It’s the beginning of July, which means we’re just over 6 months into our Nature for HEART Project… so we thought it was about time to let you know how it’s all going.

The answer?

Pretty darn well!

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s ‘Awards for All’ and the P H Holt Foundation, this project is all about Health, Environment, Activities, Resilience and Togetherness… hence its name!

Those of you who follow us on Facebook and Instagram will hopefully have seen some of the wonderful pictures taken during the activities and volunteering sessions we’ve delivered so far. For those who don’t, we’re including some of the best here.

This is our first major project since the park was saved from development and draws a line under years of uncertainty, enabling us to focus on the future, instead!

Funding a part-time Project Manager means that we have been able to properly plan and oversee the delivery of all activities, which include forest school, yoga, tai chi, two community fairs… and all the promotional work that comes with this.

On top of this, we’ve been able to create LOADS of volunteering opportunities AND cover our volunteers expenses, providing free refreshments and reimbursing any travel expenses incurred. This is so important to us, as, without our incredible team of volunteers, we are nothing and it simply wouldn’t be possible for us to do what we do.

On that note, we want to use this opportunity to thank every single volunteer who has led or taken part in our volunteer sessions, group walks or supported the delivery of Forest School. They’re giving up their own precious time to share their knowledge of – and passion for – Rimrose Valley with everyone who attends.

Since this project began, we’ve noticed a huge spike in our volunteer numbers. From a core group of around 15 ‘die hard’ volunteers who have been with us for many years, we have grown to over 60 members of our new volunteering WhatsApp community, with people dipping in and out of each group, depending on what they are able to commit to each week.

Why not join us by clicking HERE or emailing stu@rimrosevalleyfriends.org

What’s left to deliver?

We’ll soon be hosting our Summer Fair which features the return of Liverpool’s Most Wuthering Heights Day… Ever! and lots of family-friendly activities. We hope you can join us. Click HERE to register.

We also have 2 outdoor art classes this summer which we’ll be announcing very soon… and our regular programme of volunteering opportunities, guided walks and Forest School.

Some of our impact in numbers from January until the end of June…

• 302 volunteer hours delivered via our ’60 Minute Heroes’ group with activities ranging from clearing pathways and entrances and improving access for all
• 133 volunteer hours for litter picking, with 246 bags of rubbish removed from Rimrose (not to mention piles of larger fly-tipping)
• 7 FREE Forest School sessions delivered, offering 140 places for local pre-school and primary school-aged children
• 10 guided walks delivered by volunteers
• 1 x Spring Nature Fair attended by approximately 200 people

We’re looking forward to delivering the rest of this project for you and we’ll find a way to continue this work into the future!