06/10/22

Pia Larsson, Community Green Space Officer

Hello there, my name is Pia Larsson and I have recently joined Nene Park Trust as a Community Green Space Officer. This role has been made possible by Future Parks Accelerator, Test and Learn Navigator Project.

My role will be based outside of Nene Park in various green spaces in Peterborough working with communities on protecting habitats and conserving the natural heritage of each area by setting up volunteer groups to manage those green spaces, driven by local communities.

I am excited to get to know the communities better and hear what they would like their green spaces to provide and how they would like to use them, and through all of that, to encourage greater use of these beautiful, green spaces.

Nurturing connections with nature and the outdoors, I believe, is beneficial to us all in so many ways, including improving our health and wellbeing. I very much look forward to being a part of this initiative.

My background is in schools, originally as a Design & Technology Teacher in a secondary school, and then spending several years running Gardening Clubs, Climate Groups, Beekeeping and managing a School Therapy Dog as well as doing the Student Timetabling.

Growing up in Sweden, I spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s farm which fostered a love of nature and a very keen interest in growing fruit & vegetables. My grandmother (who lived to 102 ¾) was a champion of the environment and even in her 90s, would walk half a mile to the local recycling centre and was frequently clearing areas of the farm with a scythe - she was an inspirational figure for me in so many ways.

Three areas have so far been identified by communities, these are Tenter Hill, Thorpe Lea Meadows and Central Park.

If you would like to be involved in the project, please contact me via [email protected]