Great Forest School Opportunity in Kingsbury - November 24th

From Thames21 
 
Interested in setting up a Forest School or becoming a Forest School Leader?

We have two fantastic training opportunities coming up at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

Whether you're just curious about Forest School, or ready to lead your own activities, we have a training offer for you.

Forest School Awareness Training, Nov 24th 2018, 10am - 3pm: 

If you want to find out more about Forest School ethos, how it can link to the curriculum, where it can take place, and have a go at some practical activities, then this taster day is for you. Cost pp is £25 and more info can be found here

The day will equip you with an awareness of Forest School, the ethos, issues to consider and practical activities. The Level 3 training course will also be outlined.
The awareness training day will cover:

• Background to Forest School.
• How does Forest School link to your curriculum?
• What is self-concept and self-esteem, and the impact of Forest School?
• Practical activities using only natural resources.
• Where can Forest School take place?
• Health and Safety in the outdoors and your role. Clothing and equipment requirements.
• Risk Benefit Analysis and promoting risk management at Forest School.
• Forest School activities with resources.

What you need to bring on the day: You will need wellies or boots, and a waterproof coat and trousers if you have them. A packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Level 3 Forest School Leader Training Course, Feb 4th - 8th, Apr 8th - 9th 2019:

Feeling inspired about Forest School already and want to become a leader? Then get in touch for more information about the Forest School Level 3 Training Course taking place in February, with follow-up skills days in April.

Training venue: 

Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre, Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY (Nearest tube Wembley Park - 83, 182, 245, 297, 302 buses)

Both training opportunities are taking place at the Education Centre which provides a beautiful woodland teaching setting, full indoor facilities, free parking, and easy access to public transport.

Course information and bookings: 

This training is being delivered by the Forest School Learning Initiative Limited. For more information or to book your place contact Chris Dee on:

01242 602 476 / 07989 996 753 or office@fsli.co.uk

Children's half-term activities at Welsh Harp Centre

Welsh Harp Half-Term activities

Half-term children's activities at Welsh Harp Centre

Welsh Harp Centre Conservation Day January 20th

From Thames21

We had another very successful event at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in December, thank you to the regular Friends that attended.

The next event is Saturday 20^th January, 10am – 12.30pm

We will be starting at the new time of 10am and finishing at 12.30pm. Here is a link to the event with details: LINK

At the next event we will be working on the following tasks:

-          Cut back vegetation from pathways.

-          Prune the apple trees.

-          Cut back shrubby vegetation growing in the meadow.

-          Other tasks as they come up.

The next event date will be combined with the Great British Spring Clean on Saturday 3^rd March, details to be confirmed so stay tuned!

We have achieved a lot since these events have started and we will continue to address many other aspects of the WHEEC Habitat Management Plan that need attending to. If you would like a copy of the management plan, please email me.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at the next event!

welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk

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

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

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

We saved the Welsh Harp Environmental Centre - now help conserve its habitats this Sunday

The Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre, loved by generations of Brent children, was saved from closure when Thames 21 took over its running.

The extensive grounds need regular conservation to maximise habitat provision and volunteers are needed this Sunday, August 21st, 10am - 2pm to work on forming glades.

The extensive woodlands around the Centre (red circle)

This is the notice from Thames 21

INTERESTED IN CONSERVATION? Be part of a new Friends of the Welsh Harp group at this first Conservation Day.

This exciting new group will support the activities of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre and you will learn how to manage the habitats in the area.

All welcome. Under 16’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.   Please bring a packed lunch.  Meeting location will be at the Education Centre.

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.

If the temperature is a lot cooler, we may tackle some small blackthorn trees intruding on an area which should be wild grassland.

The Centre is at the end of Birchen Grove, off Blackbird Hill, Kingsbury, NW9 8RY Go through the large green gates and it is on the left past the allotments. Buses 182, 245 and 297 to Blackbird Hill get off at Lidl/McDonalds.  83 bus get off at Tudor Gardens.

Join in Welsh Harp Conservation Day tomorrow

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.

Welsh Harp Centre tender advertised with July 7th deadline

This advertisement appeared in the Kilburn Times yesterday. Unlike an earlier public notice it stipulates the continuation of environmental education work at the site, which is reassuring.

It is likely that there will be a bid by a school/schools in Brent, perhaps in partnership with a charity or voluntary organisation.

However success may depend on the balanced judgement the Council makes between the criteria for maximising monetary value and recognising the social value of a bid.

NB The deadline is July 7th 2015, not 2915 as the advertisement states!

Brent want Welsh Harp kept open as Environmental Education Centre

Brent Council has responded to my message regarding the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre. Although they have not answered all my questions they did state:

The Centre is required to be subject to a formal Community Asset Transfer process, which must be an open marketing of the facility. Please see the council’s statement on the matter below -

Councillor Eleanor Southwood, Lead Member for Environment at Brent Council said:

“Although the Centre was due to close following Council budget savings, we have been making strong efforts to ensure that it can continue as a community facility.

“To allow this to happen, we must go through a formal process which involves marketing the facility in an open and transparent way.

“We are committed to helping keep the Centre open as an environmental education centre and we will favour bids which show that they can do this.”

Update on Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre leasing

Over the weekend I heard from Brent Council that they were preparing a statement on the leasing of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre.

These were the questions that I had sent to the Council LINK :

I refer to the advertisement in the Brent and Kilburn Times Ref: JXH/609/121.

1. How long is it envisaged that the lease to land and premises, including the office in Planet House will last?
2. Is it envisaged that the use of the land and premises will remain for educational purposes?
3. Is the land in question consecrated land subject to any change of use being agreed by the Diocesan of London? (see http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/could-this-let-welsh-harp-rest-in-peace.html)
4. Is it intended that the building and land be leased to one of the following (or a combination): Careys' charity arm, Oakington Manor Primary School, Roe Green Junior School?


With a closing date for comments of Friday June 5th it is important that answers are seen as possible. Commenting without such information is of little value.

Residents step into Welsh Harp Field Centre leasing controversy

Following my story on the Brent Council notice offering a lease on land and buildings belonging to the Welsh Harp Environmental Educatio Centre LINK a local residents association has written to Brent Council:

LEASE OF FIELD CENTRE AT THE WELSH HARP, BIRCHEN GROVE 

My residents and I were dismayed to read of the lease of this Field Centre. We hope you can understand our concern regarding anything to do with the precious Welsh Harp, after we were so very badly let down and betrayed by Barnet Council and the Barratt development.

Therefore, could you please advise on the following:

-  How long is the lease and would it be easily renewed?

-  Who will this be leased to?

-  For what purpose?

-  Will there be structural changes to the building or the surrounding land, now or in the future? If so, what restrictions will there be in place to preserve the area?

Your most urgent attention would be appreciated, as there is not much time left for objections, if necessary.

Thanking you,

Sincerely,
 
Zerine Tata, Chairwomin, Hillcroft Crescent Residents Assoc. and Co-ordinator of the Neighbourhood Watch

Welsh Harp Centre to be leased out by Brent Council

Readers will remember that as part of their cuts Brent Council proposed to close the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre and a campaign was mounted to keep it open. LINK

We were told that alternative sources of management and funding were being sought including a possible funding agreement with Careys, the parent company of  waste processing company Seneca, which is based behind Wembley Stadium. Careys has extensive property in the area and has its own charity arm. At present they fund an additional teacher at the Centre. Oakington Manor Primary and Roe Green Juniors were also mentioned as having an interest in the continuation of the Centre.

The above advertisement appeared in the Brent and Kilburn Times yesetrday and rang alarm bells.  I have therefore sent the following message to Brent Council:

I refer to the advertisement in the Brent and Kilburn Times Ref: JXH/609/121. (attached)

I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of the Drawing referred to in the notice plus a response to the following questions:

1. How long is it envisaged that the lease to land and premises, including the office in Planet House will last?
2. Is it envisaged that the use of the land and premises will remain for educational purposes?
3. Is the land in question consecrated land subject to any change of use being agreed by the Diocesan of London? (see http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/could-this-let-welsh-harp-rest-in-peace.html)
4. Is it intended that the building and land be leased to one of the following (or a combination): Carey's charity arm, Oakington Manor Primary School, Roe Green Junior School?

Many thanks,

Martin Francis

See below a copy of the drawing as requested above:

Children, young people and parents will challenge Brent Cabinet over cuts on Monday

Monday's Cabinet will be approving the budget to go to the Full Council on March 2nd amidst press coverage of the row over the leadership refusing to take account of the vote of the Labour Group in favour of a Council Tax rise.

Meanwhile residents, and particularly the young and parents, have got togather to challenge some of those cuts.

The Cabinet will be receiving an unusually high number of petitions, accompanied by speeches from the petition organisers, which indicates the strength of feeling in the borough.

I am sure they will welcome support from the public at the meeting which starts at 7pm in the Civic Centre.

These are the petitions:

Cabinet – 23 February 2015

Petitions have been received in the following terms in response to the budget proposals:

1) Keep Stonebridge Adventure Playground Open “We the undersigned insist that the redevelopment of

Stonebridge School and the new housing, includes keeping the Stonebridge Adventure Playground open.”

From:         Brent Play Association

2) Keep Welsh Harp Environmental Study Centre open This petition comprises numerous letters from individual children at Chalkhill Primary School.

From:         Chalkhill Primary School

3) Save our youth service (paper and e petition)

“Youth services are vital for young people as well as the community and we

believe there will be an adverse effect if the service no longer exists. This will

put added pressure on statutory services such as the Youth Offending

Service, the police and social care. We call on Brent Council to consult with young people effectively before making any cuts to any youth provision in the borough.

We call on Brent Council to scrutinise existing provision to ensure that these

resources are appropriate and effective. The young people of Brent are willing and able to assist Brent Council with this important task. We call upon Brent Council to consider the voice ofyoung people in the light of these savings!”

E-petition: started by Roisin Healy (Brent Youth Parliament)

4) Save School Crossings Patrols

“Brent Council is under a legal duty to promote road safety and to promote sustainable transport, such as walking and cycling.  Road traffic accidents are the biggest killer of children in the UK (they peak when children start primary school and secondary school). 2011-2020 is the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. School Patrol Officers are an integral partof the community, ensuring the safety of our children and they encourage children to have independence. Many schools in Brent are on busy roads (e.g. Salusbury Primary School and Islamia on Salusbury Road in NW6) which are only going to get busier with new housing developments with a new influx of cars and residents. Our roads should become safer places for our children, not more dangerous. And children should be encouraged to walk and cycle to school rather than be driven.”

E petition started by: Michelle Goldsmith on behalf of local residents .

5) Leopold Primary School - save our School Patrol

Officer

“Brent Council is considering removing our Lollipop crossing patrol at Hawkshead Road. The School is surrounded by several busy roads. We believe this is unacceptable and will directly put our children in danger of a road traffic accident.”

From:         the Parent, Teachers and Friends Association of Leopold Primary

                   School

6) Keep Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre Open

“The centre provides a venue for many members of our  local community and plays a vital part in our leisure time. Many of us use the facility on a weekly basis to play football, use the gym, relax in the steam and sauna and meet friends. The centre hosts children education, courses and activities th at are beneficial to their development. The centre serves as a venue where rooms can be hired to many different groups who hold meetings, training and celebrations. Closing Bridge Park would affect all of us in different ways. We need this Centre to remain open so that our young people have a place to meet and do sports in a safe environment.

Stonebridge is a deprived area and we feel that crime and unsocial behaviour will increase if the centre is closed. Unlike a few years ago the centre now is used by men and women of all ages and faith. People come to Bridge Park to get fit and improve their health. Although we understand that the council funds are limited, the cost of dealing with health and antisocial behaviour will far outweigh the cost of operating our leisure centre. We have signed below to show our opposition to the closure.”

From:         Mr Adam, Tordjok, local resident.

Brent's Austerity Cuts - a Disaster for the Environment

Brent FoE and Brent Campaign Against Climate Change outside Energy Solutions, Welsh Harp

This joint letter from Brent Friends of the Earth and Brent Campaign Against Climate Change was published in the Brent and Kilburn Times today:

Imagine our neighbourhoods and parks strewn with litter, fly-tipped with bulky waste, and green wheely bins being fought over. A borough where our children are deprived of the chance to learn about nature, and where vulnerable residents needing advice on fuel poverty have nowhere to turn. This is what Brent's austerity agenda will mean if the Council's budget proposals go ahead.

The proposed cuts will mean no street sweeping in residential roads, no litter collected in parks at weekends, charging us £15 to collect bulky items, and £40 a year for our green wheely bins. It will close two valuable institutions – the Welsh Harp Education Centre (a unique resource that inspires our kids to learn about the natural environment) and Energy Solutions (who help residents, landlords, schools and businesses reduce fuel bills - cutting Brent's carbon footprint and helping fight climate change.) The grants for these, a mere £30,000 and £50,000, are a fraction of the £54 million cuts overall.

Brent's own “Green Charter” will also be scrapped and, apart from statutory monitoring, all Council work on sustainability and climate change will go. All this a time when we need more than ever to build local resilience for an uncertain future.

Whilst we acknowledge the Council's difficulties, and other vital services are also at stake, these cuts are short-sighted easy targets for which we all will pay a heavy price.

Viv Stein

on behalf of Brent Friends of the Earth and Brent Campaign against Climate Change

Teacher organisations, schools and pupils have been taking up the issue of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre Closure.

There is a petition to save Energy Solutions HERE  It needs many, many more signatures.