In our last update, we shared the exciting news of the official birth of Bentley Green – the consultation, surveys, and vision. Since taking over the management of the Old Rec, we have been absolutely buzzing with activity. Here is a look at what we’ve been up to:
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
We have officially formed our Steering Group, with a fantastic team of volunteers stepping up to form our sub-groups. From the Orchard and Ecology teams to Fundraising and Events, there is a lot of dedicated passion driving this project forward.
Fun, Fundraising & Community Spirit
We’ve hosted a wonderful array of events that have not only brought us together but also raised vital funds through your generous donations. Highlights include:
- The Hidden Gems of Bentley Walks
- Celebrating International Dawn Chorus Day
- Grass and Pollinator Survey Training
We are also incredibly grateful to be named the beneficiary of this year’s Anderson Jones Music Quiz at The Star, with all proceeds generously pledged to support the Bentley Green project.
Our Bentley Station Café is also up and running! We are serving tea, coffee, and pastries to commuters three days a week (Tuesday to Thursday, 6:30 AM – 8:30 AM), with all proceeds going toward the project via donations.
We also want to extend a massive thank you to Mascha Tyrell for kindly hosting a plant sale for us, and to everyone else who has donated their time, skills and money in other ways. Speaking of which, we are selling beautiful greetings cards and postcards featuring key places, people and wildlife of Bentley. You can get yours by emailing bentleywildlife@gmail.com.
Checking in on Local Wildlife
On the ecology front, The Ecology Works has been helping us survey the site. They have set up reptile mats and dormouse tubes to see exactly who is visiting Bentley Green. Gordon Jackson, our Ecology Lead, has also installed hedgehog survey tunnels to see whether these prickly mammals are present on site. Meanwhile, our Orchard sub-group is busy drawing up an exciting design for Bentley Green, which we hope to share very soon, and we’ve been applying for grants to fund everything from an accessibility gate to fruit trees.
Get Involved!
We are incredibly grateful to everyone for their support to date. This is a community project, and we would love for you to be a part of it. Whether you want to get your hands dirty volunteering, or simply want to stay in the loop, please get in touch!
Stay Connected: Email bentleywildlife@gmail.com to join our mailing list for progress updates and news on forthcoming events.
Thank you for helping us make Bentley Green a haven for wildlife and people alike!