Audience members, Peter Williams, Chief Executive of Better Bankside and the four Bankside Urban Pioneers, left to right: Miguel Parente, Sian Pamphlett, Molly Dalton and Joshua Hayford at the final session in the project, a panel discussion and film screening at The Jerwood Gallery on March 31st 2009.

The last day of the project we went bird watching with David Lindo a professional birder who works for the BBC. We went to various locations around the South Bank and observed the different types of birds in the area. It was a fabulous day and I was very inspired by David’s talk about his experience in being an urban birder and how he ended up taking it as a career. His passion influenced me to become more determined in making it as an animator and to never give up on anything positive in life. Overall I found this whole project amazing and would like to get involved in something similar. I met some wonderful new people an enjoyed every session I was part of. I also learnt some interesting facts about the area I live in, which to begin I didn’t even have a clue what they were, for instance the prostitute graveyard behind borough station was a great surprise to me and I was shocked. To finish off I would like to thank Ruby, The Architecture Foundation and Better Bankside for all they have done and for taking me upon this project and also good luck to the three colleagues Molly, Sian and Miguel for being part of this wonderful project.

That's it...It causes me great pain to admit it, but the Urban Pioneers project I have enjoyed so much over the past few months has finally come to a close. Last night really was an amazing end to and incredible project. I have been so lucky to find myself in the company of such lovely people and am just upset that finally it has had to end. This memory will stick with me forever, I have made great friends, met inspiring people and had great fun, sadly I don't know what I am going to do with myself now!

Although it is the end, as cheesy as it sounds it still feels like its the beginning, because I know the friends I have made will last a lot longer than just this project, and the events that have occured in and around Bankside mean that the journey will never end, for every time I come to London Bridge I will remember this project, and the times we have had together.

I want to thank Ruby for being so great...and all the organisations whose donations and support made the whole project possible, i would also like to thank all the people who donated their time and expertise, you know who you are!! I would like to announce once more that last night was lovely and it was nice to have so many people who were so amazed and interested in what we have achieved.

....and although the project has finished now, we will always be the Bankside Urban Pioneers!!

Since my last blog a lot has happened! We are sadly approaching the end of our journey together and have been organising some aspects of our exciting launch party on the 31st of March. But of course we have had more opportunities for some exciting, new experiences in the shape of a planting day, and meeting the very interesting David Lindo, The Urban Birder.

Firstly we met at the Sumner Estate, behind the Tate. We decided that the endless fun from the first gardening day, with Peter Graal, couldn’t end. Therefore we joined him on the tree planting, taking place at the Thank Goodness for Trees event. On arrival, I was very impressed with the efforts made by the team (Better Bankside and BOST), a intimate, and friendly set up, of amazing cupcakes, free window boxes for locals, tree decorating, and of course tree planting. In true Pioneer style we got a hand straight in the dirt, and collectively planted a beautiful tree. Of course not in the most professional way, but good fun as always. We then helped prune, and tidy the garden flower beds, and decorate branches. With a nice cupcake break in between, its only fair? The day was fairly short, and to be fair the event wasn’t as busy as I felt it deserved, but it was yet another fun day, proving again the growing sense of community in Southwark. I do have to say another thank you to Peter, for some good fun, and hands on activity, which is always great.

The next session we embarked on was the event planning day, Saturday 7^th March, at the building centre. There we meet Peter Murray, who helped us on the event details, and gave us a small tour of the building and some background information on London and changes being made. We all meet in the morning, and after long discussion made some final decisions on our event. Unfortunately the day had a dark cloud hanging over it in the sense that our journey is coming to a close. However the excitement of our event party was keeping us going. Peter was a great help, using his many years in lecturing and holding events to advise us on important decisions. We were shown a huge 3d-platform map, an amazing model of the whole of London. Fascinatingly revealing exactly how many changes have and will occur in our city. Of course Miguel managed to snap a piece of the map, however Peter reassured us it wasn’t the first time it had happened, lucky for Miguel. Having been shown the new architecture building we parted ways. Today’s was important for our event, but left us all feeling a bit sad I think, of course it wasn’t going to last forever, but thanks to Ruby, and the team I just don’t want it to end!

However we weren’t completely finished, we then meet on Sunday the 8^th at the Tate Modern for our last session with the Urban Birder, David Lindo. Once the whole team had arrived Mr Lindo began on his bird learning experience. And it most definitely was an experience. I found the day very interesting, we didn’t just learn about types of bird, but sounds, colours, habitats, lifestyle habits, and stories on a wide range of birds. David had completely different radar to all of us, in the sense he was tuned into the bird’s sounds and movements the whole time. We worked our way from the Tate community garden, through to Sumner Street, the Better Bankside building, through to the Copperfield churchyard. Throughout the walk I felt constantly aware of my surroundings and was awakened to exactly how much wildlife surrounded us. David made a good point in that you don’t have to leave the city to see birds, and it’s so true. Once we had reached the churchyard our walk finished. But the small introduction to Birding that David gave us really inspired me, and again showing exactly how many opportunities there are out there in all fields of work. I may not necessarily want to start birding as a career, but that isn’t important, just looking around you, and being aware, is what I gathered being a birder is all about. Anyone can look up and enjoy nature, and David’s session taught me that. It was yet another fun, and interesting day, making it even harder to say goodbye to my amazing team.

Over the past six months, I have experienced something extraordinary. I gained some lovely new friends, learned loads of new skills, experienced a wide range of careers, hobbies, skills, and most of all have changed my life, using the knowledge I have gained. When coming in to this project I thought I would possibly experience something new, and have some fun, but it has meant so much more to me. Being one of the four pioneers has made me proud. I had no idea in this short space of time I would experience, film making, radio production, interviewing lots of new and interesting people, illustrating, gardening, birding, event planning, blogging, web design, and learning so many life stories, and career path information. But I have and I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to experience so much. I’m very grateful to Ruby, who throughout this process has been our motivating, good fun, hard working, well-organised, and overall lovely mentor, and of course everyone involved that have added to my experience.

Us pioneers are four of a kind.

See you at the launch……..

On Sunday March 8th, David Lindo, The Urban Birder, took the Pioneers on a guided bird walk around Southwark. Starting at the Thames and walking down Great Guildford Street and into Copperfield Street Churchyard, they saw black headed and herring gulls, cormorants, carrion crows, dunnocks, thrushes, sparrows, blackbirds, robins, feral and wood pigeons, goldfinches, magpies and bluetits.

Well first of all...what an amazing person. Today we met David Lindo, who is the 'Urban Birder.' For me today was so special because it was so very different from all the sessions we have had up until now. David is a self taught bird professional, who obviously had great delight in taking us all around and sharing some of his expertise with us, but most interestingly, sharing with us how he got to where he is now. David also highlighted some other things which, now I think about are sadly very true. He was telling us of how people in London generally are so busy with day to day things that they seldom, as he so simply put it, 'Look up.' ( I will explain shortly why this is soooooooooooo sad)

When I heard that today we were going birding, I confess I was subconciously expecting a session similar to last time we had been looking for nature in the form of bird song to record for our radio program, when we had gone all the way to Epping. I presumed this session would be no different and that it may involve going somewhere more 'rural', but this time that was not to be the case, and I'm sure you can, understandably, imagine my confusion when Ruby said we were going birding and starting outside the Tate!

None-the-less, myself and my fellow pioneers made the journey Ruby had asked us to make, and had gone to meet at the Tate, at a very unrespectable half nine on sunday morning. I must confess, while waiting for David to turn up, I wasn't expecting this session to live up to the sessions it was following, as awful as it is for me to say that, this is a blog and so I have to be truthful. At this point I was still expecting  a boring old man to turn up, and that we would have a look around, find no birds, and then end up making a trip to a forest somewhere. Luckily, I couldn't have been more WRONG!

As we walked around the area we have been exploring so much recently anyway, we were talking to David who was telling us his birding tales. I was shocked because it seemed every time we turned a corner another type of bird turned up, and David was right in what he had said, in that birding was so easy, and that birds really were everywhere!

It was lovely how we were for example standing by the river, looking at what we considered to be a flock of seagulls, which in fact come in great variety. David would point out different ones to us, and if ,when he asked if we had seen 'That one' and we said 'No'...he would then get out his bird book and show us it in there. It was inspiring to listen to someone who knew so much about something they had a real passion for. I think though that the most amazing thing about David was that he had always been so determined to do what he wanted to do, and that something which had started admittedly as an obsession from a very young age, had actually blossomed into a very respectable and successful career. I just hope that one day the same thing will happen to me...and that sticking with what I love will serve me well!!

Another thing David pointed out to us though, seemed to have really troubled him. He said that one day he had been out shopping and had seen a very rare bird, don't ask me what it was, but he seemed very humbled by the fact he had seen it. Anyway he was so upset about it because he said he looked down and saw everyone was still walking on and living their lives completely oblivious to this amazing sight he had been witnessing. Sadly he was right, as I said earlier, even I who am supposedly very observent, had never fully appreciated the nature in London, so I cannot be completely surprised that other busier Londoners havent noticed it either.

It was a lovely day, and I just hope we have a chance to go out with David again!! Yet again we have been very lucky to be in contact with such inspiring people, can his project get any better?...

On Saturday February 28th, the Pioneers helped to plant trees on the Sumner Estate at the Thank Goodness for Trees event.

See Eleanor Marriott's photos here

Today’s sessions was yet another inspiring and exciting journey. With map in hand I travelled to YCN's office in Shoreditch, and once there was joined by fellow team member Miguel, and of course our very own wonderful Ruby, and the web design and YCN briefing began. I instantly found myself intrigued at what this unique and influential company does. First of all the office which, from the outside could be just a squat, once inside was a cosy, modern, office space. Then the work carried out by these dedicated people - the company originally started simply as an award ceremony, allowing young and new artists and designers to create pieces in response to design briefs set by large companies. The company then went onto having collection of in house designers and now do lots of their own design. This nicely linked back to the work of us Pioneers because, as you may know, if following these blogs we record, we collect a range of evidence and information on the work we are carrying out and also on the Bankside Urban Forest project and changes being made to the area.

After learning alot of interesting and in-depth information, we began to work on our very own webpage, of course assisted by the lovely YCN staff, Sarah (project manager and administrator), and Dan (one of the founders, and web designers at the company). We made several of our own banners, banners meaning a band of illustration of design to fit on the background, or top of the main webpage. Once doing these we were taught several other ways to bring our website to life, and exactly how to navigate design and creation using the very high tech, Photoshop. This was all very fascinating, and I felt very proud of the designs we made for the page. We were then given a guided tour of the very newly renovated office buildings. Of course the most memorable bit was climbing the extremely narrow almost circus style staircase up to an empty greenhouse randomly placed on their garden rooftop. This swiftly led to some rooftop interviews reflecting on our Urban Pioneer’s journey, and some heartfelt words. Brought a tear to my eyes.

Once back on safe ground in the main office it was time to move on. It had only been half a day at YCN, but I was very convinced that this was an idol job, and idea, allowing young designers to create pieces set to a brief and being acknowledged, and praised for it. The team, and the work they do all seemed very fun and varied, an I had learn alot in a very short space of time.

We then quickly grabbed a bite to eat, and hopped on a bus down to Witherford Watson Mann Architects who wrote the design framework for the Bankside Urban Forest. On arrival we were immediately introduced to the exciting world of architecture, from Mr. Stephen Witherford himself. Firstly we looked at their proposal for the Flat Iron Square in the heart of the Bankside Urban Forest, and all the details and considerations which go into any kind of build or renovation before any practical work gets done. We then looked through the many stages of a design brief, looking at material samples, models, designs, research and general facts needed for such projects. This all seemed very detailed and well planned. The project was very interesting, and it was very clear this firm were considering every possibility and making changes which will benefit the project, and make exact sense. I found this very intriguing, and again suddenly had to change my career choice to architecture. Of course we were told about the difficulties that arise in such projects, and learned alot about being an architect, in all aspects. I found I had all types of questions to ask and wanted to know more about this very interesting profession. We then ran out of time, and the architects ran off to a very important meeting, in which a large bag of stone was necessary to carry on the bus.

Overall today’s session has opened my eyes even further, reflecting on all the people we have meet working in such extremely different fields of work made me feel excited about the choices I will make and the endless opportunities there are in our working lives. I feel today was more about the people we meet, of course we did some practical work and learned alot, but I found the people working so hard in these professions very inspiring. There definitely are no limits, especially in London. If you make opportunities for yourself and work hard, you can make a difference in your community, and in many aspects of others lives, e.g. to community spaces, or creating opportunities for young designers.

Thanks to both companies for welcoming us, and teaching lots of great information. Looking forward to the next session, bring on the planting day next week......

We met at YCN where we used our drawings from last week to create a banner for our website.

We've used photoshop to create and edit these pictures and colour them into a nicer view of the landscape...

We have finally watched our clown town mini video witch was very funny and awesome to watch... 

On January 31st the Pioneers spent the day with illustrator David Sparshott drawing key parts of the Bankside Urban Forest. See all the images here

The coldest day in the whole wide world by far, my toes and fingers dropped off, LITERALLY. We  had a lovely day wandering around London drawing the things that we felt appropriate. We went everywhere from the alleyway that made the background for one of the scenes of the box office hit 'Mince Pies', to the top floor of the Tate, I don't think we could have got many more different views of London.

Despite the cold fingers, we did produce some pieces that will no doubt be in the Tate in a few years time, and I'm sure that together the drawings we made will make a lovely map.

Today has been amazing, a day packed full of variety on an enormous scale. After running around Somerset House like a headless chicken for nearly twenty minutes, I finally got where I was supposed to be. We sat in Ruby's office, and listened to some of Ruby's favourite radio programmes to give us a few possible options for how our own radio programme might be arranged. We finally decided, with the interviewees Ruby had set up for us in mind, that we would make a radio programme based on the theme of Change. After jotting down a few questions we might ask so as to ensure that the interviews would run as smoothly as possible, we set off.

The first stop on our journey was to visit Mr Powell who has lived in London for most of his life. He told us some very interesting, and personal, tales,from when the Tate was still a power station to his memories of being in Borough Market as a youngster. We asked him about the positive and negative aspects of the change that has occured so far in his long and adventurous life. After scoffing some M&S sandwiches,we then went on to meet Hilary, who had a more positive outlook towards the changes that are occuring in and around Southwark. Finally in an attempt to get some contrast in opinions, from people who haven't seen quite so much change, we went to visit a centre near Waterloo Station, where we spent time interviewing the young people who were there. As we expected the changes were of a lesser magnitude there, but by no means of less importance to the children involved.

After an emotional day, we headed back to Ruby's offices where we got some famous quotes which had the word change in them or had the subject as the crux.  Sian valiantly and boldly marched down to the ice skating rink in an attempt to get the quotes read out by people with different voices. Unfortunately as fantastic as Sians accents are, we decided to be honest and actually get some real peoples voices, but sadly people weren't quite as eager to participate as we hoped they might have been, but as Ruby rightly said, 'Never mind it was worth a try!'

In July 2009, ING MEDIA, a PR and Communications agency based in Shoreditch, is 10 years old. To celebrate its anniversary it is promoting TEN TEENAGERS, in which it will take ten teenagers from anywhere in the UK, and try to get the media interested in what they are doing. As part of this project, ING MEDIA is featuring the Bankside Urban Pioneers, keep an eye on their website to see whether one of our Pioneers will be one of the ten.

On Saturday January 24th, the Pioneers were given a tour of some of BOST's gardens. We visited the Tate Community Garden, St George's Churchyard, Little Dorrit Court, Copperfield Street, Mint Street and Surrey Row, and ended up in Chaplin Close, where we shifted two and a half tonnes of earth and planted a new bed of scented plants for residents with impaired vision.

See all the photos here

Well what an amazing day we had. Today we were extremely lucky to find ourselves in the company of Peter from Bankside Open Spaces Trust. We had a lovely day walking around some of the sites Peter has himself been involved in, though we did spend most of it trying to warm up in Starbucks among other places. It was really nice to see somebody who was so passionate about what they do, but more than that it was nice to be treated like an adult. While Sian and Miguel were busy interviewing I found myself talking to Peter, about the park we were in at the time which i believe was on Mint Street-Ruby please confirm this-, and for me personally it was really nice to have a conversation where someone was actually taking an interest in the opinions I hold. Next we went off and had a bite to eat, which we didn't realise was where we were to be told of the task ahead. Ruby had told us that we would help out with some light gardening today, so we were dressed for the occasion, but nobody could have quite prepared me for today completely, Peter took us to a sheltered housing complex where he had decided that we would be shifting somewhere near 2 and a half tons of compost!! Undeterred by the magnitude of the task, we got going which believe me was a long way from the light gardening we had been promised. Despite the agony myself, and my fellow pioneers and Ruby of course, are in I would do it all again tomorrow (and yes even if I did get scratched by a rose bush and spent 20 minutres trying to get a splinter out of my finger again I would do it without hesitation.)

I just hope we have more opportunities together to carry out such work, and that the people who live in the complex enjoy the garden as much as we did in finishing it.