GET INVOLVED
There are so many ways to get involved with helping to make the River Colne a nicer, healthier place for all its inhabitants, whether human or animal. Take a look below to discover what's going in the near future, and ways you can get involved .
GET ACTIVE
Dates: 5th to 26th January - Wednesdays, 10:30am-12:00pm
Location: Oxhey Activity Park car park, Watford, WD18 0HS
About: Let’s get active and meet new people!
In the past two years, everyone’s health (both physically and mentally) has been impacted, so we’re running a series of sessions to get you active and social outside.
During the sessions you’ll meet like-minded people from the local area, and together we’ll walk from one park to another, before doing a warm-up and getting your heart rate up in a beginner’s fitness circuit!
All of this will take place in a park along the beautiful River Colne. You don’t need to bring any equipment; just wear clothes you can exercise comfortably in and a reusable water bottle.
Meet by Oxhey Activity Park car park at 10.30am.
To find out more:
Email: sarah.hughes@groundwork.org.uk
Tel: 07774 611 212
Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/get-active-tickets-227025538497
RIVER COLNE OUTFALL POLLUTION WALK
Date and Time: 30th January 2022, 1pm - 2:30pm
Location: Knutsford Playing Fields - Meet at Bushey Mill Lane, by the bridge.
Map: https://w3w.co/soon.loud.sparks
About:
Come along to Knutsford Playing Fields to discover more about the issue of pollution along the River Colne and how you can play your part to help improve the quality of the river.
Bring suitable clothing and footwear for winter walking (wellies or hiking boots).
Want to know more about the pollution on the River Colne and how we can identify issues to do with discharge and waste water? The Colne Valley Fisheries Consultative will be running a walk and talk starting from Knutsford Playing Fields.
Email: andrew.mackay@groundwork.org.uk
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/outfall-pollution-walk-tickets-228955912297
GET ACTIVE WITH GREEN GYM SESSIONS
Days and Times: Tuesday and Thursday, 10am-1pm
Location: Meet at Watford Rugby Club, Radlett Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 4JL. Activities are carried out over different locations along the River Colne
About:
Run twice weekly, Green gym is a volunteer-led group who run a range of conservation activities along the River Colne.
Green Gym is free for anyone to join in, and make a difference in their local community. The activities suit all ranges of fitness, with activities including everyone from gentle weeding to coppicing trees.
To book a session, get in contact:
Email: watfordgg@outlook.com
Tel: 07935989890
RIVER COLNE ART EXHIBITION
Dates: Exhibition to be hosted in February 2022. Competition entries to be handed in at specified dates - to be announced.
Location: Watford Museum
About:
Design and create artwork to celebrate the River Colne and its natural surroundings. Using any medium you prefer - whether that's graphic design, water colours or sculptures! Get creative and use it as an opportunity to explore your local surroundings.
Open to everyone – people of any age, and any experience. Enter your artwork to be displayed in Watford Museum throughout February 2022, in conjunction with a history of the River Colne exhibition.
January 2022 hand-in dates for artwork will be confirmed when entrants send digital copy of artwork to the Groundwork East contact.
To find out more:
Email: emily.evans@groundwork.org.uk
LITTER WALK, TALK AND PICK
Date and Time: Postponed until February: new dates to be announced soon.
Location:
Lairage Land – meet at North end of Stripling Way.
Map: https://w3w.co/random.bring.basic
Riverside Park - meet at Riverside Road entrance
Map: https://w3w.co/wages.relate.lodge
Knutsford Playing Fields - meet at Rugby Club car park
Map: https://w3w.co/valley.decks.crops
About:
Litter Walk, Talk and Pick!
Groundwork East will be running three sessions along the River Colne, where you can come to help make a difference litter picking, whilst getting in some exercise and meeting new people. No experience necessary, all welcome. Bring suitable clothing and footwear for winter walking (wellies or hiking boots). PPE will be provided (gloves and litter pickers).
Fancy making a difference in the New Year? Three litter walk, talk and picks will be running in green spaces along the River Colne. Improve your physical and mental health and help improve the environment of the River Colne at the same time!
To learn more:
Email: andrew.mackay@groundwork.org.uk
Link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/river-litter-picks-tickets-227074966337
RIVER AND PARK CONSERVATION WALK
Date and Time: Postponed until February: new dates to be announced soon.
Location: Oxhey Park, Eastbury Rd, Watford, WD18 0HZ
About:
Do you want to hear how you can be involved in a local community group to help maintain a local park and the River Colne?
Learn how Community Connections CIC and Friends of Oxhey park community group run conservation activities and litter picks to maintain the local green space. The group aim to make the park a safer and welcoming space for families and anyone who wishes to enjoy their local area.
Meet at Oxhey Activity Park Carpark 10am.
Wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing.
For more information:
Email: emily.evans@groundwork.org.uk
Tel: 07809203330
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/river-and-park-conservation-walk-tickets-230382429047
WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO
Below you'll find all of the finished events that we've held throughout Try-January. If there's an event that you enjoyed and would like to see again, or that you missed but are keen to take part in, email andrew.mackay@groundwork.org.uk.
MINDFULNESS WITH MINDFUL HERTS
Dates: 10th and 17th January 2022 - Mondays 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Knutsford Playing Fields, Radlett Rd, Watford, WD24 4LL
About:
Would you like to learn practical ways of reducing stress and being in the present to block out everyday noise?
In partnership with Mindful Herts, we are running two mindfulness walks to help reduce the effects of anxiety and stress. There will be warming exercises before we begin our walk, for which we will draw inspiration from the River Colne.
Meet by the rugby club.
To book:
Email: emily.evans@groundwork.org.uk
Tel: 07809203330
Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mindfulness-with-mindful-herts-tickets-231507163157
HERTS & MIDDLESEX WILDLIFE TRUST WILDLIFE TALK
Dates: Tuesday 11 January 2022, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Online (link below)
About:
Come explore your local wildlife!
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are hosting a 60 minute Q&A talk to about local water birds (wildfowl) such as geese and moorhens.
The session is aimed at adults and keen young naturalists!
This is a part of Rediscovering the River Colne programme funded by Watford Borough Council. It is a 10-year programme with 3 years of community engagement to improve the relationship between local residents and their local water system.
To find out more, or to sign-up:
www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2022-01-11-winter-wildfowl-colne-valley-online
WHAT LURKS BENEATH: INVERTEBRATE ID
Date and Time: 13th January 2022, 11am-12:30pm
Location: Knutsford Playing Fields, meeting at the Rugby Club car park.
Map: https://w3w.co/valley.decks.crops
About:
Come along to Knutsford Playing Fields to discover the invertebrate life that calls the River Colne home!
There will be an opportunity to learn the basics of freshwater invertebrate identification, using identification guides and hand lenses. You will also be introduced to some of the weird and wonderful adaptations of some of the River Colne’s smallest inhabitants and why it is important to protect them!
Bring suitable clothing and footwear for winter walking (wellies or hiking boots).
Want to know more about the wildlife of the River Colne and how what we find in the river can tell us about its health? Groundwork East will be running a session in Knutsford Playing Fields, as an introduction to the invertebrate life you can find in the river, and how to identify it.
No experience necessary.
HALF-TERM WILDPLAY SESSIONS
Days and Times: Monday 14th - Friday 18th February 2022, 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Oxhey Park, Eastbury Rd, Watford, WD18 0HZ (Meet at Tasty bean cafe near the bridge)
About:
Open to young children under 8 years of age.
Free activity sessions focused on wildlife exploration, creativity with nature and getting active to burn off some energy - all based around the most popular children's story books!
To find out more:
Email: emily.evans@groundwork.org.uk
Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wildplay-oxhey-park-tickets-216325504407
INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES INTRODUCTORY WALK
Date and Time: 18 January 2022, 10-11am
Location: Knutsford Playing Fields, Radlett Road, Watford
About:
An hour walk on Invasive Non-native species (INNS); how they impact the River Colne in Watford and how you can get involved in helping tackle the issue of INNS as part of the Rediscovering the River Colne project.
Meet at the rugby club for 10am. Wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing.
Want to get involved in conservation activities on the River Colne and find out more about what issues there are with invasive non-native species on the river? This introductory walk hosted by Community Connections CIC and Groundwork East will detail the issues, culprits and what more you can do to help tackle the problems that they cause.
Email: andrew.mackay@groundwork.org.uk
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introductory-walk-on-non-native-invasive-species-tickets-230337434467
INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES ONLINE TALK
Date and Time: 20 January 2022, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Knutsford Playing Fields, Radlett Road, Watford
About:
An hour online webinar on Invasive Non-native species (INNS); how they impact the River Colne in Watford and how you can get involved in helping tackle the issue of INNS as part of the Rediscovering the River Colne project.
Want to get involved in conservation activities on the River Colne and find out more about what issues there are with invasive non-native species on the river? This online webinar hosted by Community Connections CIC and Groundwork East will detail the issues, culprits and what more you can do to help tackle the problems that they cause.
Email: andrew.mackay@groundwork.org.uk
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/river-colne-invasive-non-native-species-talk-tickets-228975019447