The hidden ‘Foraging Garden’ that adjoins Washington Close is experiencing it’s first summer as a green space that can be accessed by local residents and used as a community venue.  

In June families were able to take part in an Essex Book Festival event that combined history, nature and local attractions in one story where participants were challenged to discover who an old gold ring could have been found at the base of tree that had recently been cut down.  

Volunteers also had the opportunity to come together for the evening of the Summer Solstice.  This is our second such event and they are a relaxing way to acknowledge the natural environment and the changing seasons.  A combination of food, good company, a bit of music and singing are wonderful ingredients for a few hours in nature.

Recently, we launched the Tiny Gallery on-site. It is a temporary display of art inspired by nature, land, or climate change. Located at the far end of the site in our sharing shelter (where the books and seed swap is held), there are several frames ready for your artwork and for others to enjoy and be inspired. The Environmental Art Exhibition will remain until 15th September.

Finally, we are delighted that the Maldon In Bloom Committee chose OWLS to receive a new award in their annual competition.  The Flo Shaunessy Award is specifically created for sites that demonstrate passion for the environment and sustainability that Maldon’s former Mayor was so keen to instil in the community before she sadly passed away earlier this year.  Many of us knew Flo and she would have loved the Wild Space so it makes the award even more special. 

June’s Heybridge & Maldon Climate Action Partnership (HMCAP) meeting brought together a host of good news, exciting events, and forward-thinking ideas to support climate action and community wellbeing across Heybridge and Maldon.

With a busy summer of environmental and community-focused HMCAP events already underway, this month’s meeting reminded us to celebrate just how much positive impact a small grassroots group can achieve. We often remind ourselves to ‘Think Global, Act Local’ as this is where we can make the most difference.

Monthly work parties continue to be held at the Our Local Wild Space (OWLS) community Foraging garden, where nature is thriving and visitors are able to access a local green space on foot. The site also hosted a Summer Solstice gathering, a lovely event which invites residents to come together to celebrate the seasons changing and to be reminded of how important nature, the land, and natural resources would have been to our ancestors

We are fortunate to have local wildlife expert, John Buchannan, as one of our members. He, along with the team from the Ironworks Meadow Nature Reserve, ran a successful Family & Community Nature Day. John has been a driving force in the conversion of this once- neglected land, located close to the local Tesco supermarket, into a thriving biodiverse meadow. HMCAP supported the day by providing additional activities that complemented the invertebrate identification and pond dipping activities.

Our second People Planet Pints on 3 rd July was held at the Datum Attitude Tap room in Heybridge and was not only a great social night out but also provided an opportunity for people across the Maldon District to gather informally to share their own projects, interests and ambitions in green matters. We hope to run more events in the future so please keep your eye out for future dates.

Our Environmental Arts group eARTh did a fantastic job at the recent Burnham Arts Trail. This is the second year they have attended and were fortunate to be part of the Arts on the Quay offering this year. Ellious, Kate & Hattie created a collaborative artwork of small banners that, when combined, will provide a backdrop for future events. If anyone would like to join the local Maldon Craftivist Group, please get in touch and we can arrange for you to contribute to the final piece.

Finally, HMCAP will have a stall at Ufest, Maldon District’s largest community festival, on Friday 15 th August, 11am – 4pm at Promenade Park. If you would like to learn more about the group and have a chat please pop along. HMCAP meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at Brickhouse Farm in Maldon. For anyone wanting to get involved — whether at events or behind the scenes — all are welcome.

Heybridge and Maldon are both rich in natural resources and hidden gems but like family members it’s easy to take them for granted. It’s a privilege to live here, it has its quirks but that adds to the culture and sense of place. Knowing what your ‘home’ sounds and even smells like is grounding. 

Our home needs help though and it’s not hard to see. So how do you make a difference in a way that brings communities together and improves the natural environment? Ideally in a way where no one gets upset and everyone feels brave enough to come clean about being green. Most people are greener than they think they are and strangely many people think they are the only ones who care about the environment. 

The Heybridge and Maldon Climate Action Partnership has community at its core, the projects and future campaigns follow the needs of land and water that surrounds our combined homes, and they go through a process to ensure that we have the best chance of success.

 We know that we need to make changes and those small changes from individuals won’t be enough to keep our climate stable globally, but change doesn’t happen overnight, and it won’t happen unless we work together. A brief search on Google will provide a plethora of ways to make a difference and even a title ‘Change Maker’. Most people who want to make their community a better place do not want or need a title, all they want is people to help them, and make the move from supporting behind a screen to actively doing and supporting in person.  

There is one model that has stood the test of time. Head, Heart and Hands and if its good enough for Sir David Attenborough it's worth a go! If you love it and it makes you feel good, learn more about it, the more you know about it the more you are likely to protect it. If you love making a difference and want to learn more about what you can do, come and join us.

By Jo Phillips, Chair of the Heybridge and Maldon Climate Action Partnership

The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation which runs from Heybridge Basin to Chelmsford is a beautiful waterway that is enjoyed by many local residents and visitors. It is a beautiful natural asset that needs to be cared for and protected now and for future generations.  

Construction of The Navigation, which is actually a canalised River, was completed in 1797 and carried various freight traffic until the early 1970s when the Springfield Basin end at Chelmsford gradually declined and became derelict. The navigation silted up and the lock became unusable. 

In 1992 the Chelmsford branch of the Inland Waterways Association took on the restoration of Springfield Basin and worked for over a year until this part of the Navigation was fully restored and operational again. This was a volunteer led project and many volunteers from across the country gave up their free time, learnt new skills such as brick laying and the use of heavy machinery to complete the restoration. This has allowed some urban regeneration in that area with new flats being built looking over the beautiful waterway. 

The Proprietors of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company went into administration after owning and running the Navigation for 200 years.  

In 2005, to prevent the closure and loss of this historic recreational asset The Inland Waterways Association (a registered charity 212342) set up a subsidiary company Essex Waterways Ltd to run and maintain the Navigation. 

Essex Waterways is a ‘not for profit’, company where all revenue raised are spent to maintain and enhance the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. Essex Waterways Ltd is volunteer led and relies heavily on any grant income that is available as well as Revenue derived from boat moorings and licences for canoes and paddle boards and fishing as well as the Kiosk at Heybridge Basin and trip boats. The Navigation also relies on many volunteers from the local area and across the country who carry out maintenance work and crew trip boats etc. 

Hundreds and thousands of people enjoy the Navigation for recreation every year which includes the groups above plus those who walk or swim and enjoy the wildlife. Not everyone is respectful of the environment and can damage locks, banking, leave litter etc. To continue to preserve the environment Essex Waterways Ltd would welcome more volunteers who are prepared to give their time and commitment. If you think you can help in any way, please contact our volunteer Co-ordinator Lucy Pegram Lucy.pegram@waterways.org.uk visit the office at Papermill Lock or call 01245 226245. 

By Rebecca Loader, Chair Inland Waterways Association Chelmsford Branch