'The Sweet Smell of Summer'
Where? Thistleton
When? 28 May 2009
What's it about? Cribb’s Meadow is one of the best examples in the county of a traditional species rich hay meadow and as such has been awarded SSSI and National Nature Reserve status. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the amount of meadowsweet on the reserve in recent years. Meadowsweet is a perennial herb of damp grassland sites and can out-compete and shade out other smaller plants typical of this habitat if left unchecked. The volunteers will help to cut and clear the meadowsweet in order to protect the diversity of flora on this herb-rich grassland.
Where's it happening? Cribb's Meadow National Nature Reserve,, Thistleton
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Protective Clothing, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? No under 16s
How many NEW volunteers required? 4
Press/Volunteer Contact: Susannah O'Riordan (0116 272 8863)
Organised by: Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Email: volunteering@lrwt.org.uk
REF E306
Little Litter Pickers
Where? Leicester
When? 26 March 2009
What's it about? We have a wooded area in school, which requires a litter pick to improve the local envirment.In terms of the wildlife's safety and the area where the children undertake outside learning.
Where's it happening? Herrick Primary School, Lockerbie Avenue, Rushey Mead,, Leicester
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Protective Clothing
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required?
Press/Volunteer Contact: Jo Hulme (0116 2665656)
Organised by: Herrick Primary School
REF E71
Hope for the Grounds
Where? Leicester
When? 15 April 2009
What's it about? We are a very new school, our building is only 4 years old, and we have had lots of difficulties getting the development of our school grounds up and running. We recently began working with a landscape architect through Learning Through Landscapes. Alongside him, we ran a 6 week topic for the whole school (300 pupils) to think about designs for our grounds and how we could begin to develop them into a fantastic outdoor learning area, as well as somewhere the children could relax, play, and learn about wildlife and nature. He took away all the children's work and ideas and has come up with an amazing plan which we are all very excited about putting into place. Some of the work will require outside contractors, but we are very keen to get started on anything that we can do for ourselves. One of the ideas on the plan was to have painted tyres creating an entrance off the playground into each classroom. The tyres could then be planted with a mini garden for each class to care for. At our school, each of the classrooms is named after a colour, working through the rainbow as you move around the school. You can imagine that rainbow painted tyres would have a great immediate visual impact! The children are very keen to get on with this part of the project as soon as possible, and are recruiting parent volunteers as we speak! We are hoping to use parent volunteers to help with the painting and the planting, along with their children. We have sourced the tyres, and would use the money from the CV grant to put towards the cost of paint and compost. We are hoping to carry out the tyre building during the easter break, so that we don't miss out on the start of the growing year.
Where's it happening? Sandhills Avenue, Leicester
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? No pets, Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required?
Press/Volunteer Contact: Josslyn McAuley (0116 2766121)
Organised by: Hope Hamilton Primary School
REF E153
Scare Crow Garden
Where? Leicester
When? 5 May 2009
What's it about? Create a natute area for an outside classroom.; Create pottage style growing area for children to grow vegetables and flowers in.
Where's it happening? Marriott Road, Leicester
What to wear/bring:
What will be provided:
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions?
How many NEW volunteers required?
Press/Volunteer Contact: Marriott Primary school (0116832433)
Organised by: Marriott Primary school
Email: spennington@marriott.leicester.sch.uk
REF E61
A Day To Remember
Where? Leicester
When? 6 June 2009
What's it about? Members of the voluntary group will pick up litter, sweep paths and visit the cemetery to tidy their own family graves.
Where's it happening? Belgrave Cemetery situated near Red Hill Island at the junction of the A6 and Red Hill Way., Leicester
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear
What will be provided: Refreshments
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required? NO
Press/Volunteer Contact: Dorothy Marshall (01162672018)
Organised by: Friends of Belgrave Cemetery Group
Email: dfmarshall@connectfree.co.uk
REF E12
Clear The Rubble To Make Space For The Barbie!
Where? Leicester
When? 23 June 2009
What's it about? We have land at the back of our community hall which is overgrown and covered in rubble. The project will begin the clearing process to allow the land to be used for barbecues and as a playspace
Where's it happening? Leicester rd, Oadby, Leicester
What to wear/bring:
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Lunch, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? No under 16s
How many NEW volunteers required?
Press/Volunteer Contact: Mrs Chris Swan (07808 882033)
Organised by: Oadby Baptist Church
Email: swans@swansweb.co.uk
REF E439
Fantastic Hedging
Where? Leicester
When? 24 June 2009
What's it about? We are creating a hedge at the front of the school which will attract birds.
Where's it happening? Howdon Rd, Oadby, Leicester
What to wear/bring:
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required?
Press/Volunteer Contact: Mrs Chris Swan (07808 882033)
Organised by: Brocks Hill Primary School
Email: swans@swansweb.co.uk
REF E441
Plant Thringstone
Where? Leics
When? 20 May 2009
What's it about? We would like money to buy plants to complement existing planting done last year on Millbank in our village. Some plants died, and there are gaps in our planting, and we need money to be able to replant.
Where's it happening? Millbank,, Thringstone, Leics
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Tools and Materials, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? No pets
How many NEW volunteers required? 4
Press/Volunteer Contact: Chairman Nita Pearson (01530 223434)
Organised by: Friends of Thringstone
Email: nita.pearson@ntlworld.com
REF E157
Prepare to Plant
Where? Loughborough
When? Wednesday 20th May 2009
What's it about? Part of our woodland is badly overgrown with snowberry on non-native invasive shrub. It makes a dense cover and prevents important native plants and trees growing. Our 15 volunteers will cut down the snowberry and mattock up roots to prepare the ground for the planting of native woodland plants.
Where's it happening? Towles Field, Burton on the Wolds, Loughborough
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Protective Clothing
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Partial
Any restrictions? No pets, No under 16s
How many NEW volunteers required? 5
Press/Volunteer Contact: Catherine Thomson (01509 881529)
Organised by: Burton Plantation Management Committee
REF E301
Hedging Galore!
Where? Near Greetham
When? 24 March 2009
What's it about? Merry's Meadows is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a great diversity of grassland flora across its 3 meadows. Our project involves planting 600 hawthorn whips to create a hedge along the boundary between one of the meadows and a neighbouring arable field. This is to help protect the meadow and it's flora against spray drift from the adjoining arable land, as well as creating a new habitat, particularly for birds. The volunteers will be helping to dig all the holes necessary for the whips, then planting them, watering them and putting tree guards around them.
Where's it happening? Merry's Meadows Nature Reserve, Near Greetham
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Protective Clothing, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? No pets, No under 16s
How many NEW volunteers required? 2
Press/Volunteer Contact: Susannah O'Riordan (0116 272 8863)
Organised by: Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Email: volunteering@lrwt.org.uk
REF E25
Memorial Garden
Where? Oadby
When? 22 April 2009
What's it about? The school Eco group will transform the overgrown memorial garden dedicated to a member of staff who died from cancer into a wildlife garden and vegetable patch.
Where's it happening? Copse Close, Oadby
What to wear/bring:
What will be provided:
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions?
How many NEW volunteers required? No
Press/Volunteer Contact: Manor High School (0116 2714941)
Organised by: Manor High School
REF E175
Cottesmore Litter Pick
Where? Oakham
When? 19 July 2009
What's it about? The children and young people and families of RAF Cottesmore will be volunteering to complete a litter pick on Sunday 19th July. RAF Cottesmore is a flying station and the station normally has a FOD plod on the technical site of the airfield. Our project will litter pick on the families site, which will have an impact on FOD and our aircraft. This project has been endorsed by the station, the LA and we are working with the Big Tidy Up. This project will engage with the children and young people to encourage participation and an incite into litter and how there input can have an effect on FOD and pollution on the station. We all want to live in a cleaner environment.
Where's it happening? Ashwell Block, RAF Cottesmore, Oakham
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Partially
Any restrictions? No pets, Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult, This project will focus on the service community, This project will focus on the service community
How many NEW volunteers required? No
Press/Volunteer Contact: Patrick Lewis-Brown (01572 812241 Ext. 6640)
Organised by: MOD RAF Cottesmore
Email: Patrick.Lewis-Brown750@mod.uk
REF E522
Graffitti Garden
Where? Rowlatts Hill
When? 27 April 2009
What's it about? The green club plants and maintains a small garden at the rear of the school. The space is enclosed by a fence on two sides, a pond with trees at the end and on the forth side is bordered by a large shipping container - used for school storage. The container is painted white and is quite the dominant feature. The aim of the project is to paint a large mural on the container to soften its metal personality and give the illusion of more space in the garden. Designs have been completed and we are ready to go. However we have no suitable paint. Volunteers will map out and paint the mural as per the design, finishing it appropriately to protect it from the ravages of the weather.We will also have aclearup of the site.
Where's it happening? Rowlatts Hill Primary school, Balderstone Close, Rowlatts Hill
What to wear/bring: Refreshments, Sturdy Footwear, Protective Clothing, enthusiasm and comittment
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Partially
Any restrictions? No pets, No under 16s, Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult, volunteers will have a child / children at the school or be associated in some other way, volunteers will have a child / children at the school or be associated in some other way
How many NEW volunteers required? 3
Press/Volunteer Contact: Julain Rodger (01116 2768812)
Organised by: Rowlatts Hill Primary School - green club
Email: jrodger@rowlattshill.leics.sch.uk
REF E11
Spinney Turn Around
Where? Saltby
When? 25 April 2009
What's it about? Saltby village community have a spinney, which is on a reclaimed rubbish tip area. It is a good habitat area for wildlife and the villages do have an annual BBQ in the area. Our project is to improve the habitat area to include clearing nettles, planting a hawthorn hedge and general tidying up the area. This will give the villages a better area to visit and teach their children about the local wildlife. NB This will be an ongoing project with volunteers from the village commencing 25/4
Where's it happening? The Old Barn, 18 Main Street, Melton Mowbray, Saltby
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Tools and Materials, Protective Clothing, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required? 0
Press/Volunteer Contact: Martin Quilter (07894 217637)
Organised by: Saltby 2000
REF E261
Boxing Wisely
Where? Saltby
When? 23 May 2009
What's it about? Saltby has a wealth of bird life including a good head of Owls including Tawny and Barn. Saltby 2000 intends to involve the youngsters of the village making and setting up bird boxes throughout the village. This will include boxes for Owls, tits, robins and hedge sparrows so it will help the youngsters understand the different types of boxes for each bird and encourage further bird population. We are also investigating if it is appropriate to include bat boxes. Advice is being sought from the Wild Life Trust before commencing.
Where's it happening? The Old Barn, Melton Mowbray ( The Back Street ), 18 Main Street,, Saltby
What to wear/bring: Tools and Materials, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required? 0
Press/Volunteer Contact: Martin Quilter (07894 217637)
Organised by: Saltby 2000
REF E262
Cleaning Up The Welcome To Saltby
Where? Saltby
When? 31st May 2009
What's it about? Saltby 2000 is to arrange a litter pick for the overall village including roads leading into the village. Currently there is litter mainly in the hedgerows leading into the village on 4 roads. We will establish a team including the youngsters of the village to complete a litter pick of these areas
Where's it happening? The Old Barn, 18 Main Street,, Melton Mowbray, Saltby
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Tools and Materials, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required? 0
Press/Volunteer Contact: Martin Quilter (07894 217637)
Organised by: Saltby 2000
REF E260
'Fabulous Fencing'
Where? Tilton on the Hill
When? 14 May 2009
What's it about? Tilton Cutting was dug in the 1870's for the railway line between Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough. Since the closure of the railway the site was acquired by the wildlife trust and is now registered as a geological site of special scientific interest due to its exposed rock faces and the fossils. A section of fencing is required at this site to prevent horses and horse riders using the former rail track through this reserve as a bridleway. The path has become deeply rutted in places making it difficult to walk on and affecting the local ecology. The volunteers will be helping out with all aspects of the fence construction from digging the posts into the ground to attaching the rail sections.
Where's it happening? Tilton Cutting Local Nature Reserve,, off the Tilton to Oakham road,, Tilton on the Hill
What to wear/bring: Sturdy Footwear, Packed Lunch
What will be provided: Health & Safety, Training, Refreshments, Tools & Materials
Is there wheelchair access to the site? No
Any restrictions? No under 16s
How many NEW volunteers required? 2
Press/Volunteer Contact: Susannah O'Riordan (0116 272 8863)
Organised by: Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Email: volunteering@lrwt.org.uk
REF E305
Finding Feathered Friends
Where? Uppingham Rutland
When? 16 March 2009
What's it about? Our reception class outdoor play area is in desperate need of a makeover. Although school is trying to raise funds for not just our area but the main school playground, this is going to take a long time. We are trying to make some short term improvements that will have an immediate impact on the area using the very limited funds that we have. The first thing we are hoping to do is to have a nature area. This will involve setting up a minoibeast corner with logs, and making some nest boxes and feeders to attract birds to our playground. We are also hoping to get a rabbit! We have asked for parent/grandparent/friends to volunteer to come and work alongside the children and help erect them in our playground. We will then make some different bird foods in the classroom.
Where's it happening? Leighfield school, Newtown Road, Uppingham Rutland
What to wear/bring: Tools and Materials
What will be provided: Refreshments, lots of excitement and enthusiasm!
Is there wheelchair access to the site? Yes
Any restrictions? No under 16s, Children under 16 must be accomapnied by an adult
How many NEW volunteers required? 0
Press/Volunteer Contact: Mrs Denise Cabel (01572823489)
Organised by: Reception Class Leighfield School
REF E59