Volunteering in Colchester
www.ccvs.org
Colchester Community Voluntary Services aims to bring together and assist the efforts of voluntary organisations and to link voluntary and statutory bodies and co-ordinate community effort.
In addition Colchester Museums has a volunteering scheme, to find out more email: lynette.burgess@colchester.gov.uk
Volunteering in Colchester’s Countryside
Become a Countryside Volunteer Ranger – want to find out more? Then read on. Although there is no such thing as a typical day in this kind of work, there are a few things that you may be requested to do. At the beginning of the day you will be given a day plan which will list things that need to be done. This will include a patrol around one of the countryside sites such as High Woods Country Park, Hilly Fields, Gosbecks Archaeological Park and Cymbeline Meadows. Other duties will include checking fishing permits, collecting litter, carrying out small scale maintenance work such as replacing a broken fence rail or replacing waymarking signs or assisting full-time staff on a guided walk. And you may also be called upon to hunt for lost dogs, help people who are lost, talk to visitors about any management work being carried out, deal with wrong doers, help injured animals, help the emergency services, chase escaped pet rabbits (no joke!!!) the list is endless.
Conservation tasks can include anything from hedge coppicing (the cutting down of hedgerow trees to ground level to encourage bushy re-growth - its a bit like pruning your roses!), tree planting, bramble and sycamore pulling, pond clearance and fencing. They may be held at any of the Countryside sites. You will be provided with training on the day and all the tools you will need.
If being outdoors isn't your thing then you can also help out in the visitor centre, dealing with sales, telephone enquires, talking to visitors and helping with indoor activities.
For further information on volunteering with the Volunteer Ranger Service contact the Countryside Team on Colchester 01206 853588.
Park Rangers
The Park Rangers are based in Castle Park where duties include security, walks and tours, educational activities, landscape design, small scale repair and improvement, community projects, health and safety, special events, and wildlife. Castle Park is an award winning attraction that welcomes over 1 million people every year, so there is never a dull moment!
For information on volunteering with the Castle Park Rangers contact them on 01206 282962
BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)
Why not spend a day, weekend or even longer improving your environment? You could be working in a nature reserve, coppicing woodlands for wildlife or improve access on rights of way. There is room for volunteers to become involved at all levels, whether you just want to turn up on the day or help plan and lead the tasks, all are welcome.
You'll get free on the job training and will meet new people at a range of interesting sites and you'll be using your time to help create a better environment.
For information on volunteering with BTCV telephone 01206 764470
Forest Garden Project
Are you interested in sustainable food growing? Then you might want to volunteer at the High Woods Country Park Forest Garden project. This garden is designed to mimic a woodland edge and all plants are grown in layers. Many people might grow these plants in their garden but they grow them in separate areas. Instead of having an orchard, a fruit garden, a herb bed and a vegetable bed, the forest garden is growing all these plants together in the same space. Volunteers are always needed to help out with the planning of this new garden, the planting up, and the eating! We will need to source traditional recipes for inspirational ways of preparing unusual herbs like rosebay willow herb, pignut and rosehips! Volunteering days are one Sunday a month.
For more details, please contact the Countryside Education Assistant on 01206 853588.
Health Walks
Did you know that someone who is inactive has as great a risk of having heart disease as someone who smokes, has high blood pressure or high cholesterol? Inactivity is twice as prevalent in the English population as these other risk factors. Just under one-third of all coronary heart disease could be avoided by appropriate exercise.
The health walk programme has been set up to support and encourage more people to walk and exercise in the park. We are supported by the Colchester LEAP project based at Leisure World. Walks are held on two Fridays and two Sundays each month. They are 1-2 miles long and start at 11.00am. There is tea and coffee afterwards.
This project was started by volunteers and all walks are led by a team of dedicated volunteer leaders. However, we still need more help, especially on Sundays. Leading walks is a fun way to meet new people and help others increase their exercise. All volunteers receive walk leader training and basic first aid training and are supported by a member of the countryside rangers. So if you enjoy meeting new people and walking in the countryside, consider becoming a walk leader.
For more details, please contact the Countryside Education Assistant on 01206 853588.
www.volunteercentrecolchester.org.uk
Also provide information and guidance on a range of volunteering opportunities, promote good practice in volunteer management, Advocate the rights and responsibilities of volunteers, liaise and work in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies.
For more information or to make an appointment contact: Jane Snowdon, Colchester volunteer centre, 15 Church Walk, Colchester, CO1 1NS, Tel: 01026 768930, E-mail: info@volunteeringdevelopment.co.uk