Countryside Volunteers
Why not work with one of the groups of Voluntary Wardens at one of our countryside sites? As a volunteer you can take part in many different activities on your interests and abilities.
During 2006 - 2007 local volunteers gave Welwyn Hatfield Council at least 1600 days work. This tremendous effort was focused on nature reserves, in woodlands and open spaces.
As a volunteer you can:
- take part in many rural activities
- discover new places you might not have visited before
- get some exercise in the fresh air
- help us keep a check on local wildlife populations
- meet new friends
- learn new skills
- make a very positive contribution to local wildlife conservation.
Coppicing, tree planting, scrub and grassland management, hedge-laying and fencing are all popular tasks. If all this sounds too much like hard physical work, you can still provide valuable ‘eyes and ears’ support to our Landscape Officer, lead guided walks or help us survey important local wildlife species.
A few of the jobs done on our nature reserves recently include:
- hedge-laying at The Commons
- planting of oak transplants in Brocks Wood
- scrub management at Danesbury
- glade restoration in Northaw Great Wood
- ride enhancement in Sherrardspark Wood
- hedge planting at Stream Wood
- post-and-rail fencing at The Commons
- rhododendron management at Mardley Heath
- survey of fungi at Danesbury
- butterfly transect survey in Sherrardspark Wood
It’s up to you just how much, or how little, you wish to be involved. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to take a more active part in looking after our countryside.
Volunteering dates
Mardley Heath : Third Sunday of each month
Danesbury : Feb work party very successful, late spring date to be arranged
Sherrardspark Wood: Thursday and Sunday mornings, October – May
The Commons: Third Sunday of each month
Stream / Oxleys Woods: Third Sunday of each month
Northaw Great Wood; First Sunday of the month
So, if you are interested in being a Friend of our Local Nature Reserves and other woodlands and open spaces throughout the district, please contact us on 01707 357418 or email me, Chris James at c.james@welhat.gov.uk.