We’d like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to the Colne Valley Volunteers as well as all the other amazing volunteer groups helping to look after our beautiful regional park!
Volunteers’ Week takes place between 1-7 June every year and is a time to recognise and thank our outstanding volunteers. During an exceptionally difficult year, people from all walks of life around the UK have taken the time to volunteer and made a huge difference to people and their communities – just as they do every year.
We’d like to take the time to recognise our volunteers that have helped during the last 12 months and to thank those who usually volunteer but have not been able to because of the pandemic.
Please watch our video saying a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to our Volunteers for all their remarkable work.
What have the Volunteers Been Doing?
We have many different types of volunteers, here are some more details on what the different groups have achieved this year.
River Rangers
Look how many River Rangers we have signed up and how much they have achieved!
We currently have 98 registered River Rangers. Since 2019, our River Rangers have:
- Surveyed or checked over 73 km of river for damaging invasive species including Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Floating Pennywort and Japanese Knotweed.
- Attended 37 practical sessions with River Rangers and key stakeholders across the park and
- Supported 262 Volunteers to clear over 27,000m² of watercourse
- Carried out 85 Riverfly Surveys over 43 sites
Find out more about the River Rangers Project here including how you can sign up to join them.
Cattle Checkers
As part of our conservation grazing project, we now have cattle grazing across 3 sites with our team of trained cattle checkers spending over 120 hours in the last year checking on the animals, their fencing and their water supply to help make this project a success.
Click here to find out more about our
Local businesses making a difference to the Park
We are very grateful to all the local companies who support us with our important work to enhance the Colne Valley countryside for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Find out more about how your company could get involved to help to make a difference to your local environment and what the benefits are for businesses.
How your company can join these amazing local companies and become a Corporate Supporter
The Friends of the Colne Valley Park
Our Friends Committee volunteer to administer and run “The Friends”; helping to organise walks, talks, children’s events and the Colne Valley Festival, alongside taking part in conservation activities.
Find out more about The Friends of Colne Valley Park here
See here for the latest volunteer events and outdoor activities take a look to see what is coming up and come and get involved (Covid controls in place).
Become a ‘Friend of the Park – Join our group of ‘FRIENDS’ who care about the future of this special Regional Park. Read more about the benefits and details on how to sign up.
We would also like to thank the board and trustees of the Colne Valley Park for their time, energy, commitment and huge passion in preserving and enhancing the Colne Valley Park.
Helping Us Make Volunteering Possible
Organising volunteers is a big task in itself.
Firstly we need to give a special mention to our energetic volunteer organisers who go the extra mile to organise the volunteer tasks, working long hours and on weekends. It is a big responsibility to keep everyone safe, especially in the last year and to keep on top of the legislation. We take our hats off to Chloe, Mirza, Adam and Fiona. Each task has to be risk assessed, advertised and led, then tools and equipment checked and washed before the next session.
Chloe
Mirza
Adam
Fiona
Thank you to all the other Volunteers in the Colne Valley Park
And we also need to give credit to the many other volunteers in the Colne Valley Regional Park, for example, the Hillingdon litter pickers, Iver Volunteers at Work, Staines Litter Pickers and all those who volunteer with our partners and landowners like the Wildlife Trusts, Nature Reserves and the Councils.
Please Donate:
We need your help to continue to run volunteer activities
One of the most valuable ways in which you can help us make volunteer events possible is to donate.
There is strength in numbers and your donations can make a real difference in our efforts to protect and preserve the Colne Valley Regional Park.
If you would like to support the park with our endeavours then find out here about the many ways you can get involved and help.
