Sixteen friends joined together for the last Equals IW Green Time Walk for 2022 on a beautiful 5 mile round trip across Shanklin and Sandown Bay.

The walk started from Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin then through Shanklin Old Village to admire the old thatched buildings. The route continued through the wooded park which was in vibrant autumn colour. Leaving the park the group joined the coastal cliff path that curls around the bay to Sandown. With clear blue skies and warm sunshine the friends experienced the cliff top views of the golden sandy beaches below reaching to the white chalk cliffs of Culver Downs. The walk continued through Lake Cliff Gardens and Ferncliff Gardens to Sandown for a free drink or ice-cream at Pebbles Café on the seafront.

The return walk went back along the sea wall path to Shanklin with sounds of the sea and breaking waves. The walk finished with a short climb up Chine Avenue overlooking Shanklin Chine back to Rylstone Gardens.

Statistics: 5.23 miles 11,832 steps, burning 489Kcal.

We took photos

Green Time Walks return in 2023 with the first walk being announced on these pages in January 2023

Green Time - The Natural Way to Good Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

The first Equals IW Green Time, Crafts in the Park took place on Saturday 16th July 2022 at the Gift to Nature site “Medina Riverside Park” led by Rachael Ardley, Gift to Nature Engagement Officer and Mark Cox, Green Time Project Lead.

The afternoon session started with a guided walk around the riverside meadow path to learn and look at the wildflowers. The group took part in the National Butterfly Count for 2022 while walking around the meadow and took photos of butterflies on mobile phones. They used the Wildlife Watch Butterfly Spotter Cards and the Butterfly Conservation’s England "Big Butterfly Count Identification Card" to identify and officially record the following butterflies

• 1 Small White
• 1 Common Blue
• 3 Holly Blue
• 1 Speckled Wood
• 4 Meadow Brown
• 5 Gate Keeper
• 2 Brown Argus
• 1 Peacock Butterfly.

The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide citizen science survey run by Butterfly Conservation. This year the Count ran from Friday 15 July until Sunday 7 August. It provides a yearly snapshot into the changing fate of the butterfly population. It helps Butterfly Conservation’s science and research evaluating the status of butterflies and daytime moths in the wider environment. The result is effective conservation action.

Last year over 100,000 people took part, submitting over 152,000 counts of the 1.2 million individuals of the 20 target species that were seen nationwide. Big Butterfly Counts are carried out in gardens, parks and the countryside to complement the data from other surveys and has other worthy attributes

• It It raises awareness of people to the beauty and wonder of butterflies and for some it will ignite a passion for nature and the environment.
• It provides a break from routine and by doing something positive to help the environment can improve mental health and well-being.

Following on from the butterfly count Rachel from Gift to Nature led the craft session, whereby group members enjoyed making pictures using dried flowers and then framing them with twigs.

The Green Time Crafts in the Park afternoon concluded with a group picnic, each friend brought a range of healthy food, some home cooked as well. Everyone was relaxed in the shaded sunshine and gentle breeze on the bank of the River Medina. The perfect natural way to maintain positive emotional well-being, reduce stress and enhance mental health.

We took photos

Resources

• A review of the 2022 survey at the Wildlife and Countryside Link website
• Big Butterfly Count 2023 website
• The Garden Butterfly Survey website
• Butterfly Conservation Guide to Blue Butterfly Identification
• Big Butterfly Count Sheet
• Countryside Butterfly Sheet
• Woodland Butterfly Spotter Sheet

Green Time - The Natural Way to Good Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

Creative Crafts with a Splash of Fun Maths

The next Equals IW Green Time event is a creative skills workshop held over two sessions

• Tuesday 29th November and Thursday 1st December 2022
• Meeting Time 6pm – 9pm
• Meeting Point: Utilita, Newport High Street – Next To Boots
• Parking: Newport High Street or Quay Street and your parking cost can be claimed back back

Come along and develop your creative skills making a craft item for the festive season. Relax and have fun with others using themed templates to create, draw and paint your ideas on wooden shapes to take away.

Your confidence with numbers will increase but it is important to attend both workshop sessions. If you cannot attend both speak to Mark as an alternative arrangement can be made.

What is the Multiply Programme?

Multiply is a new government funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. Good maths skills can help you find more job opportunities and lead to higher wages, or they can help you prepare for further study. They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money.

You can progress to other Multiply Maths Workshops and there are  maths skills units available building towards a City and Guilds Maths Qualification and Certificate at levels 1 and 2.

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

Green Time, Green Skills Multiply - developing maths skills in a fun informal way through the use of crafts and arts to enhance positive emotional well-being, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

The Isle of Wight Council Adult and Community Awards Evening 2022 will be held on Tuesday 22nd November at the Westridge Learning and Community Centre, Ryde from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

It is a pleasure to announce the following Equals IW Green Time participants have been selected for the first round and progressed to the second round of the Learning for Personal Achievement Award

• Jayne O’ Harrow
• Eden Nichols
• Cece Shaw

This award celebrates individuals who have benefited from innovative adult learning courses or projects within the community. Individuals may have overcome personal barriers to learning and gone on to make significant personal achievements.

Those progressing to the third and final round will be confirmed in early November. Award Nominees in the final round will be invited to the Award Evening on Tuesday 22nd November 2022. The runner up and winner of this award will be announced during the event.

It would wonderful for some friends from Equals IW Green Time to attend the Awards Evening in support if one or more of our potential winners progresses to the final round. If you would like to be part of the support team please contact Mark as soon as possible.

In the meantime well done to Jayne, Eden and Cece.

The next Equals IW Green Time event is a picturesque walk by the sea

• Saturday 12th November 2022 Bay to Bay – Shanklin and Sandown Bay
• Meeting Time 12.45pm – 1pm Walk 1pm – 5pm
• Meeting Point: - Rylstone Gardens, Shanklin
• Free Parking: Priory Road, Popham Road and Luccombe Road, all parking is free and not time limited

A scenic 4 mile round trip, the walk starts from Rylstone Gardens, Shanklin, passing through Shanklin Old Village to admire the old thatched buildings. The walk will then take you through the autumn wooded park to join the coastal cliff-top path curling around the bay to Sandown. Along the path are the panoramic cliff top views of the golden sandy beaches below and sky above reaching to the white chalk cliffs of Culver Downs.

The route passes through Lake Cliff Gardens and Ferncliff Gardens to Sandown, where you can enjoy a ‘Free Hot Drink’ at a local café.

The return walk will take you along the undercliff sea-wall path to Shanklin seafront to hear the sounds of the sea and breaking waves. The final part of the walk is up the short climb of Chine Avenue to view Shanklin Chine and back to Rylstone Gardens.

Please wear trainers or either walking shoes or boots, clothing suitable for the weather and bring some drink and snacks to have on the way. There will be free refreshments for all when we stop at the café in Sandown. 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

The Spirit of the Carnival award has returned this year. This award was created by local family-owned Island pubs working together to help support the traditional Island Carnivals. To be eligible for one of the prizes, entries needed to take part in both Ryde Main Carnival and Ryde Illuminated Carnival.

Green Time ‘The Land of Butterflies’ qualified as one of 12 entries to be judged for the award by the Ryde Carnival Committee.

Ben Matthews, judge for the award said “We are pleased to be able to support and encourage those participating in this much-loved tradition. I judged for the Spirit of Carnival, but I was looking for enthusiasm in participating in both carnivals. Costumes and the way the group worked together and enjoy being part of the carnivals. I picked Green Time Land of Butterflies for the group member’s enthusiasm and beautiful costumes along with the impressive lighting. Along with the way the group got so into the carnivals in their first year of entering both Ryde Carnivals.”

Ben hopes the Green Time will come back next year bigger and better than this year and is will be very pleased to provide any help or advice with any future entries.

Asian Queen Ms Sandown (Nit Cook) lead the team behind our Butterfly Car. She was followed by our 14 glittering butterfly dancers round the streets of Ryde at this year’s Ryde Main and Illuminated Carnivals. The carnival entry featured six different species of butterflies created by the Gift of Nature Team. 

Mark Cox Green Time Project Lead said “Green Time – The Land of Butterflies’ focuses on nature and the importance of looking after nature within our local community, butterfly conservation and the need to make us all aware of protecting insects. Integrating this project into our wider Green Time Project enables us to bring people together from the different backgrounds and culture, through using crafts to create the carnival entry. Winning the first prize is the perfect end to a great carnival project and for all the Green Time team members.”

Thes initiative and the three cash prizes were supported by

• The Bargeman’s Rest, Newport
• The Spyglass Inn, Ventnor
• The Steamer Inn, Shanklin
• The Dairyman’s Daughter; Arreton 

Green Time - The Land of Butterflies Carnival 2022 Project, using crafts, arts and dance to enhance positive emotional wellbeing and mental health, self-confidence, self -esteem, team working skills and gain a sense of belonging and togetherness.

Members of the Equals IW Friendship Group for Women recently joined a specially arranged evening walk as part of the Green Time Programme. The walk was led by Rachael Ardley the Gift to Nature Engagement Officer. Rachael described all the wildlife gems to be seen by the group on the way.

Starting by the River Medina at Shide they walked on the Red Squirrel Trail by the river bank to Blackwater. They joined the Stenbury Trail to Birchmore Pond stopping to explore the pond wildlife with Rachel. They used the Wildlife Watch Dragonfly Spotter Sheets (pdf) and were directed to the Natural History Museum (NHM) website for further information.

After evening refreshments at Birchmore Pond the group walked back to Shide in the setting sunshine. The friends on the walk enjoyed a lovely time in the natural outdoors on the Green Time Walk.

3.5 miles round trip, 8,000 steps, 3250 Kcalories

Other resources used

• NHM website British Wildlife Pond Life
• WWT Caerlaverock Dragonfly Spotter Sheet (pdf)

We took some photos

Green Time - The Natural Way to Good Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

1st Prize Cup Carnival Winners

Green Time’s The Land of Butterflies carnival entry came first in its class at the country’s oldest carnival.

People lined the streets of Ryde watching the 2022 Ryde Illuminated Carnival procession and enjoyed the lighted parade and music. The team’s entry was well received bringing visible delight to the spectators.

Ryde Illuminated Carnival is considered the biggest and best of all the carnivals on the island. It is the last carnival of the season where each year thousands of spectators crowd the streets of Ryde. The spectacle of colour and music with fantastic floats and flamboyant costumes made sure that this year Ryde did itself and the Island proud.

Ryde Carnival is the oldest carnival in the UK dating back to the 1887 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria event which Her Majesty attended. When the first actual carnival took place in 1888 it was seen as a release from the corseted constraints of Victorian society. This year was no exception to the spirit of 1888 as the carnival was again a popular draw with people packing out the entire route.

Heading our entry was the Butterfly Car with Nit Cook as the Asian Queen Ms Sandown taking centre stage. The dance routine had 18 glittering butterfly dancers and featured six different butterfly species. These fabulous costumes were created by the Gift of Nature Team

• Peacock (Low)
• Brimstone Yellow (Niviera)
• Red Admiral (Aireen)
• Chalk Hill Blue (Mark)
• Glanville Fritillary (Jayne)
• Orange Tip (Karina)

We were delighted to have Dance Vibez with us as special quests. Their eight dazzling yellow feathered dancers complimented the main butterfly group. Callum’s very energetic moves delighted the crowds, with many cheering him on as the procession made its way through the packed streets.

Based in the Isle of Wight, Dance Vibez offers classes for all ages and abilities from toddlers up to professional dancers. They offer a full range of dance styles and some classes include exams earning points for university entry.

Green Time is looking forward to working with Dance Vibez in future as dancing provides plenty of fun for all ages and is an exciting way to stay fit and healthy.

Mark Cox as the Green Time Project Lead said “Green Time The Land of Butterflies focuses on nature and the importance of looking after nature within our local community, butterfly conservation and the need to make us all aware of protecting insects. Integrating this project into our wider Green Time Project enables us to bring people together from the different backgrounds and culture, through using crafts to create the carnival entry.”

We took some photos

For more information about Dance Vibez you can call Ann on 07530 176501.

Green Time - The Land of Butterflies Carnival 2022 Project, using crafts, arts and dance to enhance positive emotional well-being and mental health, self-confidence, self-esteem, team working skills and gain a sense of belonging and togetherness. 

The sun shone as the Equals IW Green Time Land of Butterflies carnival entry gained second prize in their category.

Our colourful car lead Asian Queen Ms Sandown, Nit Cook, and 14 glittering butterfly dancers around the streets at this year’s main Ryde Carnival.

We featured six different species of butterflies created by the Gift of Nature Team

• Peacock  (Low)
• Brimstone Yellow  (Chitladta)
• Red Admiral  (Aireen)
• Chalk Hill Blue  (Mark)
• Glanville Fritilary (Jayne)
• Orange Tip (Karina)

We were delighted to have with us the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight Kay Marriott JP as a special guest. She was filmed by Daisybeck Studios meeting the group while admiring the costumes and celebrating the second prize for their carnival entry.

Daisybeck Studios has been filming across the island in the recent summer months. They are producing a programme about the Isle of Wight that will be featured on channel 5 in the near future.

Daisybeck Studios is an independent television company producing quality factual entertainment and event programmes since 2013 for national television channels. Their programmes are well known

• The Yorkshire Vet
• Made in Britain
• The Highland Vet
• Alton Towers A Roller Coaster Year
• Spring Time On The Farm
• Friday/This Week On The Farm

Mark Cox as the Green Time Project Lead said “Green Time The Land of Butterflies focuses on nature and the importance of looking after nature within our local community, butterfly conservation and the need to make us all aware of protecting insects. Integrating this project into our wider Green Time Project enables us to bring people together from the different backgrounds and culture, through using crafts to create the carnival entry.”

We took some photos

Green Time - The Land of Butterflies Carnival 2022 Project, using crafts, arts and dance to enhance positive emotional well-being and mental health, self-confidence, self-esteem, team working skills and gain a sense of belonging and togetherness. 

The sun shone as the Equals IW Green Time Land of Butterflies carnival entry gained first prize in their category.

Our colourful car lead a group of 13 glittering butterfly costumed dancers around the streets at this year’s St Helens Carnival.

We featured six different species of butterflies created by the Gift of Nature Team

• Peacock and Glanville Fritillary  (the car),
• Brimstone Yellow  (Nit),
• Red Admiral  (Aireen),
• Chalk Hill Blue  (Mark),
• Orange Tip (Low).

We were delighted to have Dance Vibez with us as special guests as their dazzling yellow feathered dancers took centre stage with the Green Time butterflies. Based in the Isle of Wight, Dance Vibez offers classes for all ages and abilities from toddlers up to professional dancers. They offer a full range of dance styles and some classes include exams earning points for university entry.

Green Time is looking forward to working with Dance Vibez in future as dancing provides plenty of fun for all ages and is an exciting way to stay fit and healthy.

Mark Cox as the Green Time Project Lead said “Green Time The Land of Butterflies focuses on nature and the importance of looking after nature within our local community, butterfly conservation and the need to make us all aware of protecting insects. Integrating this project into our wider Green Time Project enables us to bring people together from the different backgrounds and culture, through using crafts to create the carnival entry.”

We took some photos

See more photos on the Isle of Wight Carnival Facebook page.

For more information about Dance Vibez you can call Ann on 07530 176501.

Green Time - The Land of Butterflies Carnival 2022 Project, using crafts, arts and dance to enhance positive emotional well-being and mental health, self-confidence, self-esteem, team working skills and gain a sense of belonging and togetherness.