Welcome to the Green Angels newsletter, our first for quite some time!
We’re pleased to be back, sharing updates from across the country about everything happening within the Green Angels project. If this is your first time receiving our newsletter, we hope you enjoy this snapshot of our recent activity and the impact of our work. As always, we’d love to hear from you!
Hello from Carolyn Hassall – Green Angels Project Manager
Our new portal is now up and running and already making a real difference. It’s easier than ever to join Green Angels, sign up for activities and training, and see what’s happening both locally and further afield.
We’ve now delivered Green Angels activities atover 20 Land Trust sites across England,working with communities in a wide range of landscapes and green spaces. We’re continuing to expand our offer, with new training opportunities including scything, dry‑stone walling, wild wellbeing, and bushcraft skills.
You may also have noticed that Green Angels has a new look and logo. We hope you like it as much as we do, it reflects how the programme is growing, while staying true to its roots.
“Our new Green Angels Portal is live making it easier than ever to get involved.”
Carolyn Hassall Green Angels Project Manager
Green Angels Portal
You may have noticed some changes to the Green Angels Portal earlier this year. We’ve introduced a fresh new look designed to make it easier to navigate, explore activities, and manage your bookings, all in one place.
You can now register your interest in multiple courses or sessions at the same time.
Simply:
Click on each activity you’re interested in
Add them to your selection (shown below)
Review and remove anything added by mistake
Submit one expression of interest for all selected sessions
Pick an event on the calendar
Upcoming Courses
All About Trees! at Castle Hill – December 2025 Hassall Green Nature Reserve
Thursday16th July – Singing in Harmony
Join us for a relaxed outdoor singing session where you can connect with others, boost your wellbeing, and enjoy music together in nature.
Thursday16th July – Drumming Circle
Enjoy a fun, relaxed drumming session where you can connect with others, boost your wellbeing, and find your rhythm in a supportive outdoor setting.
Thursday16th July – Green Woodworking Club
Get hands‑on with traditional green woodworking, learning practical skills while creating simple items using natural materials in an outdoor setting.
Tuesday28th July – Tarpology
Learn practical outdoor shelter skills as you explore how to set up and use tarps to create safe, adaptable cover in nature.
Warrington
Friday 10th July – Volunteer Session
Join us for a friendly, hands‑on session helping to care for the site while learning new skills and enjoying time outdoors with others.
Friday7th August – Volunteer Session
Join us for a friendly, hands‑on session helping to care for the site while learning new skills and enjoying time outdoors with others.
Saturday15th August – Bugs and Blooms Bonanza (and other Bits) Callands Nature Walk
Discover the wonders of local wildlife on a guided nature walk, exploring insects, wildflowers, and the hidden details that make Callands Nature Reserve so special.
Saturday 22nd August – Late Summer Nature Stroll at Bewsey
Enjoy a gentle guided walk through Bewsey, exploring late‑summer wildlife and taking time to connect with nature in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Other Sites
Monday6th July – Curved Dry Stone Bench at South Yorkshire
Learn traditional stonework skills as you help create a curved bench, combining practical techniques with creativity in an outdoor setting.
Monday13th July – Beginner Scything at Haig
Learn the basics of scything in this hands‑on session, building confidence in this traditional land management skill while working outdoors.
Saturday18th July – Wildlife Photography at Beaulieu
Develop your photography skills and learn how to capture wildlife creatively, from composition to observing nature in its natural setting.
Tuesday4th August – Beginner Scything at South Yorkshire
Learn the basics of scything in this hands‑on session, building confidence in this traditional land management skill while working outdoors.
Residential Services and Green Angels
Pots, Plots and Pollinators at Marleigh – April 2026
The Land Trust manages a wide range of green spaces across the country. Many of our sites have traditionally been large country parks or previously industrial landscapes, carefully transformed into welcoming, high‑quality places for people to enjoy.
More recently, we’ve taken on the management of green spaces within residential developments, working more closely with local communities in a direct and responsive way. These neighbourhood green spaces play an important role in everyday life, and we’re proud to support both their care and the communities who use them.
Green Angels on residential estates
Green Angels is now active across a number of residential sites, including:
Prince Philip Park, Hampshire
Beaulieu, Chelmsford
Linmere, Bedfordshire
Marleigh, Cambridgeshire
Our activities are designed to help residents connect with nature, learn new skills, and build stronger community relationships.
Looking ahead
We’re really enjoying working within these residential communities and learning what works best in each unique setting.
Your ideas and feedback are important to us, and we’d love to hear how we can continue to develop and improve what we offer. If you have suggestions or inspiration for future activities, please complete our resident survey here.
Spotlight on Linmere
Introduction to Organic Growing at Linmere – March 2026
Our first Green Angels course at Linmere took place in March 2026, just as the growing season was beginning. Led by Chris Collins, former Blue Peter gardener, the session brought together residents keen to learn new skills and get hands‑on in the community growing space.
Despite the cold and wet weather, spirits were high as everyone worked together to prepare the plot for the months ahead. The focus of the day was on the foundations of successful growing, starting with healthy soil. Participants learned how to build a compost bay using reclaimed pallets, highlighting the value of reuse and recycling, and how nourishing the soil helps plants to thrive.
To finish the session, everyone potted up their own vegetable plants to take home, giving them the opportunity to continue their growing journey beyond the community plot.
DIY Nature ID: Apps, Books & Podcasts
Wildlife on your doorstep at Beam Parklands – June 2026
With summer underway, it’s a great time to get outside and practise your species identification skills. Nature is at its most active, making it ideal for spotting plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.
You can explore and put these skills into action at your nearest Land Trust site, just head to Visit The Land Trust to find a space near you.
Identifying plants and wildlife is a great way to deepen your understanding of nature, support environmental research, and enjoy mindful time outdoors.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a selection of free apps, trusted books, and inspiring podcasts.
Free identification apps
These apps are a great way to build confidence and curiosity. You can find them on your mobile app store.
Take photos or audio recordings of wildlife and upload them with the date and location. The app helps identify species and allows you to contribute to environmental research, your observations can support planning, conservation, and policy. You can also take part in local nature projects and challenges.
A brilliant companion for bird lovers of all levels. Merlin can identify birds from photos, sounds, or by answering a few simple questions. You can even record birdsong and receive real‑time suggestions.
While not designed specifically for nature identification, Google Lens is a simple and powerful tool. Upload a photo to receive suggested matches and links to further information.
Please note: Apps are a helpful guide but not always 100% accurate, it’s always worth cross‑checking where possible.
Ideal for visual learners and those new to fungi. Featuring over 3,000 species and an easy‑to‑use guide system, it’s both accessible and beautifully illustrated.
A practical guide covering over 600 species, including rare visitors. With thousands of photos and helpful comparisons, it suits both beginners and more experienced birders.
A multi‑award‑winning UK podcast promoting inclusive and accessible birding. With a mix of conservationists, presenters, and photographers, it’s engaging for all experience levels.
A reflective podcast about slowing down, noticing everyday nature, and reconnecting with the wild, perfect if you’re interested in wellbeing and mindfulness.
From the renowned Knepp Estate in West Sussex, this podcast explores rewilding, species recovery, and ecological thinking. Widely recommended by conservation professionals.
Help us keep improving
Kinship in Nature at Hassall Green Nature Reserve – June 2026
Green Angels is always evolving, shaped by the people we work with and the landscapes we care for. We’re committed to creating high‑quality experiences that help you build a stronger connection with the natural world.
Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us do this well.
We set aside time at the end of each course or workshop for you to complete a short feedback form, either on your phone or on paper, whichever you prefer.
The insights you share help guide our future activities and shape how the programme continues to grow.
