E-Newsletter
Issue 1: Autumn 2009
Welcome
I am incredibly happy to be writing to you in the first e-newsletter of our new, national Mosaic project! The process of finding funding for this third phase of Mosaic started a long time ago and we would not have been able to secure it without the help of our Champions – your successes over the years proved how valuable Mosaic is and shaped the new project. So first of all, thank you! And to new Champions, welcome to Mosaic!
Nurjahan Ali Arobi, Ben Fogle, Huw Irranca-Davies & Kathy Moore at the launch copyright Mosaic (credit Victor de Jesus).
This Mosaic project is new and improved. Eight years since our first pilot events, we have learned a lot and fine tuned what we do. With each National Park in England on board now, a target of recruiting 200 Champions in 20 cities and a staff team of six, the family is bigger than ever – the Annual Events will be great fun, I’m sure!
We had the formal launch of Mosaic in the Yorkshire Dales in July, and the start of the project has led to plenty of positive media coverage. For example, Countryfile did an 8-minute segment on Mosaic, the Times Magazine did a cover-page feature article, and only a few weeks ago the BBC One Show did a report on Mosaic. Our profile and reputation is growing.
To celebrate the start of Mosaic, the Campaign for National Parks will be offering each Champion a free 1-year trial membership worth £20. You’ll be getting a letter later in September asking you to respond if you would like to take advantage of this offer.
As you’ll see this newsletter is vastly improved as well, and I hope you will enjoy it. As always, please do get in touch with any comments or contributions.
Nina Arwitz
Mosaic Programme Manager
The Mosaic launch from a Dales perspective by Bill Wood, Outreach and Education Manager.
Playing host to such a significant occasion was always going to be both an honour and a delight for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and in the event, everything confirmed our hopes.
A walk in Hawes after the launch copyrigh Mosaic (credit Victor de Jesus).
What pleasure there was in joining together with volunteers, staff and members from so many partner organisations, from past and current initiatives, all those who have given so much, to affirm their collective commitment to promoting National Parks for everyone.
How inspiring it was to hear each speaker on the day - the minister himself, the CNP president Ben Fogle, the YDNPA Chief Executive and crucially the voice of a Mosaic Community Champion, Nurjahan Ali Arobi - confirming her heart-felt support for Mosaic and personal passion for National Parks.
And a really special touch, getting together with people from every area of the project, to do what Mosaic is really about and take in a bit of the ‘specialness’ of the Yorkshire Dales on a short stroll, together with old friends and the chance to meet some new ones. How good was that? We didn’t even need the summer.
The Mosaic launch: Thoughts from Yvonne Whitter, Community Champion.
Wednesday morning was tropic clear and I was feeling very cold, yet I was excited about my first visit to Yorkshire Dales and to be a part of the celebration.
Yvonne Whitter talking to Ben Fogle at the launch, copyright Mosaic (credit Victor de Jesus).
Mosaic has helped me gain valuable experience in orienting and map reading and skills in organising group walks and other activities.
The speakers were very encouraging and I was really inspired by Nurjahan who continues to engage with her community and work positively with other organisations to promote Mosaic.
My greatest moment was meeting Ben Fogle. I was delighted when I was asked to do a photo shoot with him. We had a lovely chat about my role as a Community Champion and shared some ideas and a few tips about walking footwear.
I enjoyed the guided walk with Bill Wood, who shared with us some history about the local area. As a result I have suggested a trip to Hawes for my walking group as there are many places of interest such as the local museum, the rope factory and the Wensleydale Creamery.
The day was well spent and I thought to myself, “I shall return” as I waved goodbye with my delicious portions of Wensleydale chives & onion, apricot and blue cheeses!
The Mosaic launch – a reflection by Zahid Hamid, Mosaic Project Officer.
As I collected my first Community Champion at 7.15am, I relaxed and realised the Mosaic launch was going to be ok. After days of helping to organise the event, I was looking forward to meeting colleagues and seeing Champions I had last seen over a year ago at the Annual Event in Whitby.
Community Champions and Ben Fogle at the launch, copyright Mosaic (credit Victor de Jesus).
I also wondered whether the Minister and Ben Fogle would be ready to meet our not so shy and reserved Community Champions.
I was not disappointed! The Dales Countryside Museum was welcoming and the staff, as always, very helpful. Interest from bemused public visitors, David Butterworth on good form and the joy of seeing the Champions fully engaging with the speakers made it an excellent day. The official (and unofficial) photo shoots (click here) captured the essence of a successful event for me.
Thanks to all the Champions for making it a great day.
Introducing the ‘Mosaic 15’ by David Rolls, Mosaic Research Officer.
Young people from Plymouth gave Bellever YHA wildlife area a timely makeover. Armed with fencing pliers, hammers and slashers they tackled the task with relish.
Youth group taster on Dartmoor, copyright Mosaic (credit D.Rolls).
The hostel provided the ideal venue for a ‘Dartmoor taster’ where they could see first-hand what the National Park had to offer. In the afternoon they encountered Dartmoor ponies thanks to the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. The day was a great success as Michael Gomes summarised “It is wonderful to be out on Dartmoor. On a day like today the views are amazing”.
The event was organised by Mosaic in collaboration with Plymouth Environmental Action (PEA) and Dartmoor National Park Authority. It was one of many tasters to recruit the ‘Mosaic 15’ - fifteen 16-25 year old young champions living in deprived areas in the South West. Through this 1-year pilot project, we hope to determine if and how Mosaic could also be used to engage young people with the National Parks.
The hostel manager Garry Hayman remarked “It was a pleasure to meet and work with a group of enthusiastic young people from such a wide variety of backgrounds. I sincerely hope that the volunteering work they carried out in our wildlife area was as rewarding for them as it was for us”.
If you would like to know about this work please contact David Rolls.
Music, Dance & the New Forest at the Southampton Mela by Clare Taylor, Mosaic Project Officer.
Despite occasional showers 20,000 people enjoyed the 7th Southampton Mela in July, which included a New Forest National Park stand for the first time.
Sue Palma, New Forest NPA Education Officer at the Mela, copyright Mosaic (credit C.Taylor).
Information leaflets translated in seven languages were read by visitors to the stand. We spoke to around 180 people and were busy from the moment the stall was set up, until the rain caused the audience to melt away in the early evening.
The Mela is a free event organised by a Southampton-based organisation Art Asia. The crowds were a visible demonstration of its popularity and it was a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the New Forest and Mosaic in an urban setting.
It was no surprise to discover that, although many people had visited the New Forest, most had only been once or twice. It was especially heartening to hear that 2 people had already heard of Mosaic.
It was a long day but our presence at the Mela was invaluable in terms of the contacts made, the people spoken with and the wonderful vegetarian food.
If you would like to know about Mosaic in the south please contact Clare Taylor.
Competition
Community Champions, we want to hear from you! Do you have a much-loved location you want to share with others? If so, please complete this sentence, ‘My favourite place in (insert the name of the relevant National Park) is...’
The best entries will feature on the website and one lucky winner will receive a prize worth up to £25.
Entries no longer than 200 words please and to be submitted by Friday 30th October 2009. You can enter via email or by post at the address below.
Save the date
The 2-day residential Annual Event will take place in the Lake District on Friday 19th-Sunday 21st March 2010. Places will be limited and on a first come first served basis. More information will follow, put the date in your diaries now!
Invitation
Campaign for National Parks invites you to join them for a celebratory walk with President Ben Fogle in the beautiful South Downs on Saturday 17 October 2009. For more information follow this link.
Events diary
Wednesday 2nd September
Northumberland National Park
Cost: Free, no booking required. Click here for more information.
Meet at National Park Centre at Once Brewed - on the B6318 Military Road, Hadrian's Wall. OS grid reference: NY 753 669 (OL43)
Join a National Park Voluntary Ranger for a 4.3mile long walk along Hadrian’s Wall above Crag Lough, returning by the footpath to the north for impressive views of the wall.
Sunday 6th September
Northumberland National Park
Cost: Free, no booking required. Click here for more information.
Meet at Walltown National Park Picnic Site - on the B6318 Military Road, Hadrian's Wall, near Greenhead. OS grid reference: NY 669 659 (OL43)
Route patrol on Hadrian’s Wall. Accompany a National Park Volunteer Ranger on a 7 mile route patrol of Hadrian's Wall checking the footpaths and signposts are in order and hearing the stories about forts and castles along the way.
For more information about upcoming events around the National Parks, please click here.
