Category: Conservation Volunteers

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Conservation Volunteers December Programme

The volunteers will be at UEA Marsh on the 9th and 16th December to help manage the wetland habitats on campus. Join them if you can.

Mark Webster of the Conservation volunteers sends a Christmas Message:

“Tis (almost) the season for ho, ho, ho rather than hoe, hoe, hoe (or rake, rake, rake). As far as I’m concerned it’s Bah Humbug until 1st December, but that’s now very soon – so here is your festive December programme. We are moving in some exalted circles this month from dreaming spires (the Catholic cathedral) to the concrete jungle (UEA) as well as visiting some old favourite sites for more long-term projects.
During this month Santa will also be delivering some TCV-branded clothing to all volunteers who have been good this year. There will as usual be some well-earned downtime for us all for the Xmas holidays. I hope you know someone who will enjoy this month’s tasks, they can then feel free to indulge in (just a little bit) too much eating and drinking during our midwinter break – and you know how they can best to get fit and healthy again in January…
Merry Christmas!
Mark.”

The programme of Conservation Volunteering to improve local green spaces is here. Join in whenever suits you.

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Conservation Volunteers November Programme

All are welcome to give the support they can. There are big opportunities this month to get your hands dirty and join the volunteers to contribute directly to the wellbeing of Yare Valley wildlife:

Cringleford Bridge Meadow on Monday 4th and Friday 15th

Eaton Burial Ground on Church Lane on the Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th, and Tuesday 12th

Bluebell Woods at Eaton Park on Friday 22nd.

The programme is here. It gives full details including the occasions when lunch will be available.

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Conservation Volunteers October Programme

Mark Webster writes:

We are looking to thank volunteers old and new by providing lunch for all attendees wherever convenient outlets exist near to where we are working this month, as indicated by L [in the programme] … Could be sandwiches, could be chips, but we will see that people get a decent feed to help keep out the autumn chill. …

Full details of the programme are here.

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Conservation Volunteers September Programme

Mark Webster of Conservation Volunteers has, as usual. a varied plan for conservation volunteering opportunities across the County. None is specific to the Yare Valley this month, but all contribute to improving our green environment. New volunteers are always welcome. Full details are available here.

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Conservation Volunteers August Programme

The Conservation Volunteers will be out in force in August doing work in various locations, including Bowthorpe Southern Park on two occasions. Their task here will be to remove ragwort from a specific area to make it safe for cattle grazing. Grazing creates vegetation at different heights, and small areas of bare ground. This encourages a wide range of wildlife in different habitats. It also helps wildflowers to grow, flower, and set seed each year.

Everyone is welcome. Details of the Programme are here.

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Conservation Volunteers July Programme

Their programme in July includes conservation work in the Yare Valley Bluebell Wood at the Junction of Bluebell Road and North Park Avenue, Eaton Park, Norwich. They will be cutting back bramble to allow bluebells to thrive. In July there are also two free courses:

Mark Webster writes:

“… we have two free courses people can attend if they wish:

  • Saturday 20th we have local expert Adrian showing us how to find insects and identify them. All welcome, suitable for all ages, beginners as well as those who already know their bugs and beetles. A great opportunity to see some minibeasts up close, and hopefully find some real rarities. Whether or not you usually come out at the weekend, I hope you can join us for this – bring family and friends!
  • Tuesday 30th we will be running a task leader’s course, giving you all you need to know in order to run a safe and happy conservation task day. Great for the CV, especially for those looking for a job working with wildlife.”
    Details of the programme, and how to contact Mark if you are interested in attending a course, are here.
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Conservation Volunteers June Programme

Mark Webster writes:

Flaming or Raining?  I don’t know, but it is June soon…as the seasons (twist and) turn in unpredictable ways, our construction work (boardwalks, steps, etc) gives way to tackling invasive species such as bracken – and Himalayan Balsam.  Yes, it’s here again!  We get to see some beautiful hidden stretches of the lovely Wensum Valley, with iridescent banded demoiselles flitting around our heads as we wander the riverbanks hunting for this invasive weed, before it sets seed (3rd rhyme of this paragraph?)

We will also be looking after some new wildflower meadows trees including a Miyawaki Forest. …

The full programme is here.

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Conservation Volunteers May Programme

Mark Webster writes:

“May the fourth be with you soon, and the 5th and 6th, but our tasks resume on Monday 7th May.  The jolly trips have been lovely but I’m sure our task days will be just as much fun, especially as the Balsam and the Bracken are growing and will need to kept under control, giving us the chance to enjoy some beautiful scenery along the River Wensum and elsewhere.  There’s also a couple of chance to get involved with the creation of new wildflower meadows, plus the making of a pond-dipping platform which will give kids the chance to discover aquatic minibeasts…although we might have go first!”

The programme for May is here.

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Conservation Volunteers Programme for March

Mark Webster of the Conservation Volunteers (TCV) writes: 

Spring is in the air (“boing”, said Zebedee) so it’s time to get our tree planting finished (at Sprowston, Hingham and Horsford, where ‘urricanes ‘ardly ever ‘appen) and then we move on to pastures new.  Well, strictly speaking it’s meadows new as we will be planting new wildflower meadows* at two sites in central Norwich.  We will also move from cutting willow at East Ruston to teasing out little gorse seedlings from the young heather.  There’s also a new woodland path to make, the first steps towards an exciting new network linking miles of little open spaces into an exciting green corridor for everyone to enjoy exploring.

And before you know it, it will be Easter, after which tasks will resume again, so that you can burn off all those extra calories from crème eggs.

PS: Incredibly geeky point, but officially a pasture is grazed, whereas a meadow is cut for hay.  You learn something new every day, even if you don’t want to!

The Programme is here.