Tag Archives: Nature

Can adults ever really see “just mud” again?

Green Pages is a space for exploring some of the quieter reflections sitting underneath Birmingham’s City of Nature journey. Part nature writing, part systems thinking, these pieces often begin with ordinary moments:a walk,a conversation,a bridge,a memory,mud on a child’s hands. From there, they gently wander into bigger questions about belonging, wellbeing, nature connection, memory andContinue reading “Can adults ever really see “just mud” again?”

The Quiet Work of Rangers

Friday Feelings – End of Week reflections. As my conversations have moved beyond those who already work closely with nature, I have noticed people saying recently: “I didn’t know Birmingham had a Ranger Service.” And yet, once you know you begin noticing the work Rangers do, and you start seeing their presence across the city’sContinue reading “The Quiet Work of Rangers”

Burbury Park – Wild at Heart

Yesterday, I spent an hour and a half in Burbury Park. It was one of the warmest days of the year so far. As I entered the park, the sound of children playing carried across the space telling a story of laughter, movement and life already unfolding before I reached the activity. I spotted theContinue reading “Burbury Park – Wild at Heart”

Notes from a Slow Time Traveller

I recently realised something that felt both obvious and oddly liberating:we are all time travellers. I time travelled from 1964 to today. It just took me 62 years to get here. When people talk about time travel, they imagine machines, portals, or sudden leaps across centuries. But in reality, most of us are moving throughContinue reading “Notes from a Slow Time Traveller”

Delivering the WMCA Nature Recovery Strategy in Birmingham: Clarity, Coordination and Collective Action

Nature recovery is no longer optional. With Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) now a statutory requirement in England, every region must move from aspiration to coordinated delivery. For Birmingham — the UK’s largest local authority, a city shaped by environmental inequalities, and one with significant natural assets — this is both a responsibility and anContinue reading “Delivering the WMCA Nature Recovery Strategy in Birmingham: Clarity, Coordination and Collective Action”

An unplanned Bench Chat

I don’t record every bench chat I have, sometimes because people don’t want me to record them. Sometimes because I don’t realise stopping for a quick catch up is going to turn into a “Bench Chat” moment. On this occasion a simple question to me – “What are you up to?” Evolved into a conversationContinue reading “An unplanned Bench Chat”

A journey to The Centre of the Earth

Bench Chat: Layers of Nature – A Conversation with Holly from the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust The Centre of the Earth is the Wildlife Trust’s purpose built environmental centre in Winson Green – just 1.5 km from Birmingham City Centre. Here they specialise in teaching and learning about wildlife, the environment and sustainableContinue reading “A journey to The Centre of the Earth”

From Seed to Roots

Reflections on Five Years of Future Parks in BirminghamBy a Community Facilitator, Birmingham City of Nature Alliance When we first set out on the Future Parks Accelerator journey five years ago, the goal felt both urgent and enormous: tackle environmental injustice, reconnect people with the nature on their doorstep, and transform the way green spacesContinue reading “From Seed to Roots”

Reflecting on my role

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Community Facilitator Being a Community Facilitator for the Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) Project is a role filled with purpose, passion, and—sometimes—loneliness. As the final stage of the FPA project that looked at urban nature development comes to a close, I am asking those involved in the project to reflect onContinue reading “Reflecting on my role”