VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES ON PARISH OPEN SPACES

PROGRAMME FOR LIONS HILL, AVON HEATH AND MOORS VALLEY

Volunteer work parties help regularly with the conservation of our parish open spaces. They help with the management of heathland and, in Moors Valley, the management of woodland, ponds and Crane Lake. Residents are very welcome to join these parties. Gloves, tools, supervision, drinks and biscuits are provided. All task leaders are qualified first-aiders. Wear sensible footwear, old clothes, and bring a picnic if staying all day. Most tasks start at 10.00am and finish by 4.00pm or as soon as we get too tired! There is little to do in the garden during Autum and Winter but it is a very busy time for conservation work. As little as one hour of help can make a tremendous difference to our local green spaces. Think of it as coarse gardening! Have fun, get some exercise and do something useful. Parking is free for all volunteers on all sites.

Work parties in Moors Valley (Family Conservation Days) are organised by Jonathan Smith (tel 01425 470721). We usually start at 10.30am. Parking for volunteers in Moors Valley is free or bicycles can be stored securely under cover. Please telephone to say if you will be volunteering so that sufficient tools and (most important this) enough drinks and biscuits can be provided. The team also undertake tasks in neighbouring areas, Park Rangers can provide details.

A group of volunteers meet regularly every Thursday, alternating between Lions Hill and Avon Heath Country Park. Contact Brian Kliger (01425 474425) for more details or see the timetable below.

Work parties in Avon Heath are organised by Marco Marsango (tel. 07827 820464). We usually meet at the Wardens' Work Base at 9.45am for a 10.00am start---this is NOT the Visitors Centre in the Park but a depot in the centre of the heath reached by taking Birch Road off the West carriageway of the A31, just past the Ashley Heath A31/A338 junction; follow the first sign towards the Car Park but drive through the gate and continue along the unmade road past a house (the Warren) until you reach a second car park by the Work Base. PLEASE TELEPHONE TO SAY IF YOU ARE COMING AND TO CHECK THE MEETING POINT AS WE SOMETIMES WORK IN THE SOUTH PARK AND MEET AT THE BOUNDARY LANE CAR PARK. We meet at 9.45am at the Work Base---please contact Marco if you are interested in joining in. You would be very welcome.

Lions Hill tasks usually alternate on Thursdays with Avon Heath. Work parties meet along Lions Hill Way by the gates into the hill. Again, it is a 9.45am meet for a 10.00am start. Please phone local organiser Brian Kliger (01425 474425) to say if you are coming. SAUSAGES AND BAKED POTATOES ARE OFTEN PROVIDED FOR LIONS HILL VOLUNTEERS.

Your local contact for all three sites is Brian Kliger (phone no. as above, ruthandbrian@talktalk.net. We plant hedges and native deciduous trees, open up woodland glades, selectively cut down unwanted growth in order to open up and manage heathland, clear ponds and otherwise make ourselves useful. When felling small trees, gorse and rhododendron, we usually have a bonfire to burn off the brash.

Avon Castle residents meet every other Tuesday morning to clear wild rhododendron and unwanted pine from the Ashley Strip, a heathland SSSI between Avon Castle and the Spur Road. Contact local resident Graham Viggars (01425 472027) for details.

TIMETABLE:

FAMILY CONSERVATION DAYS with the Moors Valley Rangers.

Saturday 30th January and Sunday 31st January, Poor Common, Ferndown.
Wednesday 17th February to Sunday 21st February, Moors Valley, planting trees and hedges.
Sunday 21st March, Penningtons Copse, West Moors.