A Second Year of Success for Green Time Walk – Multiply – With a Splash of Fun Maths

On Thursday 6th July 2023 ten participants from Green Time joined Rachel from Gift to Nature and Mark for the final ‘Multiply’ activity from the current funding.

The group explored Merstone Station and learnt about the community orchard and heritage of the old railway station. The community orchard is home to a range of wildflowers, fruit trees and blossom providing a source of early nectar. There will be another opportunity to visit the community orchard in August or September for apple and blackberry foraging.

As the group explored the orchard they developed maths skills with Mark through some fun measuring tasks.

Working in small groups members were able to

• Use a tape measure to read scales and record measurements
• Work out the perimeter of simple shapes
• Find the perimeter of a compound shape.

Group members completed a range of simple calculations with and without a calculator as they completed their worksheets. While sat at the orchard tables they enjoyed some tasty home cooked Indonesian and Filipino food. Birds were in full evening song in the beautiful sunshine.

The group then joined Mark and Rachel on the Rookley Ramble Walk to Rookley Village Green and back to Merstone Station. During the walk the group admired the wild flowers, plant and wildlife taking notice of the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The group noticed Godshill Church in the distance and how it stood out in the evening sun against the backdrop of the lush green hills.

Mark has created a further year’s programme of activities and he will find out at the end of July if ‘Multiply’ will continue to build on two successful years of delivery.

We took pictures

Rookley Ramble Walk is a beautiful 4.13 miles, 6.65 kilometres, 9,000 steps 400 calories summer’s evening walk.

Green Time - Multiply is a way of developing maths skills in a fun, informal way by using crafts and arts to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Forty people recently came together to enjoy the Biosphere in the Bays creative Walk event at Culver Down and Yaverland Beach. Sixteen people took part in the Tuesday evening walk and a further 24 people took part in the Saturday afternoon walk.

Participants from the general public and Equals IW joined Mark and Sara for the two walks. They explored the landscape and seascape of Culver Down and Yaverland Beach experiencing the Biosphere of the Sandown Bay Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB).

They undertook a number of creative activities during the walks linked to the environment. There was an opportunity with Sara,  a visual artist and illustrator, to capture the sights and colours through pencil art at the Earl of Yarborough Monument. Helping them to connect creatively to the natural environment while enjoying its sounds and aromas.

Stopping at the Yarborough Monument participants were given sketch books and pencils to draw what was around them. This activity helped them to closely look at the places around them while exercising their creativity. On Saturday some members of the group spotted places they didn’t even know were there namely Bembridge Windmill and parts of Sandown and Brading.

Sara offered guidance with composition by looking at the shapes rather than the actual objects. Members of the group produced fantastic drawings. Even those taking part who originally said that they could not draw in any way, shape or form.

Tuesday

On Tuesday the time was more limited as it was an evening walk finishing quite late. Sara wanted the participants to really look at the place they were in so after the walk they went down onto Yaverland Beach. They split into smaller individual groups to paint what they could see.

While on Yaverland Beach they had the opportunity to be creative by learning to make pigments from natural materials collected on the walk. These natural paints were created from the clay in the cliffs on Yaverland Beach mixed with seawater and safe wash poster paints.

Sara asked them to put energy into their paintings looking at the shapes and colour to help make their paintings interesting and vibrant. Everyone got involved creating paintings of the beach, the groin and the sea.

It was an opportunity to be creative and yet playful. Something as adults we rarely enjoy doing. This is so important for our imagination, emotional wellbeing and mental health, especially as many of us lead such busy and hectic lives.

Saturday

On Saturday we had more time for a creative activity plus the sun was shining. Sara asked the group to have a go at sun printing also known as cyanotype printing. This activity had the participants looking at the vegetation and grasses around them on their  walk. They collected and used these for printing back on the beach. This activity also needed everyone to think about the composition of the piece of artwork they were to produce.

Sara chose cyanotype printing as it is a fun activity with quite varied outcomes that can seem quite random. Plus it is environmentally friendly which meant we would again leave no toxins on the beach when finished. Water is required for the process so we used the natural resource of the sea. The outcome was beautiful and varied with each cyanotype print personalised by the individual.

Sara enjoyed the activity as the small squares of blue print were representing the bay, the walk and the participant’s personality. Everyone seemed interested in the printing process and were asking questions about how to develop this activity further. It tapped into their creativity and had them thinking further than just about the activity they were doing. It helped having more time and light to complete the creative activity on Saturday afternoon compared with Tuesday evening.

With Mark everyone took part in a one hour thirty minutes exhilarating clifftop walk up and over Culver Down. Taking in the sweeping views of Sandown and Shanklin Bays, the splendid views of the Bembridge coastline with panoramic sea views of the Solent and Spinnaker Tower Portsmouth. Mark described the heritage of the Yarborough Monument. Including that from the time of the Napoleonic War to the Second World War Bembridge Fort and Culver Downs were long used for military purposes.

They viewed the Coastguard Cottages that still remain and were able to watch buzzards, kestrels and peregrines in flight as they hunted along the cliffs. The chalk soils of Bembridge and Culver Downs provide an ideal habitat for blue butterflies.  Chalkhill, Common, Small and Adonis Blues were seen on the Saturday walk flitting about among the grasses and flowers.

Parts of Bembridge and Culver Downs support a range of chalk grassland flowers. On the walk they could see Thyme, Bee Orchids and the eye-catching Bird’s Foot Trefoil that covers the down in a carpet of yellow at certain times of the year.

Overall

All forty participants rated the walk as either good or excellent with many enjoying the views of the Island and the Solent. On both walks they enjoyed having the views explained and felt the fun activities let them connect with the natural environments of both the countryside and the beach. Many of those taking part felt energised and well exercised, calm and relaxed.

Feedback captured how fun and enjoyable the activities were and how happy everyone was on each walk.

Many commented on the exceptional friendliness among the participants and how they felt a positive sense of connection with other people and the natural environment.

It was lovely to walk and be creative with like minded people and for some to be able to make new friends.

A sense of community spirit was apparent on both of the walks. Some felt motivated to do more exercise and although being tired and exhausted that they would love to do more activities like this.

Many would like to see the toilets at the Yaverland Car Park open later in the evening and felt the area should have a nice picnic area.

Participants wanted time to visit and read the noticeboards found in different locations on Bembridge and Culver Downs. They would also liked to have had more time to learn more about the local wildlife.

Some shared how they felt the overall activity could be developed further. It could be extended to include more time to relax. Have time for an ice-cream on the walk and perhaps include a visit to a pub or have time for a picnic together after the creative activities on the walk.

Many commented on the great leadership and organisation of the entire experience. They felt  inspired and enjoyed being surrounded by good company, amazing weather and beautiful scenery.

We took pictures

Many thanks to Mark of MCEnhancement and Sara for helping make these walks so appreciated.

Biosphere in the Bays promotes the importance of green time through walks that enhance emotional wellbeing and mental health by the use of creative art activities.

Equals IW is taking part in the Eventbrite Culver Down and Yaverland Beach Creative Walk

• Tuesday 20th June 2023 from 6.15pm to  9.30pm or
• Saturday 24th June 2023 from 2pm – 6pm
• Meeting Point: Yaverland Car Park

There is a fee for parking but support is available upon request

Go to the Eventbrite website to book a place now.

Join Mark and Sara to explore the landscapes and seascape of Culver Down and Yaverland Beach.

Experience the biosphere of the Sandown Bay Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Come and be creative by using pastels, pencils, paints alongside the natural materials collected on the walk. Learn to make pigments.

Enter the sand sculpture competition and work with others to design and create your own themed sand sculpture.

 Fifteen people with a spring in their step came together from the Friends and Family Group to take part in the first Equals IW Green Time Walk of 2023. They joined Mark on a warm sunny March Saturday afternoon to take a trip along the beautiful river bank of the River Medina Estuary.

They visited the Gift To Nature Site Millennium Wood first. This is a tiny woodland planted on a bank of dredged material alongside Seaclose Park. It was created at the turn of the millennium in collaboration with the nearby Mountbatten Hospice. Some of the trees were planted in remembrance of loved ones.

This site comes into its own in spring with brightly coloured blossoms. Unexpectedly for such a location the bank on which it is planted provides a home for many wildflowers in late spring. This occurs as the bank was formed from dredged material, bringing with it wildflower seeds.

The group looked to spot

• Adders Tongue Fern
• Common Spotted Orchid
• Primroses
• Daffodils

and can return to see the variety of trees blossoming in spring over the next two months.

Mark also shared with the group that the woodland has its own community orchard. All are welcome to pick edible fruits and berries throughout the year but leaving some for the birds.

The group then joined the river bank path to walk alongside the river and explore the Medina Estuary’s scenic views. They heard spring birds all along from the saltmarsh to Island Harbour which is the home of the paddle steamer PS Ryde. They also took a look at the original Spice Girls’ Bus as featured in the 1997’s Spice World the Movie.

The Medina Estuary is such an important area for nature conservation that it is protected by six different designations under national and international law. It is particularly recognised for its importance for birds, with its large areas of mudflats providing vital feeding grounds for a variety of species.

All enjoyed chatting and relaxing in the lovely warm spring afternoon sunshine. Once back at Newport Harbour everyone took the opportunity to join Mark for well-deserved refreshments in the Beefeater Steak Restaurant.

Statistics: 5.8 kilometres – 3.60 miles  average steps 9,466 for ladies and  7,887 steps for men burning between 175kcal to 316kcal.

We took photos

 Resources:

•  Butterfly Conservation
• Gift of Nature Millenium Wood

Green Time Walk Your Way to Health The Natural Way to Good Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath

Another very successful workshop recently took place whereby the Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Mark for this fun craft session. Those taking part developed creative skills by making a wooden planter out of recycled wood. The atmosphere was friendly and positive with people happy and relaxed in each other’s company. They had fun using various templates to create, draw and paint decorative designs to personalise their wooden planter.

The wooden planter can be used to grow herbs, various plants or flowers and is ideal for a window sill, perfect to be placed on the balcony or in the garden.

The Multiply Maths Skills covered

• Demonstrate safe and correct use of a tape measure when measuring the length and width of pieces of wood being used to make a wooden planter.
• Recognise imperial scale and metric scale of a tape measure and convert measurements.
• How to read a tape measure scale for metric units, measure centimetres with the longest markings and use each of the smaller marks to find the length in millimetres.
• The best way to read scales for imperial units using the longest marks to measure inches and using the next longest lines for ½ inches, the third longest for ¼ inches.

Each group member brought food for sharing together over lunch. Two special guests came and talked to the group

• Janet Owen, Executive Director, The Island Collection

Janet talked about culture and diversity on the Island and the Isle of Wight Council Cultural Strategy. She is keen to learn more about Equals IW and aims to join future activities.

• Chad Witcher, Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Physical Activity, Portsmouth University.

Chad talked about a project re-searching how older people spend their leisure time post-employment.

Creative Crafts with a Splash of Fun Maths

These Equals IW Green Time sessions enable you to increase your confidence with numbers through creative craft activities. Join in and you will be developing maths skills in a fun informal way and enhance positive emotional well-being, self confidence, self esteem and mental health.

Good maths skills can help you in everyday life such as budgeting money. Multiply is a new government funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. 

Next session will be in April 2023 and you can find out all about the details soon right here.

Of course we took photos

Green Time Green Skills Multiply: Creative Crafts with a Splash of Fun Maths

The Equals IW Green Time Medina Estuary Walk is taking place

• Saturday 18th March 2023
• Starting 2pm to 5pm
• Meeting Point: Seaclose Park Beefeater Steak Car Park

Parking will cost £2.00 per car covering three hours and is fully refundable on the day. Access is by Fairlee Road. Where possible please travel with others to reduce parking costs and have less impact on the environment.

Join Mark for the first of the Green Time Walks for 2023, on a beautiful 2 mile, 4,000 Steps, 175 Kcal trip along the beautiful river bank of the River Medina. You will walk alongside the river and be able to explore the Medina Estuary to view and listen to spring birds from the salt marsh.

The riverside walk will take you to Island Harbour the home of the paddle steamer PS Ryde and you can take a look at the original Spice Girls’ Bus as featured in the 1997 Spice World the Movie. You will walk back along the relaxing riverbank path viewing the scenic views of the river to Newport Harbour where you can join Mark for refreshments in the Beefeater Steak Restaurant, optional and dogs may not be allowed.

According to Butterfly Conservation you may even see a few butterflies.

Funding towards refreshments will be available but dependent on group size and type of refreshments. Please wear trainers or either walking shoes or boots and clothing suitable for the weather.

This walk is open to children accompanied by parents, young people and adults, with no upper age limit. Dogs are also very welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times.

Green Time Walk Your Way to Health The Natural Way to Good Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath

Equals IW held a Committee Meeting on Tuesday 07th February 2023

Various financial and fund raising issues were decided including ways to keep general account healthy. Fund raising ideas include

• A sponsored walk
• One or more activity nights.
• Taking part in smaller island community events

The latter having the benefit of Equals IW becoming more involved in the community and also encouraging people to join.

The Channel 5 Isle of Wight programme which has a slot about Equals IW is to be called “Isle of Wight Britain’s Busiest Island”. The first episode is provisionally on 24th March 2023.

The Green Time session in January 2023 was visited by the Isle of Wight Council Adult Community Learning service. The session went very well taking place at Utilita linking their Energy Saving Award Winning High 5 Workshop with Green Time Multiply. Equals iW will continue to support the Green Time project as it has proved so successful. Equals IW is receiving requests from other community organisations regarding collaboration.

Mark encouraged others to take a lead as Equals IW activities are increasing beyond what is reasonable for one person to manage.

Proposals for 2023 were discussed for a range of for events and activities leading to decisions on several moving forward.

The change of name agreed at the  AGM of the Friendship Group for Women to Ladies Friendship Group was noted. (Update: now just Ladies Group). Group sessions in 2023 will run every other Monday 10am to 12 Noon and every other Tuesday 6pm to 8pm meeting at the WOW Centre in Newport.

The change of name agreed aat the AGM of the Friendship Group for Friends and Family to Friends and Family Group was also noted.
This group is open to

• Females and males
• Children accompanied by parents or a responsible adult
• Friends and family members
• Some activities will also be open to the general public.

 Date of Next Meeting: The meeting will take place in the middle to eend of September 2023. The actual details to be confirmed early in September 2023.

A copy of the minutes of this meeting is available on request by email to our Secretary.

The Equals IW Annual General Meeting for 2023 was held on 7th February 2023.

The agenda and a report presented to the meeting is available to all by contacting our Secretary.

The Festival of Learning 2023 recognises and gives a chance nationally to celebrate adult learners' journeys and achievements.

Festival of Learning awards celebrate the best in adult learning and the wide-ranging benefits for individuals, families, communities and employers. Award winners demonstrate the impact adult learning can have, and their stories can encourage more adults to participate in learning.

Jayne O’ Harrow from the Green Time Programme has been nominated as an inspiring adult learner for one of the national awards for 2023.

We wish Jayne the best of luck and will share how Jayne's nomination progresses.

The Green Time Programme is a partnership between Equals IW, MCEnhancement and the Isle of Wight Council Adult Community Learning service.

Creative Crafts with a Splash of Fun Maths. The next Green Time Green Skills Multiply workshop takes place

• Monday 6th March 2023
• 10.15am to 2.30pm
• Adult Community Learning Centre, Westridge, Brading Rd, Ryde PO33 1QS. Near Tesco.
• Free Parking

Join Mark for this fun craft session where you can develop your creative skills by making a wooden planter out of recycled wood. Relax with others whilst having fun using various themed templates to create, draw and paint your own decorative design.

Your wooden planter can be used to grow herbs,  plants or flowers. It is ideal for a window sill and perfect for a balcony or garden.

You are encouraged to bring some food to share with the group over lunch.

Green Time Multiply workshops are a place to relax with others while increasing your confidence with numbers. Developing maths skills in a fun informal way through the use of crafts and arts activities increases positive emotional well-being, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Multiply is a government funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. Good maths skills can help find more job opportunities and lead to higher wages, or they can help prepare for further study. They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money. Participants can join other workshops or progress to other maths skills units building towards a City and Guilds Maths qualification.

Please book your place as soon as possible so your wooden planter kit can be prepared in advance. 

Text or call Mark today on 0785 485 2518 to book a place but hurry as there are not many spaces left.