Get active in the great outdoors
A look at volunteering opportunities outdoors as Spring arrives and entices us out
As we start to see light at the end of the tunnel with COVID and with winter, it is a great time to be thinking about how we can spend more time outdoors enjoying fresh air which is the perfect way to volunteer if you are ready to go back to socialising but still a little anxious about meeting lots of people indoors.
So this month, we are featuring opportunities to get outside and do some physical activity alongside helping community groups and charities in their environmental and conservation purposes.
Katherine Miskin, Senior Project Officer at The Conservation Volunteers, tells us a bit about the work of The Conservation Volunteers locally and how you can get involved:
‘The Conservation Volunteers started out in 1959 as a way for people to make a practical difference to the environment, and has had an office in Bedford since 1992, when we were known as BTCV. TCV’s vision is for healthier, happier communities for everyone, and we achieve this by organising and running practical environmental volunteering sessions four days a week, all year round.
We work on a variety of sites around Bedfordshire and the surrounding area, with a minibus running from Bedford to take volunteers from our office at the Cemetery Gatehouse, and other volunteers meeting us on site.
Tasks vary according to the season, but can include tree planting, hedge laying, meadow management, pond clearance, and building/repairing steps, benches, gates etc. No experience is required, as we give all the instruction and coaching needed. Tools and equipment are all provided too, as well as tea and coffee at break times.
Being outdoors, getting some exercise, achieving something, learning new skills, and connecting with other people are all recognised as being good for mental health and wellbeing, and volunteering with TCV ticks all those boxes.
To find out what’s coming up, ask any questions or book onto a day’s task, please see tcv.org.uk/beds , search for TCV Bedford on facebook, twitter or Instagram, or contact Katherine on 07740 899634 or k.miskin@tcv.org.uk ‘
We also heard from volunteer Ian, who had this to say about his experience volunteering with TCV Bedford:
“Volunteering with TCV Bedford has added to my knowledge about nature and the environment. This is especially the case with Himalayan Balsam, Pyramidal Orchids, Common Lizards and Slow-worms. I have felt welcomed and feel like I can call some of the people I have met as friends. Katherine, Chris and Hazel have made me feel part of the team and that the ideas I have shared, have helped. Volunteering has helped to improve my Mental and physical wellbeing. Finally, volunteering has helped me to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
When volunteering you get as much out of it as you put in. So, if you only want to meet people, you can do this. If want to get fit and healthy, you can do this with volunteering. You don’t need a gym membership. If you want to learn about Wildlife, there are plenty of experts involved.
It has been a pleasure volunteering at TCV. They have made me feel welcomed and a valued volunteer. “
A number of other organisations are offering opportunities with similar benefits that might tempt you to get outside and active this spring. These include Buckingham Canal Society, Luton Borough Council, The Greensand Trust and Sense. We have listed below, all the opportunities you can sign up for on our Simply Connect platform. Take a look, log on to your account or create a new one, and register your interest. The organisation should get back to you over the next few days.
If you need any support or advice with signing up for volunteering, do speak to one of our Volunteer Advisors – you can contact us at volunteering@csvsbeds.org.uk or call 01234 354366.
Opportunities
Buckingham Canal Society
A local charity working to restore the disused Buckingham Canal. Although the volunteering is in Buckingham, sites are not too far to travel for those on the Western side of Bedfordshire.
Practical task work parties run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and on the second Sunday of each month on four sites along the canal, one of which is a nature reserve.
Luton Borough Council
People interested in becoming a volunteer can help with a number of practical tasks through one of the established groups that work with the Nature Conservation Service for the council.
You will be helping to enhance the level of biodiversity across the town through management of habitat across Luton's Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) and County Wildlife Sites. You have the opportunity to learn conservation teechniques and some basic ecological knowledge of the area as you help with tasks such as scrub management, dealing with invasive species, tree planting, maintaining paths and improving accessibiltiy.
Wardown Park Volunteer Gardener
Help as part of a team to maintaining and enhancing some of the showcase flower beds around Wardown Park. Prior experience is not needed and both tools and basic training will be provided. You will have the opportunity to learn some basic horicultural skills including plant identification. Sessions are on Thursday mornings.
The Greensand Trust
The Greensand Trust carries out work to conserve, enhance and protect the distinctive landscape, wildlife and history of The Greensand Ridge and the wider area, improving access, unerstanding and enjoyment for the benefit of all.
Practical and Conservation Volunteer
You have the opportunity to join regular working parties led by a Greensand Countryside Ranger, part of a team carrying out a wide range of habitat management and estate works on Greensand Trust sites across the Greensand Ridge. Tasks vary throughout hte year ranging from meadow cutting and raking through to coppicing, path work and vegetation clearance along with various construction projects, fencing, path creation. The working parties take place on Wednesdays.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
Read more about this role in the article above.
Bradgers Hill Conservation Volunteer
Activities to help look after the habitats on Bradgers Hill in Luton are run by The Wildlife Trust and TCV together. They include scrub clearance, grassland work and hedgelaying and take place on Wednesdays.
Sense
Sense supports people wih have complex communication or sensory needs and they have taken on an allotment in Bedford to offer a sensory and community experience to the individuals they support.
Use your skills to help with clearing Sense's allotment and keeping on top of weeding, helping to flatten the ground to make it safe for Sense individuals to access. Tasks also include laying a weed control membrane, and the placement and upkeep of raised planters and a small vegetable patch. Volunteering as part of this programme will give you the opportunity to make a real difference to supporting young people and adults to experience and enjoy the allotment, to grow their own flowers and vegetables to use in their cookery sessions and/or sell in Sense's Enterprise shop.
