Our inspirational and growing community
Moving into spring always feels the right time for rejuvenating fresh starts and renewal, and we’re certainly feeling this at Earth Trust…
Two exciting new initiatives are underway, Growing Places and New to Nature, both great examples of how, through new partnerships, we are reaching out to new audiences, connecting to ensure that everyone can access nature.
Our Growing Places project sees the beginning of a new relationship with employment charity, Aspire, finding ways we can enrich each other’s work. Aspire works to ensure there is no going back to homelessness and inequality. This pilot project aims to give some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities a greater connection to their local landscape, lowering anxiety and widening access to employment.
The environment sector is one of the least diverse professions in the UK and so we are delighted to be part of the New to Nature Programme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are offering accessible nature-based work for a young person at Earth Trust and, as well as inspiring and energising their talent and skills, we plan to listen and involve young people more directly in our work.
As ever, we thank you, our supporters, for making all of this work possible and hope that you will enjoy reading all about the positive impact your generosity will have on the lives of others.
Our Friends scheme is also being refreshed this spring, as we move to adopting a membership style scheme. Full details of this, including why we’re doing it, will be in a letter which all of our existing Friends will receive in the post shortly. Please do look out for this coming through your letterbox!
We wish you a joyful spring.
Dr Jayne Manley, CEO
The return of lambing…
2023 sees the return of the Earth Trust lambing festival. Read our article which explains why this means so much to us.Spring to life
This season, we’re celebrating the circle of life by noticing and nurturing nature around us. By inviting nature into our everyday routine – planting flowers, choosing healthy foods and making space for wildlife – we can all help make this spring a season of growth. Check out our Spring to Life resource page for information and advice.
News in brief
Growing Places
In an exciting new partnership with Oxfordshire employment charity ‘Aspire’, we’re seeking to bring those most in need of nature, closer to it… A pilot will take place, working with a group of people facing disadvantage; testing and understanding their needs and how to design, offer and provide an activity that delivers the benefits of a protected landscape for them. If successful, we hope to be able to roll out these activities to a wider audience later in the year. We’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
New to Nature
As part of the National Lottery funded ‘New to Nature’ programme, Earth Trust are offering a 12-month work placement for a young person (18-25 years old) to learn new skills and develop the first steps of a career path into the natural environment sector. This is one of 70 roles being created across the UK to encourage young and diverse talent into the sector, through a partnership of Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse.
Earth Trust Gallery
During May each year, the Oxfordshire Artweeks festival sees local artists and designer-makers exhibit their work in exhibitions throughout the county. This year, we’ve brought together an exciting range of creatives, and ‘Earth Trust Gallery’ (in our Innovation Hub building) will showcase a snapshot of their work, including ceramics, mixed media and wildlife & landscape photography. The Gallery will be open daily 6-14 May. We’d love you to visit, so save the date!