This year’s Green Minions Volunteer Training Programme had come to an end in September. Unlike previous years, we conducted most of the activities in the hot summer weather which is a challenge itself already. The summer heat did not deter the enthusiasm and curiosity about the countryside of our 22 Green Minions . Now let’s take a look back at this fruitful summer.
The Green Minions followed the Conservancy Association to the tree plantation site at Lung Mun Country Trail as our kick off activity in July. We learnt how the type of species and number of trees affect the local biodiversity from the visit. It was a pity that we could not plant some seedlings due to the unfavourable weather but we have already felt that tree planting is not an easy job just by staying in the woods.
Do you know what a wheelchair user need to prepare before visiting the countryside? After the sharing from Wheel Power Challenge and Oasistrek shared their experiences in designing hiking trails suitable for wheelchair users. During the section, the Green Minions experience to be wheelchair users and their caretakers in a role playing session. This personal experience provided the volunteers a different perspective of accessibility.
TrailWatch collaborated with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for the first time. We brought the Green Minions to the mudflat to understand the ecology of the area and cleaned up the marine debris. The visit might seem unrelated to the usual focus of hiking of TrailWatch but TNC reminded us about "the interconnectedness of the mountains and the seas" and a simple act and decision by us can lead to long-term impact to the nature.
WWF-HK led a visit the controversial Pui O in Lantau to explore the rural land use policy and its loopholes. Pui O is a designated Coastal Protection Area and an important habitat of water buffalos. It is hard to not feel sad to witness the destruction in the area, such as the illegal dumping.
The final challenge for the volunteers was to plan and lead their own hiking route for the practical lesson. The volunteers were divided into groups and each have to select a route and topic, e.g. ecology, heritage of the trail, using what they have learnt from the past 6 lessons. This required the participants to conduct research on specific topic related to the countryside of Hong Kong, and share the knowledge and information to fellow hikers on the trails.
Last but not least, the programme ended with a forest bathing session by Shinrin Yoku Hong Kong. The Green Minions experienced a different way to enjoy and get connected to the nature, and gain better insight into the importance between personal wellbeing and the nature.
TrailWatch once again thank you for the enthusiastic participation of this year's Green Minions and all our supporting partners. As one of the Green Minions "the programme is similar to the foundation course at the university on environmental issues and based on that participants can further their develop their knowledge and engagement in topics that interest them most". We are glad to provide the opportunity for the Green Minions to get in touch with our city's precious countryside and we wish everyone will continue to appreciate and protect our countryside.
We are looking forward to meeting another batch of Green Minions in 2020 to learn more from our countryside together!