Fire making & outdoor cooking at Welsh Harp Thursday August 23rd

From Thames21
Activities for chidlren at Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

DETAILS

Thursday 23rd Aug   Fire making & outdoor cooking

10am – 12pm each date
Address: Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre, Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY
Suitable for children aged 8 – 12yrs
Costs £3.50 per child

Booking essential – contact Edel on welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk / 07734 871 728
Children and adults should wear comfortable outdoor clothing that may get dirty.

• Visits must only be cancelled in extenuating circumstances and Thames21 must be notified in advance.
• Thames21 reserves the right to cancel a visit if weather conditions are deemed unsafe or if adult to child ratio is not met.
An adult must attend & supervise participating children throughout all activities making sure that:
• Supervise children at all times and are responsible for their behaviour.
• Minimum ratio of 1 adult to 5 children
• Will need to provide any specific medication for children or have the child’s parent attend the visit.

NEXT ACTIVITY:

 30th Aug   Bow & arrow firing range

Children's bushcraft activities at Welsh Harp Centre Thursday

The school holidays are not over yet and there is still time for children to join in nature activities at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in Kingsbury:

16^th Aug   Bushcraft tool use
23^rd Aug   Fire making & outdoor cooking
30^th Aug   Bow & arrow firing range
10am – 12pm each date

Address: Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre, Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY 

Suitable for children aged 8 – 12yrs
Costs £3.50 per child
Booking essential – contact Edel on welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk / 07734 871 728 

Children and adults should wear comfortable outdoor clothing that may get dirty.
•  Visits must only be cancelled in extenuating circumstances and Thames21 must be notified in advance.
• Thames21 reserves the right to cancel a visit if weather conditions are deemed unsafe or if adult to child ratio is not met

An adult must attend & supervise participating children throughout all activities making sure that:
• Supervise children at all times and are responsible for their behaviour.
• Minimum ratio of 1 adult to 5 children

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Half-term outdoor activities for children at Welsh Harp Centre next week

Help clean up the Welsh Harp tomorrow

Saturday February 24th 11am-2pm

Help us clean up this special reservoir in north-west London, for the benefit of nature and wildlife.
Join Thames21, London Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Welsh Harp, Canal & River Trust and the Phoenix Canoe Club as we come together to tackle litter on the Brent Reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Meet us at the builders’ lot by Cool Oak Lane Bridge (closest postcode is NW9 7BH). All safety equipment and refreshments are provided. Please dress appropriately.

Ths is a free event but please let us know that you intend to join – email ccullen@wildlondon.org.uk

Welsh Harp, also known as Brent Reservoir, is a SSSI noted for its breeding pairs of great crested grebe, overwintering waterfowl, and marginal vegetation. So you will be making a difference to wildlife by volunteering.

Moth & Bat Night at Welsh Harp October 26th 6.30pm-8.30pm

Booking essential as numbers limited: ccullen@wildlondon.org.uk or Daniella.Levene@thames21.org.uk

London Rivers Week: Balsam, Birding and Beer! Welsh Harp Tuesday

From Thames21

London Rivers Week: Balsam, Birding and Beer!

June 27 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

In celebration of London Rivers Week join the Friends of the Welsh Harp for a session of Himalayan Balsam bashing. Finishing up at the hides for some birding and beer!

We’ll be tackling the forest of Himalayan Balsam on the Eastern Marsh of the Welsh Harp (Brent Reservoir) which is where the River Brent enters the reservoir. The area is well off the beaten track and is a hidden oasis teaming with wildlife. Because of the dense vegetation it is recommended to cover arms and legs and definitely don’t wear sandals!

Please get in touch if you’d like to come or for more info.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Binoculars, beer and non alcoholic beverages will be provided
Meet 6pm by Cool Oak Lane Bridge, next to Woolmead Avenue.

Details

Date:

June 27

Time:

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Organiser

Daniella Levene

Email:

northwestlondoncleanup@hotmail.com

Map LINK

Help clean up the River Brent at Chalkhill on Saturday

From Thames21

June 10 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Come help clean-up the River Brent at Chalkhill Open Space.

Create an inviting space for people and wildlife. No experience necessary and all tools provided-  just be prepared to get stuck in! Finishing up with well deserved refreshments.

All welcome but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet Waterside Close, just off Barnhill Road, HA9 9PB.

Half-term pond-dipping and mini-beast hunt at Welsh Harp Centre

Welsh Harp Education Centre Half Term Fun 

£3

Join us at the Education Centre for a day filled with adventure!

30^th and 31^st May

Activities on both days:

10.30am –12.00pm Pond Dipping
Dip your net to find out what creatures call the ponds home. Explore the meadow and create a piece of art.
£3 per child

1pm –2.30pm Mini-beast Safari
Hunt in the woodland for mini-beasts and go on our wildlife quiz trail.
£3 per child.

Limited spaces so book now!
Phone: 07734 871 728
Email: welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk

Pay in cash on the day, or by BACS transfer before the day – details available on request.

Terms & Conditions:

• Children can only participate with a supervising adult. This adult is responsible during the visit for making sure that:

• The child/ren they have brought are supervised at all times and are responsible for their behaviour.
• Minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children.
• Adult supervisor will need to provide any specific medication for children.
• All visitors should bring their own lunch with them on the day if they plan to stay for both sessions.
  • We have a maximum group size of 25 children so children will only be admitted if booked in advance.
  • Each session costs £3 per child.
  • All activities are suitable for ages 5 and over. Children aged 4 and under who are not participating in activities are free of charge.
  • Children and adults should wear comfortable outdoor clothing that may get dirty.
  • Bookings must only be cancelled in extenuating circumstances and Thames21 must be notified at least 3 days in advance.

Thames21 reserves the right to cancel a visit if weather conditions are deemed unsafe or if adult to child ratio is not met.

Welsh Harp Centre provides community activities during half-term

It is good to see the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre reaching out into the community with half-term activities. The Centre was saved from closure as a result of campaigning by local schools, pupils and residents LINK and is now run by the Thames21 charity.

You can do your bit by taking part in conservation activities at the Welsh Harp Centre:

Teachers invited to celebrate Welsh Harp Centre & find out about its outdoor learning programme

Teachers and pupils in Brent fought hard against the proposed closure of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre and it was saved when the Thames21charity took it over from Brent Council.

This is a message for Brent teachers and educatiors from Thames21

Teachers and Educators – join us by the campfire!

Thames21 is hosting an open afternoon at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in Brent, for teachers and educators.

This get together is being held to celebrate our first anniversary of managing the site and to share our outdoor learning programme.

There are a wealth of opportunities for developing the centre and we’re really keen to hear what other ‘outside of the classroom’ learning activities people are interested in attending there.

We’ll host a tour of the site and give a camp fire lighting demonstration after which you can cook up your own tasty treats.

We’re meeting from 4.30pm – 6pm, so feel free to drop in at any time.

To book your spot, please get in touch with Edel Fingleton, Thames21’s Education Coordinator, at edel.fingleton@thames21.org.uk or by telephone on 07734 871 728 to book your spot.

Join in conservation event at Welsh Harp Sunday March 19th

(Sorry about the spelling of 'Center'!)

There will be another volunteer session at the Welsh Harp Education Centre, Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY on Sunday March 19th. Tools and steel capped boots are supplied as well as instruction. Bring your own packed lunch - tea and coffee available.

Thames 21 say:

The February event

We had another very successful event at the Education Centre. The 4th Kenton Scouts had their first session at the Education Centre and it was great to see so many regular Friends members as well.

We:

1.       Planted Hazel trees  to compliment the 3 mature Hazel’s which were already well established. These trees were planted in a northern glade near to the mature trees: so the 30 plus schools we work with at the education canter can compare them;
2.       Finished clearing out one of the ponds of nearby vegetation including a large amount of blackthorn, stopping succession and the pond being reduced in size;
3.       Continued to clear out Ivy in an area of woodland where children attending the Education Centre can build shelters and play in the woodland.

 
Next event, Sunday March 19th

We will be starting at the usual time of 10 am. Please see the attached poster for the event and here is a link to the event with full details, http://www.thames21.org.uk/event/welsh-harp-conservation-day-3/

On the 19th we will be completing a mix of the following:


-          Continue clearing the Forest School Zone of ivy;
-          Move suitable branches and logs to the Forest School Zone for shelter building;
-          Around the main pathways and buildings - cut back vegetation that overhang main pathways and check trees for broken bits from the recent storm;
-          Continue clearing blackthorn from around pond.

PS Lots of joyous spawning in one of the ponds last week

Join conservation work at the Welsh Harp on January 22nd

Friends of Welsh Harp support the activities of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre where  you will learn how to manage the habitats in the area. Almost all of the activities we do focus on improving the natural habitat of the 5 acre woodland for biodiversity, or make sure the outdoor space  is safe for the 30 plus schools Thames21 works with in the area.

All welcome. Under 16’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.   Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and Coffee will be provided.  Exact Meeting location will be at the education centre.

The paragraph immediately below describes one of the previous activities. The exact activity of the day will be selected and emailed out to everyone on the mailing list the week leading up to the event.

We are going to be continuing forming glades as we did during the first successful event. Thank you to all of those who made that event a success! A glade is an open area within a woodland. A lot of the glades around the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre are choked with Ivy, as a consequence, biodiversity is not as high as it could be at ground level within the woodland.

Since July 2016 volunteers have:

1.       Formed glades around the woodland area removing ivy to make way for grassland. This increases biodiversity dramatically;
2.       Created educational circles in the woodland  for the schools using the Education Centre;
3.       Cutting back vegetation along the main road creating a path off the road so children don’t have to walk on the road;
4.       Maintaining the ponds so grass species do not take over where the water should be;
5.       Removing small trees from the wild meadow so the wild meadow habitat, which we don’t have much of at the environmental centre, is not reduced.

If you are not on the mailing list and you wish to be, please email billy.coburn@thames21.org.uk to know exactly what we are going to be doing on the day.

Fancy some lopping in the woods at the Welsh Harp on Saturday?

This is the work that will be undertaken tomorrow:

1. Cutting back hawthorn and blackthorn with sheers and loppers along the path to the education centre so children do not have to walk on the road. After we have cut that area back, we are hiring a contractor to strim the area so children do not have long grass going up to their knees whilst using the path.

2. We are going to be cutting back vegetation near the garden centre which is blocking signs. Drivers cannot see the 10mph speed limit sign as an example.

3. We are also going to be moving one of the log circles nearer to the classrooms as well as the one furthest away from the classroom is too far away for the younger years to use.

Contact Billy Coborn billy.coburn@thames21.org.uk
07557 970 812

Good news: Welsh Harp Environmental Centre re-opens

The Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre has been closed over the Autumn and early Winter. Brent Council has released the following announcement   See LINK for earlier coverage of the campaign to keep the Centre open. I understand there will be a £6 per head charge for class visits.

The Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre has reopened thanks to a lease arrangement between Brent Council and environmental charity Thames21 under the council's 'Community Asset Transfer' policy.

The Community Asset Transfer policy was introduced by the council last year and allows for the transfer of council buildings to community groups that can help the council achieve its vision for the borough, at a time when the council has to make budget savings.

Thames 21 is an experienced environmental education organisation with a track record of delivering effective, community volunteering, engagement and educational events and activities to local communities promoting environmental awareness.

The centre, on Birchen Grove in Kingsbury, provides an area rich in bio-diversity for Brent primary school children to learn why it is important to look after all aspects of our environment.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Brent Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

We introduced our Community Asset Transfer policy last year to allow council property to be transferred to community groups that can help us deliver services that Brent residents and the community value, at a time when local funding from central government is being drastically cut.

This particular transfer is the very first in Brent and means that the centre can continue as a valuable educational resource for local schools and children.

The Welsh Harp Centre will be having an official reopening in the summer when all residents can tour the facilities.

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive of Thames 21 said:

We'll be announcing details of the reopening in the coming weeks, so I'd encourage anyone who hasn't been before to drop us a line and come and see it for themselves. It is a fantastic place to discover as it shows us that the natural world is very much alive and happening here in Brent and that we all have a crucial role to play in its future.

Possible collobaration to ensure survival of Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

1980s campaign by children to keep the Centre open

More recent visitors

The Brent Cabinet confirmed its first Community Asset Transfer at yesterday's Cabinet Meeting. Thames21 is the preferred bidder but Cllr Margaret McLennan said that Thames21 and Careys, the other bidder, both had strengths, and the Council was working towards a collaboration between the two in background talks. What they had to offer was complementary and would strengthen the Centre's offer.

Cllr Mashari expressed concern at the lack of detail in the officers' report over the long-term viability of the transfer and requested further information to come back to Cabinet.

Cllr Michael Pavey praised the Chalkhill Primary School children who had written to him calling for the Centre to be saved and apologised that their letters had initially been mislaid at the Civic Centre.

Brent recommends Thames21 to take over Welsh Harp Education Centre

One of the Centre ponds that has become overgrown and dried out due to lack of maintenance over the summer

The Cabinet will consider a recommendation that the charity Thames21 takes over the lease of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre at its meeting on September 21st. They also recommend that Thames21 talk to the other bidder, Careys, about the possibility of forming a partnership to run the Centre.

Local schools have been uncertain about the future of the Centre and normally school visits would have been starting next week.  The report LINK suggests that visits will start again in October but that seems a little optimistic given what needs to be put in place before children attend.

The report bases its recommendation on the bid evaluation:

Based on the evaluation, the recommendation is to proceed with the Thames 21 application. Thames 21 is an experienced environmental education organisation with a strong track record of delivering effective, community volunteering, engagement and educational events and activities to local communities promoting environmental awareness. The charity delivers practical and engaging environmental activities that teach young people about the need to care for their natural environment. As well as the educational work, Thames 21 looks to connect local people and communities with their local environment enabling a stronger sense of community ownership. With an existing environmental education programme in place, in addition to an established centre at the WHEEC, Thames 21 will transform the way environmental education activities are already currently being delivered and will make a positive difference

 However there are risks involved:

.        It is noteworthy that there are risks associated with the Thames 21 application. Most prominent is the lack of a full business plan., The submitted application noted the following risks: 
       The current income is not sufficient to support the expenditure or running the service. 

       The risk of the education centre shutting down reduces demand next year.
       That Thames 21 is unsuccessful with various funding applications to 
develop the centre to its full potential. 

       The cost of upgrading the infrastructure of the centre is significantly higher 
then envisaged. 

       The running costs of the centre are significantly higher then envisaged. 


.        The following mitigation plan is proposed by Thames 21 with outcomes reviewed at the year end self assessment process as detailed in the CAT policy: 
       To inspect financial records for the centre. 

       To contact all schools who have used the centre previously to ensure they 
are aware that the centre will be remaining open. Use current staff knowledge and relationships to build links with schools/ users. Attend School Heads meetings within Brent and surrounding boroughs to promote the centre. 

       To use Thames 21 experience, expertise and contacts for successful funding applications.
       To undertake inspections of the site (infrastructure) and development of a costed business plan and to develop alternative funding sources. 

       To undertake inspections of the site (running costs) and develop a costed business plan and to develop alternative funding sources.    

Next steps 

A proposed programme is set out below (proposed dates may be subject to change):

1.     Welsh Harp was consecrated in the 1950’s as the original proposal was that the site would at some stage become a graveyard. This creates complexities that will need to be resolved before the letting can take place and expert advice is being sought. 


2.     Heads of terms have been issued – subject to Cabinet and contract - on 21 August 2015. 


3.     On receipt of the signed heads of terms the draft CAT lease will be issued by 1 September 2015 – subject to Cabinet approval. 


4.     Cabinet consideration - 21 September 2015. 


5.     Thames 21 to open the WHEEC by October 2015 


The consecrated land issue has  previously been highlighted on this blog:  Kingsbury Lawn Cemetery LINK

Update on future of Welsh Harp Education Centre

Harry Mackie with a class at the Centre

I was a little worried when passing the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre at the Welsh Harp recently as it appeared to be somewhat neglected with one of the ponds dried up. More so when I discovered that the Centre's office had closed and the computers taken away.

Harry Mackie (pictured with a class above) who has been running the Centre for years retired at the end of term. Known to generations of Brent children he retired without fanfare or fuss.

His contribution to environmental education in Brent deserves wider recognition.

That aside, I have since heard that following the advertisements for the sale of the lease, that Carey's (operating in Brent under the name Seneca) charity arm  The Careys Foundation LINK and the Thames21 charity LINK have expressed an interest in running the Centre. Thames21 is already known in Brent through its work with schools and organising community cleanups of our many waterways. Achieving a base in Brent would make sense to their operation.

The Welsh Harp reservoir on Sunday afternoon

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive of  Thames21, told me that the WHEEC was a 'fantastic facility', that they would want to continue, develop  and enhance.  This could mean more activities connected with the Welsh Harp reservoir itself. They would work with local schools, and any other partners in this process.  Discussions with Brent Council are ongoing.

She said it was 'too early to say' if this could mean a joint partnership with Careys Foundation.

Siobhan of Careys Foundation said, 'I can confirm Careys Foundation did tender for the WHEEC but at this time I am unable to comment as the tender process is still live until the final decision by the Cabinet in September. It has been a privilege for Careys Foundation to have had the opportunity to support sucj a wonderful initiative as the WHEEC since 2011.

I understand that Oakington Manor Primary School  and Roe Green Junior School did not put in a bid but they were keen to work with Careys.

This means that another Brent Council facility will go over to the charity sector.

Provisional bookings had been made for Autumn Term which starts next month but it is not clear how keeping the schools informed of whether these will go ahead will be managed with no office in existence.

A report on the future of the Centre is due to go to Cabinet on September 21st.

Help tidy up Chalkhill Park on Sunday

Chalkhill Park yesterday

Chalkhill Park is little more than a year old and has already won a place in the hearts of local residents. It is very well used, particularly on warm sunny days, and this inevitably means some littering.

On Sunday Thames21 have organised a clean up on Sunday (details below) and I hope to be there with others who recognise the huge part the park has played in improving the quality of life on the estate.

This afternoon children from the Summer Playscheme will be performing in the park.