At-risk park workers are our guides to the great outdoors

Published: 28 January, 2011

• GILLESPIE Park Ecology Centre staff jobs are at risk. I am so worried for them as that park needs staff to run it, to help prevent vandalism and to help all of us better understand the great outdoors. 

Over the years I’ve learned how to identify trees from the bark, built bird boxes, seen my first slow worm and been to all the amazing festivals. 

The staff help organise that festival – who else could have the time? 

They are patient and skilled. Gillespie Park has a coveted green flag, which will be lost without that supervision, and who will organise the volunteers on Thursdays?

I spend at least 15 minutes in the park each day, walking to school, and over the years have seen dragonflies, frogs, a fox, several herons and a kingfisher there. 

My husband and I were married in the Ecology Centre, my eldest daughter has had many birthday parties in the meadow, introducing her friends to nature games and demonstrating that eating a picnic of birthday cake is fun on the grass, and doesn’t need to be expensive either. 

Study after study shows the benefits for children of outdoor play away from traffic. It’s good for adults too. 

Please be aware that running a nature park needs staff. I feel certain there could be an improved income stream at the park if we found a way to run a café when Arsenal were playing.

Locals are not trained or skilled enough to run 

Gillespie Park, to spot and record the wildlife, help with habitat making or share the info about energy efficiency that our Ecology Centre staff provide. 

The greatest loss to the borough will be losing the things that seem so incidental – nature care and the shared animal experience at Freightliners Farm.

NICOLA BAIRD
N4