outcompete native vegetation leading to a decline in native plant and insect populations (Pollard et al., 2019)

As it’s an annual plant, once it dies back in autumn this leads to a bare river bank (which would normally be covered with native plants) and so there are no roots which bind the soil together during heavy rain, this leads to soil erosion.

While Balsam is a good source of pollen for pollinators, studies show it can alter the foraging preferences in bee species which results in bees focusing their attention on Balsam and neglecting native species (Lopezaraiza et al., 2008).

Balsam is one of the easiest INNS to remove, its shallow roots and noticeable characteristics make it easy to find and pull up. ‘Balsam bashing’ groups tend to organise around areas which are highly infested.

To remove Balsam:

  • Pull up the plant by grasping the stem as close to the root as possible (ensuring it does not snap, leaving the root in the soil)
  • Snap or crush the plant close to the root, at the lowest node (the bulge closest to the roots)
  • Hang the snapped plant on a tree branch or pile it up, this will dry it out and prevent it from re-rooting.
  • If hanging the plant, make sure not to overload the tree branches to prevent them snapping.
  • If it is not possible to hang the plant then pile it up on the ground, preferably on a surface where it cannot re-root and in a shallow pile so that it can dry out

Eco Conference – Blackburn Rovers Stadium

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, Green Spaces 'Natural Connections', News, Raising Environmental Awareness, Schools and Community Conservation

Eco Conference - Blackburn Rovers Stadium

School Sustainability Conference

On the 23rd of June Prospects’ Green Team and Green Mentor projects collaborated at the Blackburn Rovers Stadium taking part in the School Sustainability Conference. The event aimed to raise awareness of environmental challenges among school children by offering relevant activities and learning opportunities. During the event over 100 children visited our stall and went home with their own terrarium!

Prospects hosted two main activities:

Our first activity was foil blanket making using old crisp packets, these were layered together and ironed along the seams to create a full blanket. These can be given to homeless people as emergency foil blankets. This aimed to teach the children how every day waste can be used to create something useful, be a fun activity, and can help the community.

The second activity was terrarium making using upcycled jars donated from the community which were filled with soil and various plants, rocks, twigs and mosses. This activity was planned and ran by Prospects trainee Brandon Cherry. The children could create and decorate their own terrarium and take them home to care for. Here we aimed to raise interest in plants and natural systems, the fully self-enclosed terrarium would maintain its own microclimate that the children could monitor, and watch grow. A special thank you to the funders at GreenRecoveryChallengeFund and National Lottery Heritage Fund for facilitating the purchasing of the plants from our local plant merchant, without this the activity wouldn’t have been possible.

The main stall also featured a lot of Prospects work around Hyndburn and showed examples of fun activities we have done in the past, like the wooden rigs used for willow weaving and plant pots made from eco-concrete.

Rewilding – Hyndburn Harvest

Posted on Posted in News, Rewilding Hyndburn's Green Spaces

Thanks to a generous donation by the Arnold Clarke Community Fund, PROSPECTS has purchased apple juicing equipment!
https://www.arnoldclark.com/community-fund

Our Rewilding Officer Gareth, will be organising several juice pressing activities from late August onwards. Check our Events Calendar to see when and where the sessions will be held – https://prospectsfoundation.org.uk/events/
We ask that participants bring a clean plastic bottle to store their juice.

If you have excess apples, which you would wish to donate, please contact Gareth – gareth.muir@prospectsfoundation.org.uk / 01254 230348 to arrange for drop off at our office or collection by our staff.

(Please only donate ripe fruit which is in a suitable condition for human consumption)

Tree Planting at St. Oswalds Primary and Nursery School

Posted on Posted in News, Outdoor Learning

St. Oswalds Primary and Nursery school have been working closely with the Outdoor Learning Officer to design an outdoor learning area on their school grounds.  Thanks to a donation of trees from Carbon Footprint Ltd., the eco-council were able to break earth in November and begin planting the trees that will be the heart of the outdoor classroom.

Winter Bird Walk

Posted on Posted in Biodiversity, News, Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning Officer Danielle led a Winter Bird Walk around Peel Park and The Coppice.  We saw jays, robins, blackbirds, great tits, magpies, blue tits, long-tailed tits and greenfinches.  During the walk we discussed climate change and how changing weather patterns are affecting trees and migrating birds.

AQA in Biodiversity, Air Quality and Horticulture

Posted on Posted in Biodiversity, News, Outdoor Learning

On 17th November, Outdoor Learning Officer Danielle delivered an AQA in Biodiversity, Air Quality and Horticulture.  The session took place at The Prospects Foundation’s Environment Centre on Broadway, Accrington.  Everyone who attended got a free spider plant and aloe vera to take home with them.  If you’d like to see what future AQAs we are delivering, check our Events page here

Head Ranger deadline extended

Posted on Posted in News

We’ve made the decision to extend the application deadline for our new Head Ranger post to Monday 27th September to tie in with our deadline for the Local Nature Reserve Office Post.

The deadline for both jobs is now 5.00pm on Monday 27th September.

Interviews for both post will now take place on Thursday 7th October in Accrington.

Click HERE to visit the Jobs page where you can find out more about both posts and also the paperwork you’ll need to subvmit an application.

 

Borrow a Bike

Posted on Posted in Cycling, News

Sara Britcliffe MP borrowed one of our electric bikes to promote the benefits of sustainable transport!

Cycling is a great way to experience the countryside and enjoy the outdoors. The feeling of freedom and closeness to nature is hugely beneficial to people’s wellbeing as well as the obvious health and fitness benefits of riding a bike. It’s also a great way to tackle climate change.

We have 7 bicycles and 2 electric bikes available for community use. All you have to do is find an organisation that will vouch for you and pop into the Environment Centre on Broadway in Accrington to complete the paperwork.

Why not do your bit for climate change and start riding a bike!

 

We’re recruiting for a Head Ranger

Posted on Posted in News

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve been successful with funding bids to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, the Kickstart Scheme and the Windfall Fund.  The funding will allow us to run a new Ranger programme in Hyndburn until the end of March 2023.

The programme will involve a new Head Ranger and two new trainees.  They will be organising access and habitat activities to engage our local community in looking after public sites.  In addition, the new team will be organising a Hyndburn Walks Festival.

We are now recruiting for the Head Ranger post.  The deadline for applications is Monday 13th September.

To see the Job Pack click HERE.

 

Woodnook Pioneers

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News, Outdoor Learning

Prospects have been awarded funding from the Fun With Food and Friends – Hyndburn HAF Programme. We will be delivering the Woodnook Pioneer programme, six outdoor environmental sessions aimed at getting children aged 8-14 to engage with nature and learn about climate change. To book a place for your child, fill out the online form here or email danielle.rowlands@prospectsfoundation.org.uk or ring 01254 230348

Fantastic Funding News!

Posted on Posted in News

The PROSPECTS Foundation Natural Connections project has been awarded a grant from the Government’s £40 million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery

Ninety nature projects across England have been awarded grants from £68,100 to £1,950,000 to create and retain over 2,500 green jobs, backed by the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.

The Prospects Foundation will be using the grant to help connect people to natural green spaces in the borough of Hyndburn. Prospects will recruit one Head Ranger, two trainees and a minimum of 12 volunteers to improve access to local areas and carry out habitat improvements to benefit wildlife. As part of the project Prospects is committed to delivering 500 events and activities and actively engaging with more than 700 local people. This means everyone will have a chance to get involved, enjoy the outdoors and have an opportunity to create deep and meaningful connections with the natural environment.

Phil Barwood, Chair of The Prospects Foundation, said “We’re delighted to have been awarded a grant from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. We’re excited to be in a position to be able to deliver real benefits to local people and wildlife whilst at the same time helping to train up environmental project staff for the future.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing. The Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors.

“Through our £80 million Fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”

A full list of awards is available to view here.

#GreenRecoveryChallengeFund  #TogetherForOurPlanet 

Green Mentor ‘End of Term’ general update

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News

Now that our Green Influencers are breaking up for School holidays, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Green Mentor project and what has been achieved so far this year and also to showcase the hard work the children have put in working on their chosen projects.

For any local schools who haven’t yet taken up the opportunity to get involved please take a look what you could be part of in the new term.

First up some thank yous are in order!

Thank you to the schools we have worked with this term and who have booked me in for the new term already, a big thank you to the young people for working so hard on their chosen projects, I have had a great time working on them with you and some great memories to cherish.

So what you all really want to know is what have our Green Influencers been up to?

Here are a selection of photos of projects that children have come up with over the last 6 months if you would like more details please click on each schools update.

 

That’s just a taste of what we have been up to and there will be plenty more to come in the new term.
If you would like your school to be involved please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Joel Henderson Prospects Green Mentor.

Green Mentor ‘End of Term’ update for St. Andrew’s

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News

Now that our Green Influencers are breaking up for School holidays, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Green Mentor project and what has been achieved so far this year and also to showcase the hard work the children have put in working on their chosen projects.

St Andrews Oswaldtwistle made a Youtube video about plastic pollution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDUHJIjjNlo and had a go at Bird box making.

That’s just a taste of what we have been up to and there will be plenty more to come in the new term.
If you would like your school to be involved please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Joel Henderson Prospects Green Mentor.

Green Mentor ‘End of Term’ update for Broadfield School

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News

Now that our Green Influencers are breaking up for School holidays, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Green Mentor project and what has been achieved so far this year and also to showcase the hard work the children have put in working on their chosen projects.

Broadfield school have been planting seeds, making eco bricks and they also took a trip to Fleetwood to learn about ocean microplastics and do their bit to stop them!!

That’s just a taste of what we have been up to and there will be plenty more to come in the new term.
If you would like your school to be involved please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Joel Henderson Prospects Green Mentor.

Green Mentor ‘End of Term’ update for Baxenden St. John’s

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News

Now that our Green Influencers are breaking up for School holidays, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Green Mentor project and what has been achieved so far this year and also to showcase the hard work the children have put in working on their chosen projects.

Baxenden St Johns have been bag making from textile scraps to highlight fashion waste.

That’s just a taste of what we have been up to and there will be plenty more to come in the new term.
If you would like your school to be involved please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Joel Henderson Prospects Green Mentor.

Green Mentor ‘End of Term’ update for St. Wulstan’s

Posted on Posted in Green Mentor, News

Now that our Green Influencers are breaking up for School holidays, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Green Mentor project and what has been achieved so far this year and also to showcase the hard work the children have put in working on their chosen projects.

St Wulstans Great Harwood made an Elephant Eco Brick Sculpture to highlight single use plastic waste and a seriously endangered animal the Asian Elephant . This project was completed in conjunction with Bob Turner from Cafod.

The Children also drew elephant pictures on elephant dung paper.

That’s just a taste of what we have been up to and there will be plenty more to come in the new term.
If you would like your school to be involved please get in touch we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards

Joel Henderson Prospects Green Mentor.

Community Fun Day! Saturday 10th July

Posted on Posted in Get Involved, News

This Saturday will be our second ‘Community Fun Day!’ at Oakhill Park Incredible Edible Garden.

Following on from our successful Community Fun Day at our office on Broadway in Accrington, Danielle, Joel and Garden with be at the Incredible Edible Garden in Oakhill Park to meet the public and tell them about the fantastic work Prospects Foundation is doing in Hyndburn!

If you would like to come along the team with be there from 10.30am until 1pm with Activities and information.

For any queries please contact Gareth on gareth.muir@prospectsfoundation.org.uk

To sign up as a Volunteer please follow the link to find out more! http://prospectsfoundation.org.uk/volunteering

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CFD10721

Nature Sketching

Posted on Posted in News, Outdoor Learning

On 28th June, we held a nature sketching event at The Hollins and Jubilee woodland.  We explored nature through different sketching techniques.  This mindful session allowed participants to relax and appreciate nature and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  One participant said, “It’s good to slow down and observe nature and appreciate it in a different way”.

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