Our Belief
At Green Connections C.I.C. we have a passionate belief that nature based activity can offer relaxation, optimism and a sense of connection right now, at a time when it's most desperately needed.
Not only do plants and arts can give us all something to look forward to and a sense of hope for the future, there's more... MUCH more...because we believe that these ingredients MAY just hold the key to us regaining a sense of community and encourage kindness, as we gain a greater understanding and perspective of our neighbours and of our neighbourhood.
That's why we want to involve individuals and families of ALL ages in inter-generational nature based growing and craft activities. One of our recent achievements was getting children, families and a local care home involved in the Stay Home Grow Sunflowers Project in Summer 2020. A grant from Friends of Bushey Seniors made this possible. Here are the amazing sunflowers that local care home grew, giving staff and residents a sense of joy when they were able to get out into their garden, or look out through their window.
To spread the joy more, we'll be putting together seasonally themed Letter Boxes, like this one
This lavender Green Letter Box (pictured above) is full of materials for our workshop which transports participants to another world full of fascinating facts about lavender and about Bushey's Rose Garden...there's even a calming story about the lavender in Provence!
What's unique about the Green Letter Box Project?
Green Letterboxes and workshops will be:
- THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED DESIGN AND DELIVERY by a highly experienced Occupational Therapist, able to anticipate potential difficulties and barriers for people to take part. Easy Read and Large Print sheets like the one below will be provided with each box. Additional support with accessing digital technology through provision of an I.T. tutor.
OUR EASY ACCESS SEED SOWING GUIDE & OUR I.T. Tutor guiding a participant before lockdown.
INTER-GENERATIONAL, encouraging new friendships and support networks through online activities using materials included in Green Letter Boxes
HOLISTIC, especially for those with additional medical/social needs. We are able to provide specialist advice, onward referrals and signposting to other agencies, like Herts Help, where necessary and appropriate.
- RAISING AWARENESS OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENT ISSUES and offering simple suggestions for local residents to make a difference to the natural world around them (e.g. through making & scattering wildflower seed bombs).
SOME BEEBOMBS IN THE MAKING....
WHAT YOUR MONEY COULD HELP US WITH
£5 donation: could help us to buy beautiful materials to fill our letter boxes.
£10 donation: could help us put easy read/accessible sheets into each letter box.
£20 donation: could pay for an aid/small piece of equipment like a light/magnifier to help an older person with sight loss participate in our activities more easily
£30 donation: could pay for 1 hour of I.T. tuition to help an older adult access our online workshops.
£60 donation: this could help cover the cost of expert design, adaptation facilitation and ongoing specialist intervention delivered by a highly experienced occupational therapist
£100 donation: could go towards the cost of a cellular enabled Samsung tablet, helping someone with a low/no income to access our online workshops with a phone network signal.
Here are some of the rewards you could claim for a donation:
Bee Kind Succulent Hand Painted Pot
Festive Combi Letterbox (Mini winter wreath; lavender bag; wildflower seed bomb bag)
Japanese Style Hanging festive plants ('Kokedamas')
Restive fragrant reed diffuser, night lights and votive
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