About the Experimental School of Urban Ecologies

Project
Bethnal Green Nature Reserve is launching a new learning space, the Experimental School of Urban Ecologies.We call it experimental because the environmental challenges we face today demand new ways of...

Foraging and Land Stewardship Course

Project
Bethnal Green Nature Reserve is excited to launch its first course from the Experimental School of Urban Ecology: Foraging and Land Stewardship. This six-module course offers a holistic and integrated...

'How To Build A Clay Pond'

Project
Why Build A Clay Pond? In 2024 Bethnal Green Nature Reserve and the Hollybush & Teesdale Tenants and Residence Association started a food growing space called Bethnal Green Ecology Garden...

Billboard Commissions Open Call 2026

Project
Bethnal Green Nature Reserve (BGNR) invites artists, designers, writers, poets, illustrators, and creatives working across disciplines to apply for one of four micro-grants for billboard commissions to be presented throughout...

About Community Ecologies

Project
The Community Ecologies 2026 programme will focus on climate change and climate adaptation. Climate change can often feel overwhelming and abstract, which can lead people to disengage from the conversation...

Misery in Residence - Autumn & Winter 2024

Project
Misery in Residence at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve Autumn & Winter 2024 Misery is a mental health collective focused on healing for queer, trans, and non-binary Black people and people...

Caretakers Project

Project
Stories, guides and offerings for London’s green & blue spaces. The Caretakers Project was set up to capture and archive valuable local knowledge on community-led land stewardship. The project aims...

Misery Party - 2nd September 2023

Event
Sat 2 September 2023 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Misery Party in residence at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve this summer. Misery Party is a mental health collective centring healing for queer / trans / non-binary black people and people...

'Feedback' by Polly Townsend

Event
Wed 1 November 2023 — Sat 30 December 2023
Polly Townsend’s billboard is inspired by her recent experience as Artist in Residence in the Antarctic in January 2023. The billboard work uses acrylic and watercolour paint, both long-standing mediums...

Dawn Chorus Bird Walk with Jane Mutiny

Event
Sat 17 June 2023 5.30am – 7.00am
Join our bird survey team for a dawn chorus walk led by environmentalist and bird enthusiast Jane Mutiny.The dawn chorus is the outbreak of birdsong at the start of each...

Mycelium Ecology Project

Project
In the Autumn of 2022 Revoke & Bethnal Green Nature Reserve co-hosted an eleven-week research, design and build project exploring mushroom and mycelium ecologies. The project was designed as an...

Wetland Enhancement Report

Project
Reflections on the Wetland Enhancement projectThis is the first of a 9-part post series by Tyra Enchill celebrating the Wetland Enhancement project and insights from the report, and her experiences...

Forest Fridays 2025

Event
Forest Friday is a free, weekly forest school inviting local children and families to explore the wonders of nature right on your doorstep. School-aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Saturdays - September 2025

Event
Forest Friday is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays - September 2025

Event
Forest Friday is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Saturdays - August 2025

Event
Forest Friday is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays - August 2025

Event
Forest Friday is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays, 25th April - 18th July 2025

Event
Forest Friday’s is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays - After School Club 2025

Event
Fri 11 April 2025 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Forest Friday’s is a free forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn about...

Forest Fridays - After School Club 2025

Event
Sat 15 March 2025 11.00am – 12.30pm
Forest Friday’s is a free forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn about...

Forest Fridays - After School Club - Autumn 2024

Event
Forest Fridays is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature right on your doorstep. School-aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays - After School Club 2024

Event
Forest Friday’s is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Forest Fridays - After School Club 2023

Event
Forest Friday’s is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Birds of Bethnal Green: a bird spotting guide with Jane Mutiny

Event
Sat 22 April 2023 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Join our bird survey team for an afternoon learning about birds with local artist, environmentalist and bird enthusiast Jane Mutiny. . We will be looking at the local bird life...

Mushroom and mycelium inoculation workshop pt.3

Event
Sat 26 November 2022 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Our 2022 Ecology research project looks to explore the complex relationships between our bodies and mycelium communities for food, medicine, habitat, spiritual and ecological connections. Due to popular demand...

Bethnal Green Nature Reserve - Weekly Volunteer Sessions

Event
In 2022 we will be hosting weekly volunteer sessions 11am – 1pm each Saturday from 7th May till 19th November 2022. These sessions are for regular volunteers who have previously...

Ecology as Boundless Presence: Mindful Observation and Writing Workshops

Event
For this second experimental wetland survey, we will practice presence as a gateway to ecological knowledge. We will begin with a mindful observation workshop held by interdisciplinary ecologist Tyra Enchill...

Feathered: Art Workshop with Jane Mutiny

Event
10.00pm Sat 15 October 2022 — 1.00am Sun 16 October 2022
Join the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve Bird Survey team for an afternoon of learning and creativity with local artist, environmentalist and bird enthusiast Jane Mutiny. For centuries, feathers have long...

mulch

Event
Thu 15 September 2022 — Sun 2 October 2022
mulch is a new living installation by artist, writer and gardener Sean Roy Parker created in, with and for plants at Phytology. Working amongst the ruins of a former market...

EARTHSHAPES #7 Re-storytelling, Autumn Equinox

Event
Join Becky Lyon / ELASTIC FICTION for the seventh in a series of 8 art-practice-led gatherings following and drawing attention to seasonal rhythms, patterns of place and earth-centric chronology. ...

Experimental Wetland Ecology Survey: Herbarium Workshop with Mila

Event
10.00pm Sat 24 September 2022 — 1.00am Sun 25 September 2022
Herbaria are collections of dried plants that can be stored, catalogued and arranged by family, genus and species, capturing the community of a time and place. As part of the...

Insect Survey Workshop - Surface, Soil & Leaf litter Invertebrates

Event
Our local insect expert, Gino Brignoli, will be hosting a series of insect (invertebrate) workshops across summer. The workshops will celebrate local invertebrate fauna by providing first-hand knowledge on how...

Open House Festival 2022

Event
A self-guided tour of Old Bethnal Green’s Social Spaces - how places shape people and people shape spaces. This self-guided walking tour is a short stroll through the little-known but...

Pesticide-Free London Event - Botanical Mixer

Event
Come and find out about London’s urban pesticide problem and how, together, we can make the city greener and more diverse. We invite local green organisations, Pesticide-Free London campaigners and...

Herbal Uprising Part 4: Herbal Community Care Toolkit for BPoC

Event
Join us for Herbal Uprising Part 4 (BPOC only). About this event In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal Uprising’ is a series...

Herbal Uprising Part 3: Herbal Community Care Toolkit for BPoC

Event
Join us for Herbal Uprising Parts 3 (BPOC only). About this event In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal Uprising’ is a series...

Insect Survey Workshop – Aquatic Invertebrates

Event
Our local insect expert, Gino Brignoli, will be hosting a series of insect (invertebrate) workshops across summer. The workshops will celebrate local invertebrate fauna by providing first-hand knowledge on how...

Learning from herbs: tea tasting and plant observation with Mila.

Event
As part of the ongoing experimental ecology survey at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, this workshop will be looking at the physical and emotional responses that plants generate within us...

New Volunteers Session – 30th July 2022

Event
In 2022 we will be hosting monthly volunteer sessions for new volunteers at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. The next session will take place 2pm – 4pm Saturday, 30th July...

Forest Friday’s - free, weekly forest school

Event
Forest Friday’s is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

Cyanotype Workshop by Hayley Harrison & Melanie King

Event
Cyanotype type printing is an alternative photography process using chemicals that create blue prints when exposed to sunlight. You’ll learn how to make one-off Cyanotype prints from flowers, leaves and...

The Gardening Drawing Club: VOL. 1 Summer

Event
Founded in 2021, The Gardening Drawing Club is a series of unique events with a holistic approach offering free access to arts and horticulture in Britain. With monthly happenings, The...

Experimental Ecology Survey Workshop; ‘A morning with Terry Lyle & Izzy Johnson: Stories and Flora of the BGNR from 1970's to now'

Event
As part of an ongoing experimental ecology survey at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, this workshop will be centered around sharing stories about the history of the Reserve as...

Herbal Uprising Part 2: Herbal Allies for Speaking into Truth

Event
Join us for Herbal Uprising Part 2 (women and trans femme people only). About this event In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal...

EARTHSHAPES #5 - Digesting Summer

Event
Join Becky Lyon / ELASTIC FICTION for the fifth in a series of 8 art-practice-led gatherings following seasonal rhythms. About this event Join Becky Lyon / ELASTIC FICTION for...

Experimental Ecology Survey Workshop; 'What’s your herb culture'?

Event
Mixing our medicine ways and sharing our plant love. As part of the experimental Ecology Survey at the Bethnal Green Natural Reserve, we are gathering with community herbalist Rasheeqa Ahmad...

Insect Survey Workshop - Invertebrates on Plants & Flying Invertebrates

Event
Our local insect expert, Gino Brignoli, will be hosting a series of insect (invertebrate) workshops across summer. The workshops will celebrate local invertebrate fauna by providing first-hand knowledge on how...

Insect Survey Workshop - Recording data, keeping a field notebook, & using identification guides and keys

Event
Our local insect expert, Gino Brignoli, will be hosting a series of insect (invertebrate) workshops across summer. The workshops will celebrate local invertebrate fauna by providing first-hand knowledge on how...

New Volunteers Session – 25th June 2022

Event
In 2022 we will be hosting monthly volunteer sessions for new volunteers at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. The next session will take place 2pm – 4pm Saturday, 25th June...

Herbal Uprising Part 1: Plant Medicine As a Guide to Deep Rest

Event
In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal Uprising’ is a series of 3 sessions that will explore the potential of plant medicine to deepen...

New Volunteers Session – 28th May 2022

Event
In 2022 we will be hosting monthly volunteer sessions for new volunteers at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. The next session will take place 2pm – 4pm Saturday, 28th May...

Nourishing Ourselves

Event
A free workshop facilitated by Artists Alaa Alsaraji and Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, who will provide a set of prompts and guided activities to support you in using various art forms...

Insect survey workshop pt.1

Event
Our local insect expert, Gino Brignoli, will be hosting a series of insect (invertebrate) workshops across summer. The workshops will celebrate local invertebrate fauna by providing first-hand knowledge on how...

Simmerdim: Curlew Sounds album launch

Event
Singer, song writer Merlyn Driver will be hosting a one-off album launch in collaboration with the RSPB 7pm - 10pm, 12th May 2022 Merlyn Driver's love for one of the...

Volunteer Session – April 2022

Event
We are holding monthly volunteer sessions at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve across the winter months. The next session will take place 11am – 1pm Saturday, 9th April 2022. You’ll...

Rights for Weeds – Foraging Walk pt.3

Event
Izzy Johnson aka Rights for Weeds will be hosting a series of foraging walks through Spring and early summer within the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. 1pm – 3pm, Saturday 2nd...

Rights for Weeds – Foraging Walk pt.2

Event
Izzy Johnson aka Rights for Weeds will be hosting a series of foraging walks through Spring and early summer within the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. 1pm - 3pm, Saturday 26th...

Rights for Weeds - Foraging Walk pt.1

Event
Izzy Johnson aka Rights for Weeds will be hosting a series of foraging walks through Spring and early summer within the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. 1pm - 3pm, Saturday 19th...

Volunteer Session – February2022

Event
We are holding monthly volunteer sessions at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve across the winter months. The next session will take place 11am - 1pm Saturday, 26th February 2022. You’ll...

Volunteer Session – February2022

Event
We are holding monthly volunteer sessions at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve across the winter months. The next session will take place 11am - 1pm Saturday, 26th February 2022. You’ll...

Healing Herbalism - Mushroom Medicine Making Workshop

Event
Create Conscious Community presents Healing Herbalism: Mushroom Magic Healing herbalism is a series of workshops that teach people how to collaborate with the earth's treasures and make healing medicines...

Volunteer Sessions – January 2021

Event
We are holding monthly volunteer sessions at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve across the winter months. The next session will take place 11am - 1pm Saturday, 29th January 2021. You’ll...

Of Lost & Found

Project
This project is a collection of stuff found within the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, East London, while Ellie Doney was artist in residence throughout 2017. Doney's interest in the project...

Forest Friday's

Event
Tue 22 March 2011 7.00am – 7.00am
Forest Friday's is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep.School aged children and their families can learn about...

Forest Friday - October Half Term Session

Event
Forest Friday’s is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. School aged children and their families can learn...

August Holiday Nature Club

Event
Forest Friday's is a free outdoor learning opportunity for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. We will be holding a week long Nature...

The London Moth Project: Live event and ID session

Event
Join Katherine Pogson as she surveys and documents month populations living in the heart of Bethnal Green! Meet some of the surprising hidden creatures that live in the local...

Ecology Internship - Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, Tower Hamlets

Event
We are recruiting an Ecology Intern aged 18 – 25 years old from underrepresent groups within the conservation sector i.e. BIPOC, ethnic minorities, people from working class backgrounds & LGBTQ+...

Wild Walk Workshop

Event
This workshop will take you into the depths of the woods, looking closely at the flora and fauna of Bethnal Green. The workshop will explore the rich biodiversity living in...

Bird Watching Workshop

Event
Join Jane Laurie, local artist and bird expert, on a bird watching walk around Bethnal Green. Jane will play her collection of bird song field recordings from her avine archive...

Bushcraft Workshop pt.2

Event
Learn how to build, maintain and cook on an open campfire this summer. You will learn a range of useful techniques for lighting and maintaining a campfire for cooking up...

Whittling Workshop pt.2

Event
Learn basic wood whittling techniques to make yourself a spoon to take home and enjoy. You will learn a range of woodworking techniques using a bunch of tools such as...

DIY Biochar & Bacterial Cultures for Soil Workshop pt.2

Event
Biochar originates from an indigenous Amazonian technique to give nutrition and health to the soil. Scientifically the term biochar is meant to describe the process of using charcoal as a...

Foraging Workshop

Event
Join Izzy (aka Benevolent Weeds) as she leads a foraging walk throughout the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve's woodlands. You'll learn about the wild sessional food and medicinal plants that can...

Wetland Ecology Survey Workshop

Event
Take part in an ecological surveying of the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve wetlands. We will pond dip and collect a range of insects, amphibians, animals and plants living in our...

Living Monoliths & Seed Bomb Talk

Event
Maria Roy Deulofeu & Sean Ross are two sustainable designers from the United Matters design collective currently working within the Nature Reserve. Over the past two months they have been...

Whittling Workshop

Event
Learn basic wood whittling techniques to make useful things such as spatulas and spoons. We will learn different techniques for tools such axes, knives and hook knives. All equipment will...

Bug Hunt Workshop

Event
We will look in the woods and the wetlands for the fascinating invertebrates that live in Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. Using equipment, such as microscopes, magnifiers and identification keys. We...

Tree School - Spring Half Term

Event
Tree School returns to the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve for the spring half-term. Tuesday 1st – Friday 4th June 2021 Tree School is a free, family friendly opportunity for children...

DIY Biochar & Bacterial Cultures for Soil Workshop

Event
Biochar originates from an indigenous Amazonian technique to give nutrition and health to the soil. Scientifically the term biochar is meant to describe the process of using charcoal as a...

Tree & Urban Forestry Workshop

Event
Learn more about the ecosystem of trees. One of the planets great food, shelter, carbon regulators, habitat and oxygen providers, trees are an integral part of human and non-human life...

Introduction to Urban Ecology Workshop

Event
Join Ecologist’s Richard Bullock + Dimuthu Meehitiya to learn about different data collection methods of ecology. Learn about sweep netting, transect walks, pond dipping, and data collation processes. Biodiversity data...

Ecology Workshops

Event
Wetland/Pond Life 11am - 1pm, 10th April Come and Investigate Bethnal Green Nature Reserve's ponds. Learn about the amazing pond life diversity found in our urban wetlands. Pond-dipping is...

'Of Lost & Found' by Ellie Doney

Event
We are pleased to announce the launch of the 'Of Lost & Found’, an online archive exploring the material history of the Phytology site by Ellie Doney. Ellies work explores...

FOREST FRIDAY

Event
FOREST FRIDAY is a weekly project for local children + families to explore the wonders of nature on your doorstep. Our team will be giving away seeds and soil so...

Through The Microscope

Event
Join the Roving Microscope and LEAP Micro AD for this unique opportunity to look inside Calthorpe’s anaerobic digester. A giant mechanical stomach, the digester produces a rich liquid fertiliser...

Forest Fridays

Project
Forest Fridays is a free, weekly forest school for local children and families to explore the wonders of nature right on your doorstep. School-aged children and their families can learn...

Ellie Doney

Project
Of Lost & Found This project is a collection of stuff found within the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve site, while Ellie Doney was artist in residence throughout 2017. Her interest...

DJ Simpson

Project
DJ Simpson is a contemporary artist who was inspired by the non-human architecture found across the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, such as nests, hives and dreys. Across the Summer &...

Bat Sanctuary

Project
In 2017 the Phytology team launched a new bat sanctuary project - extending the natural resources of the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve to accommodate urban bat populations. The development of...

Phytology Medicinal Garden

Project
Phytology is an urban physic garden established in 2014. The 30+ species of plants that we grow here are known for their historical and ongoing use in phytotherapy*, as...

Institute of Use

Project
Institute of Use’s (IOU) response to the Phytology project focuses on the history of the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. Throughout their 2014 residency IOU explored the site’s ecology, and the...

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