Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants’ Post

Happy International Vulture Awareness Day! Yes, you read that right. Today, we’re celebrating the unsung heroes of the wild: vultures. These feathered bin collectors are the ultimate garbage disposal units, clearing away rotting carcasses and preventing the spread of disease. Without them, we’d be in a world of trouble. 🦅🦠 But here’s the kicker: these magnificent creatures are increasingly endangered. And that’s where we come in, folks. The Hawk Conservancy Trust does tremendous work to preserve these vital birds. If you’ve got a few quid to spare, consider donating. Your support could mean the difference between a healthy ecosystem and a dystopian nightmare of disease and decay. 🌍💔 Now, what does this have to do with L&D, you ask? Well, just as vultures are crucial for a healthy ecosystem, content curation is vital for a thriving training ecosystem. Think of your curators as the vulture of your training strategy, cleaning up, sorting through the mess, and ensuring only the best, most relevant content reaches your team. So, let’s raise a toast to vultures and the Hawk Conservancy Trust. And while you’re at it, think about how you can be the vulture for your L&D team, cleaning up the clutter and focusing on what truly matters. Share your content curation tips in the comments below 👇 I'll share some links on how you can help save wild vultures. Cheers to a cleaner, healthier world and a more effective learning strategy! #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay #LearningAndDevelopment #ContentCuration #PerformanceImprovement #IVAD24

This is an analogy about #volunteerengagement: I have a friend who is a farmer. We visit them twice a year, once in late-June/early-July and then again at the end of the Summer (leaving tomorrow) my wife and his wife are childhood best friends and have stayed close despite a 7 hour drive. Every time I go when we chat - I am learning more about how to care for soil. Not how to care for plants. My friend starting sharing that they decided to invest in their soil a few years back, he shared it would be an investment and expensive but this year he is sharing my fields soak up a lot more water, they don’t get damaged in heavy rain or high wind. His fields are now significantly out producing neighbours fields. I truly believe we, as a society, have missed the mark on supporting volunteerism. Be it with the skimpy investments from govt, society finding is hard to make donations to, or having difficulty building healthy volunteering communities at some organizations. Gov’ts and others are quick to dole out awards and congratulations and wow look at the number of people and hours (I see this as throwing fertilizer on what’s happening). But how is the environment? How’s the soil? Are we planning our crop cycles and giving proper nutrients to ensure healthy growth, are we preparing our fields for biodiversity (be it of ages, races, cultures, languages, experiences, abilities, skills and values). We can look to COVID or even to high inflation and see these have been/are trying times for our volunteer communities- maybe some are giving less time because of having to take another job, maybe worry and fear of exposure is still an issue. When thinking about volunteers becoming part of and belonging in our communities, I think what level of healthly environment can we provide them to help them thrive in the good they eagerly want to provide. #1 is someone to welcome them, greet them orientate them, and introduce them. (Good planting) #2 is someone to know them, train them in a way they will succeed, check in on how they are finding their way and experience and listen to them. (Good growing conditions) #3 someone to advocate for them, share their story and reflect back their value and offer growth in the community. (Good harvest) & #4 someone to ensure that the environment continues to be good, that the time those who give, give continues to be valued, invested in and enriched. (Good soil care) The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (volunteer.ca/ccvi) from Volunteer Canada in partnership with VMPC-Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada has 10 standards where 5 of them speak more to “soil care” than “plant care” and it is a great place for your organization or gov’t to look to see what’s needed to invest in volunteerism in your community. We at the Ottawa Food Bank had the opportunity to audit our community over this past year utilizing the Code and we are excited to share more about that experience in the weeks and months ahead.

Happy Saturday LinkedIn! As the summer season winds down, Indigo Permaculture Ecosystems Resilience Model (PERM) is gearing up to restore and preserve the vibrant ecosystem at Madison Lakes. Our upcoming conservation efforts will focus on sustaining the health of this precious natural resource and fostering community involvement. Here's how we'll be making an impact: 🧹 Shoreline Cleanup: We’ll be removing trash, invasive plants, and debris that have accumulated over the summer to maintain a thriving aquatic and riparian environment. A clean shoreline supports healthier water quality and habitats for local wildlife! 🐸 Wildlife Monitoring and Data Collection: We'll conduct population surveys of fish, birds, and other wildlife to track their health, monitor migration patterns, and measure breeding success throughout the season. These insights help us protect biodiversity and improve conservation strategies. 🌍 Education and Community Outreach: Knowledge is power! We’ll be hosting an educational workshop and guided nature walk, encouraging the local community to take an active role in lake conservation and sustainable water use. Together, we can make a lasting impact by understanding how to care for our environment in every season. 💧 We Need Your Help! Learn more about Indigo PERM’s mission https://lnkd.in/gYUgrvsT Support our efforts by signing and sharing our Letters of Support https://lnkd.in/gu_-W6qr Support our efforts by signing and sharing our Petition https://lnkd.in/gCgYCg65 Consider donating to help fund Indigo PERM's efforts https://gofund.me/a0058c58 Every action counts! Let's preserve our ecosystems for future generations—together. #EcosystemConservation #Permaculture #IndigoPERM #CommunityOutreach #Sustainability #WildlifeMonitoring #ShorelineCleanup #ProtectOurPlanet #Nature #NatureLover #SaturdayVibes #Donate #Nonprofit #Synergy

Did you know Friends of the Urban Forest provides tree care as well as tree planting? These “before” and “after“ photos are from a Community Tree Care event in the Excelsior last week. The tree in the photo is an Evergreen Pear (Pyrus kawakamii) that was planted in 2019. It had a lot of thick low branches that were growing into the sidewalk and street, so our Tree Care Coordinator, Max Kerr, and four volunteers raised its canopy and made some reduction cuts on branches that were a clearance issue. They also removed its hardware (its trunk was thicker than the stakes and the arbor ties were starting to damage the bark). The volunteer in the “after” photo is Susan Green, one of our wonderful regular volunteers! A big thanks to all of the volunteers who came out to our Community Tree Care event in the Excelsior! If you’d like to volunteer planting trees, taking care of trees, or planting sidewalk gardens, check out the link in the comments for more info and to sign up. *If you’re particularly interested in tree care, there’s a Community Tree Care event this Friday, July 26th in the Bayview. Image Description Two photographs are side by side. The left photo is a “before” photo of an Evergreen Pear tree with a lot of hanging branches. The right photo is an “after” photo of the tree once the branches were trimmed. A volunteer holds shears and looks up into the tree’s branches. #climatechange #nonprofit #climateaction #green #volunteer #greytogreen #arboriculture

Many thanks to Mark Chester for giving me a Treehouse podcast opportunity to promote the work of Fund4Trees: with a detailed look into the research projects and bursaries we've funded to date. https://lnkd.in/eHPqt8_5 (check out No. 7 in the listing) And just to recap on an earlier email from a few months back: You’ve seen the bike rides, the school 'tree eco-workshops' and our striking logo. But there is more to us than you may think. Firstly, the former trustees (Tracy Clarke, Gabriel Hemery and Peter Wharton) and new (Colleen O'Sullivan and Mike Connick) including those that have been here from the beginning in 2011 Mick Boddy and Martin Gammie & me. Who have given/continue to give countless volunteer hours to ensure the smooth running of this, our registered charity (no. 1152318) and help support urban tree research and award arb. study bursaries Secondly, our Research Advisory Committee (RAC) ably chaired by Rob MacKenzie with an impressive line-up of well-respected arb. researchers and industry experts Jon Banks Jon Heuch Jemery Barrell Andrew Hirons Kieron Doick Mark Gush. RAC plays a crucial role in (again with their volunteer effort) vetting research bids, providing decisive feedback which can then be relayed back to applicants often to the betterment of their research bid. This is all bench-marked against our Research Strategy https://lnkd.in/egfY3Hid and this RAC 'vetting process' informs trustees on how best to award (when merited) research funding. And not forgetting our high-profile patron Robert Penn who has joined us on many a ride, including the countless number of cyclists over the years that have raised sponsorship, joining us on our rides in cities up and down the country. And of course yes, those companies/individuals that are signed-up to our donation schemes https://lnkd.in/e5Md7B7X A big Thank You to them all. So yes, the bike rides, school workshops and our striking logo…but there’s a lot more to F4T going on behind the scenes. https://lnkd.in/ev47en2p https://lnkd.in/e5Md7B7X #arboriculture #urbantrees #urbanforestry

It is Bees’ Needs Week 2024 : 8 to 14 July 2024 🐝❤️ Bees’ Needs Week is an annual event coordinated by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), working alongside a host of organisations such as conservation groups, businesses, and charities. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the importance of #pollinators, and share ideas, actions and activities that highlight the ways in which everyone can help #bees and other pollinators to thrive. There are 5 simple actions that anyone can take to help pollinators: 1. Grow more #Nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees. Using window or balcony boxes are good options if you don’t have a garden. 2. Let patches of garden and land grow wild. 3. Cut grass less often. 4. Do not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots. 5. Think carefully about whether to use pesticides. #pollinatorconservation #worthingbees #healthybees #saveourbees #pollinatorpioneers

Volunteers Week 2024 🫶🏼 This week is National Volunteers Week -time for us to celebrate the amazing contribution people make to the community. 🙌🏽 Volunteering was a gift to me after I moved abroad. It is something embedded in Western societies: it is made a lot more accessible and possible than it was in Hungary (maybe just life struggle was too draining, or I was too young and didn't care to do it? not sure). Either way, volunteering became a big part of my life since 2015. A few great experiences I had, just in case you need ideas: - Sundays in Durrell Zoo: I truly miss being surrounded by animals🐻, cleaning up their areas💩, food prep, or manning butterfly house 🦋 - Bat monitoring: I fell in love with bats big time while in Jersey, so recording their sounds and monitoring bats was a great experience 🦇 -Water testing in Citizen Science Program in Jersey: shocking but hugely important results... Let's not even mention water quality and sewage spillage going on in UK (disgrace)💩 - Sussex Wildlife Trust: I enjoy the HIT squad days clearing hedges, wood chopping, planting native wildflowers or litter picking🚯 - Brighton Permaculture Trust: orchard planting in hail and gale force wind wasn't on my list but I did enjoy it nevertheless! 🍎🌳 - Parkrun: the thing is I am NOT a runner, just tackling a beginners-course, but I either join as marshal (cheering) or tail-walker.🏃🏽♂️➡️ - I try and join lot of beach cleans organised by Leave No Trace, Marine Conservation Society, the Sussex Dolphin Project (their boat trips are fab by the way, if you haven't been yet!) 🐬 I know a lot of people who help other charities, support wonderful initiatives and are doing great things. Huge thank you to all of those who dedicate time and effort to volunteer!👏🏼 Share your volunteering experiences- maybe someone else is just looking for inspiration. Volunteering actually helped me hugely when I struggled with my mental health: so can highly recommend it as a remedy. It gives purpose, perspective, and it is a joyful focus time. 🫂 #volunteersweek #volunteering #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

Why did I plant my plants over the Easter hols❓ 🩳 (they are not my pants, there's another story there, but for another day... ⁠) It's because we're joining in with The Country Trust "Plant Your Pants" campaign to bring awareness of soil health. Their sponsor Hiscox 🌟 And you can join in too. It's a great one for the kiddies to get involved in, not that Hil needed that excuse to get her trowel out and get digging. 😁⁠ You're never too old for a bit of pant planting. Getting up afterwards might be tricky as you'll see at the end of the little video but all for a good cause and an interesting one at that too...read on. ⁠ As The Country Trust say on their website:⁠ ⁠ "Why are people planting pants?⁠ Soil is one of the most underrated wonders of the world - key to tackling many of the most significant issues we face today: climate change, how to feed our growing population, mitigating floods and creating new medicines. Yet we know so little about it."⁠ ⁠ You can read more on their website. ⁠ ⁠ 📢 We also think you'll be pleased to know that at the end of April we will be teaming up with The Country Trust as our Guest trundl charity because we were so inspired by our meeting with Victoria Fletcher, their Fundraising Relationship Manager. The work they do in schools to bring children to farms who would never get the chance was really inspiring. ⁠ In their words again:⁠⁠ "We believe every child should discover first-hand the connections between the food they eat, their own health and the health of the planet .⁠ ⁠ Through food, farming and countryside experiences we aim to empower children to be confident, curious and create change in their lives so that they and society can thrive.⁠ ⁠ So, keep your eyes peeled for The Country Trust trundl... now that's got a nice ring to it hasn't it?⁠ #thecountrytrust #trundl #fromfarmtofork #sustainability #ecofriendly #csrinitiatives #csr #farming #collabs ⁠ ⁠

I learned a new skill - ‘Scything’ 🌾 My team had their annual volunteering day at Beetle Bank Farm today - every NFU Mutual employee is entitled to take part in one, and it’s a great opportunity to get outdoors, help local projects, and do some team-building! We had a great day, the weather was much better than anticipated, and although I’m probably going to ache like hell tomorrow, it was a very rewarding experience 🫶🏼 Here are some benefits to scything vs more modern techniques: 🌱It helps to protect biodiversity 🌱It promotes mindfulness 🌱It is less disruptive to wildlife 🌱It is easier to create habitat diversity 🌱It allows selective mowing 🌱It has better accessibility 🌱It has lower health and safety risks 🌱It is a good form of exercise Now I’m not saying that scything is an appropriate option for all agricultural needs, however it is making a comeback, and certainly has it’s own advantages for some forms of grassland management! #NFUMutal #Volunteering #GreatPlaceToWork #GrowWild #ScythingTheWay

The primary purpose of the Te Mamaku Native Corridor Project is to create a link from the Moutere Inlet to the Waimea Estuary with a native corridor for biodiversity, migrating birds and insects. This, in turn, will enhance the experience of the Dicker Ridge walking and cycling track. As part of the Tasman Area Community Association, the Te Mamaku team seeks further financial support for this ambitious project on the eastern side of SH60 between Tasman and Māpua. Planting began in 2022 with the success of 14,000 trees thriving in the first 3.4 hectares. A further 3.8 hectares have recently been cleared of pest trees and plants, ready for planting another 16,000 trees. Major sponsors have been Lottery Environment and Heritage, Rātā Foundation, Trees That Count, Pub Charity, NZMCA and Nelson Building Society, plus grants from Tasman District Council and Network Tasman. Private donations, assistance from contractors, plus hundreds of hours of passion and energy from 90 local volunteers have contributed to the success of the project. Wide praise for enhancing local biodiversity has come from Department of Conservation, Forest and Bird, Restoring the Moutere (Tasman Environment Trust), Landcare Trust and Ngāti Rārua. This evolving prominence in Tasman District has resulted in the sponsorship of a further 6,400 trees as part of New Zealand’s gift to celebrate King Charles III Coronation. Current contributions mean a total of 9,300 trees will be planted in 2024. With a target of $20,000 this year, whatever you can contribute will help. To make a tax-deductible contribution, go to tinyurl.com/2e9nfxez.