One of the exciting aspects of the Glasgow Wildlife Garden Festival is that it’s brought together a whole range of different organisations. There are loads of groups and individuals across the city working with really quite similar aims, and it’s great that so many of them have been able to pool their efforts for a whole month of the year to raise awareness of Glasgow’s green spaces.
Some of the groups involved are community gardens. Often hidden down quiet alleyways or behind high walls, the gardens offer people the chance to connect with nature and get dirt under their nails, as they cultivate a range of edible and ornamental plants. So much work goes into these gardens, it would be almost impossible to count up the hours of digging, weeding and tending that’s involved.
Other projects taking part in the festival operate more as a social hub for their community, bringing people together to enjoy a range of inclusive and educational activities. This can involve everything from upcycling to storytelling to cookery classes, but there’s often an emphasis on getting outdoors, and getting closer to nature, with activities like cycling and walking.
Some groups were specifically set up with nature in mind, targeting areas in the city that need support through conservation and clean ups. The work carried out by these passionate volunteers is very valuable, helping to preserve and protect places that might otherwise disappear.
Larger parks and gardens, and the city council, are also joining forces for the festival, as are conservation charities, volunteering groups, and organisations that promote citizen science. All in, it’s an exciting list of around 50 different groups, all offering activities, and many opening their doors to the public.
Not only does this offer people across the city a chance to take part in a broad range of activities at so many different sites, it’s also fantastic for nature.
Part of the aim of the wildlife festival is to create more homes for nature across Glasgow. No single organisation could ever hope to do this on their own. But by working together and joining up these little green spaces, we really can start to make a difference.
So please do consider supporting some of the organisations taking part in the festival, by attending one of their events.