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.
The Land of the Butterflies Carnival Project for 2022 was launched on Saturday 20th August 2022. The carnival project is part of the Green Time Crafts in the Park initiative and the launch was in the beautiful grounds of Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin.
The session started with the Green Time Project Lead showing members of the carnival team around the garden.
The group then repaired previous carnival costumes, part of Kim our komodo dragon and prepared the butterfly costumes that will be used in the carnivals this year.
Team members shared ideas and took the first steps in practising the dance routine for this year.
The sessions rounded off with a drink, homemade cake and ice-cream funded from the Green Time project.
We took some photos:
This year Equals IW will be at
- St Helens Carnival
- Ryde Main Carnival
- Ryde Illuminated Carnival.
Green Time - The Land of Butterflies Carnival Project 2022, uses crafts, arts and dance to enhance positive emotional well-being and mental health.
A grant of £200 has been award to Green Time - Land of Butterflies 2022 Carnival Project to enable the group to showcase the entry in Ryde Main Carnival on Thursday 1st September 2022 and Ryde Illuminated Carnival on Saturday 3rd September 2022.
Mark Cox, who is the Green Time Project Lead, was delighted to receive the Ryde Carnival Community Grant. It will be used for costume decoration and creation of the
- Ladybird Car
- Large Flying Butterflies
- Large Komodo Dragon
with lighting for the illuminated carnival.
The Green Time - Land of Butterflies carnival entry will be on foot and the team are currently putting it together throughout August. The entry will have special guests ‘Asian Pageant Queens’ from Asian UK. The High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Kay Marriott JP, will also be visiting the team at Ryde Main Carnival.
The Green Time and The Land of Butterflies projects are being filmed by Daisybeck Studios who are producing a programme about the Isle of Wight. This is scheduled to be shown on a national television channel. The filming will include the team preparing for Ryde Carnival and being visited by Kay Marriott JP. Filming will also take place at the main carnival procession.
Green Time - The Land of Butterflies focuses on nature and the importance of looking after it within our local community,. It covers butterfly conservation and the need to make us all aware of protecting insects such as butterflies and ladybirds as in our carnival feature, .
Integrating this project into our wider Green Time Project lets us bring people together from different backgrounds and culture.
The project uses crafts to promote and enhance people's emotional well-being, mental health, self-confidence, self-esteem, team working skills and provides a sense of belonging and togetherness.
Green Time - The Land of Butterflies is delighted to be taking part in the oldest carnival in the country Ryde Carnival 2022.
The Friendship Group for Friends and Family came together on Sunday 19th June 2022 to explore the Eastern Yar as part of the Green Time, Walk Your Way to Health walking programme.
The group took a gentle walk to explore Sandown Community Orchard before joining the dismantled railway path alongside the Eastern Yar River. The group then left the Red Squirrel Trail at Alverstone Village to explore the rich habitats of Newchurch Moors Nature Reserve and mixed woodland of Martin’s Wood Nature Reserve.
Heading back through Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve they viewed and listened to kingfishers, herons, great tits and blue tits. The group then walked through the raised walkway beneath a canopy of trees and into the woodland. They saw a red squirrel leaping from tree to tree before returning back to Sandown Railway Station.
As part of the learning element the group found out about Sandown Community Orchard and the Sandown Water Works. The group also spent time learning about the estuary wildlife and river birds by using the Wildlife Watch Spotter Cards.
The Friends on the walk had a lovely time out in the natural outdoors and took lots of photos
7.5 miles round trip, 16,205 steps, 700 Kcalories,
Green Time - The Natural Way to Good Emotional Well-being and Mental Health
Equals IW with its Friendship Group are taking part in the St Helens and the Ryde Carnivals taking place just before the schools return.
The project is going to be filmed by Daisybeck Studios who are producing a programme all about the Isle of Wight. Daisybeck Studios is an independent television company producing quality factual, factual Entertainment and event programming for national television channels since 2013.
Join In
We would like you to come and join the following
- Carnival Preparation Session Tuesday 23rd August 2022 - 5.30pm
- Location to be confirmed
- All participants will be filmed.
- St Helens Carnival Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 2022
- All participants must arrive by 5pm.
- Ryde Main Carnival Thursday 1st September 2022
- All participants will be filmed and must arrive by 5.30pm.
- Ryde Illuminated Carnival Saturday 3rd September 2022
- All participants may be filmed and must arrive by 7pm.
To join this project text or call Mark 0785 485 2518 to get your Green Time Carnival Entry Form.
You must complete the form by 7th August 2022
Members of Equals IW recently met with Colin a Producer from by Daisybeck Studios, to learn about a programme being produced during this summer on the Isle of Wight. The programme will be shown on national television and will be all about people living and working on the Island.
Colin spoke with each person to learn more about how they came to Isle of Wight, what they do for work or spare time, and how they find life on the Island. Colin also found out more about the many activities of Equals IW over its history. Colin was keen to learn about the current Green Time programme and past involvement in Island carnivals.
Afterwards the production team confirmed that they wanted to include the Equals IW Green Time Programme and group members in their television programme.
Daisybeck Studios is an independent television company producing quality factual, factual entertainment and event programming since 2013 for national television channels. Programmes include well known to us all
- The Yorkshire Vet
- Made in Britain
- The Highland Vet
- Alton Towers A Roller Coaster Year
- Spring Time On The Farm
- This Week On The Farm.
Green Time - The Land of Butterflies, Carnival Project 2022 is going to be filmed as part of this programme. Filming will feature friends meeting the Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Kay Marriott JP. She will visit the group preparing for the Ryde Carnivals 2022 on Tuesday 23rd August 2022.
The group will also be filmed taking part in Ryde Main Carnival on Thursday 1st September 2022 as the procession makes its way through the streets of Ryde.
Funder Delighted with Green Time
Kerry Baker visited the Green Time Green Skills, Food and Culture Workshop that took place on the 10th June 2022. Kerry is the Adult Community Learning Quality Officer from the Isle of Wight Council Community Learning Centre and her visit was part of the ‘Quality Assurance’ requirement. Her aim was to
- Check that administration and learning elements were being delivered according to the funding agreement
- Ensure funding was being spent as agreed in the contract
- Observe the session taking place and meet participants taking part
Green Time was given an overall Grade 2 Good with elements of Outstanding Practice. Kerry provided positive feedback on some small steps to improve the programme even further.
Kerry enjoyed her visit and meeting everyone. Her feedback highlighted the contribution of one of the group members working in partnership with Mark. This has been noticed and is of particular interest to the Isle of Wight Council Adult Community Learning Centre Team. We wait with excitement for more details on this.
The workshop comprised group members
- Reviewing their own physical, emotional and mental Health through a range of questionnaires
- Progressing on to create a Health Plan.
- Learning how to make their own Butterfly Feeder to take home.
- Identifying cultural healthy food and its preparation while making a food dish.
The food was enjoyed over lunch.
The afternoon element of the workshop looked at key elements of a health life style with handouts issued to take home and read. The workshop concluded with an Equals IW guest speaker giving a presentation on growing your own food based on Korean natural farming. This focuses on organic growing and sustainability.
We took alot of photos on the day
And a short video