Nature Walks With Bangladeshi Ladies Club

For the third annual City of Forest Day, a citywide day of stewardship and celebration of our City’s urban forest in late October, the Bangladeshi Ladies Club (BLC) and Prospect Park Alliance launched a new guided woodland tour for members of the Bangladeshi community, funded by the Office of Council Member Shahana Hanif. The goal of the program was to enable the BLC to introduce the park to members of their community so that they can make better use of the park for their health and wellness as part of their daily lives.

“For many women in the Bangladeshi community, their lives are focused on caring for their families,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “It is invaluable for their health and well-being to be able to take a moment to step back and enjoy nature and one another.”

The tour through Brooklyn’s Backyard, developed by Alliance naturalists and led by members of the BLC, explores scenic woodland trails with views of Brooklyn’s only Lake and last remaining forest, and some of the hundreds of species of flora and fauna that call the park home. The guided tour begins at the park entrance at Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest, which is the closest to the neighborhood of Kensington, home to Brooklyn’s “Little Bangladesh.”

“A key part of the Alliance mission is to increase access for the public to the park’s 350 acres of natural areas,” said Prospect Park Alliance President, Morgan Monaco. “We thank Council Member Hanif for supporting this partnership with the Bangladeshi Ladies Club, and we hope to replicate this program with other Brooklyn communities.”

Left, Members of the Bangladeshi Ladies Club exploring Brooklyn nature. Right, Council member Shahana Hanif and members of the Bangladeshi Ladies Club. c. Bess Adler

Annie Ferdous, who founded the BLC in 2017 alongside friends and neighbors from the Kensington community, describes the group as “a special place for Bangladeshi women in New York. This collective is all about supporting women who juggle family, work, and everything in between.”

Following the inaugural walk, the group enjoyed a reception with refreshments on the park’s Penninsula. Farida Ruhul, another member of the BLC, reflected on the day exploring Prospect Park, “This was a beautiful experience for the members of BLC. We had a wonderful time together enjoying Prospect Park’s nature, meditating and even singing together. It is one of my favorite events we’ve had as a club.”

The BLC plans to offer the tour to members and the larger Bangladeshi community seasonally.

Learn more about upcoming events in Brooklyn’s Backyard and our work to engage our community.