Flo’s – The Place in the Park is working with The Nature Effect CIC to create opportunities for grandparents to meet and enjoy nature with their grandchildren. The Nature Effect CIC has received £2,500 funding from The National Lottery Community Fund for our joint outdoors work with grandparents. The funds will be used to create
shelter within the NaturEscape site in Florence Park and enable the new grandparents’ group and other groups to use the site throughout the year.
Victoria Billington, Family and Community worker at Flo’s, said “After a brilliant morning bug hunting and planting flowers in the NaturEscape with the Grandparent’s group, it has been so lovely to welcome local grandparents and their little ones back to the community space at Flo’s. Exploring the NaturEscape and enjoying crafts will be a great way to bring together groups that have spent so much time apart in the last few years. We look forward to getting a shelter constructed in the NaturEscape so we can do even more outdoor activities in the winter.”
“Working with the Nature Effect CIC will help us safely explore the space and enjoy the outdoors throughout the year,, which means we can help even more families share this precious time together and learn about the world around us. We are lucky to have a local grandparent, Jane Fisher, who has been the inspiration behind this initiative. We are looking to make this a weekly group and invite all grandparents to join – with or without their grandchildren in tow.”
Many grandparents have been separated from their grandchildren over the course of the pandemic and there is continued concern about spread of infection. Meeting outdoors reduces that risk and has additional benefits to physical and mental health.
Many local families rely on childcare from grandparents, as childcare for children under three years old is costly and parents struggle to return to work without help from their extended families.
The next Grandparents group is on Friday 12 November, from 10.30am to 12/noon in the NaturEscape. It is free of charge but donations for refreshments are welcome. Flo’s would love to see you there.
Flo’s – The Place in the Park, Rymers Lane, Oxford OX4 3JZ
