Bankside Open Spaces Trust is an environmental and volunteering charity working to provide outstanding green spaces and outdoor activities. Instagram @bostse1
Hi all, we're letting the sun set on our X account - we're no longer posting to this site. You can keep up to date with all things Bankside Open Spaces Trust via our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages. We also use Bluesky. bost.org.uk/
ALT A low sun over Red Cross Garden, highlighting spikey green plants, soft lavender and round hedges. A tree rises up to the right and there's an old stone pillar in among the lavender.
"Places like @BOSTSE1 Marlborough Sports Garden are the underpinning lifeblood of the capital. And it is on us, business the wider community to ensure they thrive, develop continue to provide us with small areas of joy in this concrete jungle - @CityAMcityam.com/marlborough-sport…
Although it is bitterly cold & frosty, frogs are still out there. They brumate in ponds, compost heaps, or under logs, emerging on unusually warm days to search for food or somewhere to breed.
📷 Frog in snow, (2020) Available at: ow.ly/fxSU50UFgRh [Accessed: 11/01/25]
Festive fun at the @BOSTSE1 Winter Warmer this week in Red Cross Garden 🎄☃️🏮
Some impressive wreath making on display, live music - and lots of yummy mince pies!
Thanks to the BOST team for putting on such a great event
#Borough and #Bankside
We're celebrating 30 years of @TNLUK today. Support from players is a massive boost to our community volunteering programme and our Green Hub too. We're only 5 years younger than The National Lottery - thanks for all your support over the years! #ThanksToYou#NationalLottery30
Hello - we've popped over to the other place (as Bluesky seems to be referred to...). If you are exploring a bluer future, follow us @bostse1.bsky.social. We'll be sharing images of gardens (this is Octavia Hill's Red Cross Garden), news of events/training/volunteering in #London
ALT It's Red Cross Garden at the height of its cottage garden vibes in June. A path runs through fluffy mixed planting with orange poppies, purple hollyhocks and pink roses. A green tree peeps cheerfully in form the left, to the right Victorian cottages, head a rustic sort of building featuring a mural to the hero Alice Ayres who gave her life to save others.
Today we remember and are grateful for our green spaces that give us somewhere to reflect and give thanks. #RedCrossGarden, founded by Octavia Hill in 1886, and home of the 1st independent Army Cadet Battalion.
It's slightly bigger than a human hand though! The sculpture represents the wildlife that would have lived in marshy #WaterlooGreen before it became a carpark & then a park! We've restored wildlife habitat to the green, but doubt we'll see a real fen raft spider anytime soon!
Trustees bring their unique talents to the role. We appreciate their support and input and celebrate our wonderful trustees. Today they are a reminder of the good in the world. #TrusteesWeek
ALT Myth: I won’t be wanted. Fact: Your offer is unique. Trustees work as a team in a variety of roles, each bringing different strengths to their board. Look for a good fit for your experience, skills, values and motivation.
ALT An image of a group of people standing in from of a colourful banner advertising Future Gardeners. Text in a green box on the image reads: Current and past students meet green roof specialist John Little and award-wining garden designer Giada Francis. Text in a green box to the right of the image reads: Future Gardeners, a free 10-week horticulture course, featuring hands on learning, a qualification, talks from industry experts, trips to top gardens and work experience.
"It's also really important for children & young people to enjoy sport... because it gives them a confidence that they might not otherwise have. It... teaches them about skills like leadership" Has #KierStarmer been hanging out at our #MarlboroughSportsGarden?🤔#PMQs
We'd love to see more support for grassroots sport. New @Sport_England's research found the annual social value of community sport and physical activity to be £107.2 billion. Volunteers, coaches, facilities and participants are giving so much to the UK. youtu.be/Z5xS9519xpo
A half term visitor in Red Cross Garden - have you popped by one our green spaces this holidays? Perfect places to explore nature in the city, or enjoy a snack 😬 #HalfTerm
ALT A great big grey heron standing proudly on a low railing around the wildlife pond in a lush Red Cross Garden.
"Green spaces in cities play a vital role in reducing illness and deaths caused by climate breakdown, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind." theguardian.com/environment/… Just quietly playing a vial role over here 😉 #gardening💚
ALT It's Red Cross Garden on a dreamy sunny day. The sun is sparkling in a blue sky, orange poppies grow with their faces to the sun, trees fill and background and The Shard overlooks the whole scene. This image of our urban garden highlights the wellbeing and environmental importance of greening our cities.
Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day!
A simple conversation can make all the difference to someone struggling with their mental health. This World Mental Health Day why not start the conversation and show you care?
What will you be doing for #WMHD2024? Let us know below!
ALT Graphic of World Mental Health Day logo, accompanied by text: one conversation can make a big difference.