We have the makings of a committed group of people who are all keen to work together to improve Ion Square Gardens. As a start, Ingrid Chen (the “forest school” leader at Columbia Primary School) is welcoming everyone to join a volunteer day and we’re looking to use that day as an opportunity to start “Friends of Ion Square” too.
There’s an interested bunch from JHERA (the Jesus Green estate), St Peter’s Church, the Avebury Estate and the parents and children involved in the “forest school” area in Ion Square run by Columbia Primary School. Together we’ve agreed the first steps towards a collaboration which links all of these groups and seeks to involve a wider range of people too.
We’re scheduling a volunteer session on Friday 18th November 1-3pm, supported by council rangers and welcome to everyone, during which we’d like to:
- clean up the wilder western part of the park
- introduce more signage in the wild area
- remove the low foliage on the eastern perimeter of the wild area in order to increase visibility
This volunteer day is also a great opportunity to generate interest in the wider “Friends of Ion Square” group, so we’re proposing a short tea break after the volunteer session and then a meeting 4-5pm. This group will be listening to the community living close to the park and create a plan for the bigger picture, so that ongoing volunteering efforts are building towards something for the whole community.
