BOST X Nexus Tribe Workshop: Bikes, Blossom and a Moment of Calm

Earlier this spring, Nexus Tribe kicked off another collaboration with our friends at BOST (Bankside Open Spaces Trust), a lovely local charity who are dedicated to transforming urban green spaces into thriving community hubs. Their Eco House, tucked beside the peaceful Red Cross Garden, is a learning space and local nature refuge. It makes a perfect setting for slowing down and connecting to the outdoors.

Part one of our Nexus Tribe x BOST workshop brought together gentle movement and quiet creativity, as we began designing a new community noticeboard for Little Dorrit Park, a small park just off Borough High Street near London Bridge Station.

🚲 From Pedals to Parks: Biking as a Group
We met as usual at Bethwin Adventure Playground, where we rounded up our bikes and set off together towards the Eco House. We took a 15-minute ride through Burgess Park and along quiet residential streets. Just enough time to warm up our bodies, spot some road signs, and practice shared road awareness.

Bike rides have become a staple activity for our group, especially as many of our young people prepare for their driving licenses. Cycling together helps develop multitasking and road safety awareness, while also giving us a chance to be side by side, in motion, without pressure to make eye contact or fill the silence.

🌿 Arrival, Observation & Slowing Down
When we arrived at Red Cross Garden, we locked up our bikes and took a slow stroll through to Little Dorrit Park, where we observed the trees and flowers in bloom: cranberry blossom, wisteria and early summer roses.

We picked a few to bring back to the Eco House and sat outside in the sun, sketching and colouring. EJ said he enjoyed the peace of sitting quietly and focusing on his flower. Mandela suggested we fold origami roses to display on the noticeboard.

As we drew and experimented with shading and markers, the group gently reminded each other that we didn’t need to draw perfect flowers. We could just enjoy the process, creating our own interpretation, at our own pace.

🎨 Mindful Making for a Shared Goal
We shared a moment of calm. No deadlines. No pressure. Just paper, pencils and a sense of purpose as we took our first step in creating the community noticeboard together.  

It was so nice just to be together in a group, working toward a common goal of contributing to something bigger than ourselves, and practicing the everyday skills of collaboration, patience, listening and noticing.

Nexus Tribe meets every Wednesday from 7-9:30pm at Bethwin Adventure Playground (4 Bethwin Road, London, SE5 0YY) and is open to 16 to 20 year olds.