Volunteering

Volunteers wanted for projects in Bowland

Project 1: Wayside wildflowers – help restore our verges!

You must have noticed the widespread decline in wildflowers in hedgerows and verges. This can be reversed and we plan to do just that! The decline was largely due to spraying and inappropriate cutting over the last 40 years. Spraying has been discontinued, but wildflowers will not re-colonise where there are no plants left to provide seed. There are still some wonderful examples of verges rich in species and we want to collect seed from them to sow and grow on for replanting into suitable areas.

We will train volunteers in wildflower identification and seed collection and you will be able to make a positive contribution to your environment.

Project 2: Rush cutting – improving pastures for Bowland’s wading birds

The UK’s farmland birds are suffering from a sharp decline in their population and range. Lapwings and skylarks, two of our best known farmland birds, have halved in number over the last thirty years, and in many areas of lowland England Lapwings are now only found on nature reserves. You can help stop this decline by working with the RSPB’s Bowland Wader Project and the Forest of Bowland AONB!

Bowland’s rushy pastures are a nationally important habitat for wading birds such as lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank. A sparse, tussocky cover of rushes with some thicker strands in the boggiest areas, provide the ideal grassland structure for the widest range of birds. If left unmanaged though, rushes can take over and this reduces the suitability of these habitats, not only for the birds but also grazing livestock, scarce wildflowers such as ragged robin and a range of other wildlife.

We plan to have work parties on several days at several sites cutting rush. We will provide training, although the work is relatively unskilled so everyone can take part! We will ensure that you are briefed on the reason and importance of your work and will supervise the team so people can work safely.

If you are interested in helping us with either of the above projects and this vital local conservation work then please email Martin Charlesworth for further details, stating which projects you are interested in - martin.charlesworth@env.lancscc.gov.uk

If you are interested in volunteering in the Forest of Bowland AONB, whether by carrying out practical tasks of helping to monitor wildlife or manage visitors, then please send your details including name, address, contact number and e-mail address along with your age and any special requirements you may have to:

Martin Charlesworth
Community Projects Officer
Forest of Bowland AONB
c/o Lancashire Rural Futures
First Floor
Waterloo Mill
Waterloo Road
Clitheroe
BB7 1LR
Telephone: 01200 426433
Email: martin.charlesworth@lancashire.gov.uk

Other ways to get involved

RSPB

Details of volunteering opportunities can be found on the RSPB website (www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering). The RSPB has over 13,000 volunteers giving a gift of time of 610,000 hours, equivalent to 313 full time staff. 470,000 people also volunteered an hour of their time in the RSPB's mass participation bird survey, the Big Garden Birdwatch. Help wildlife, boost your skills...volunteer for the RSPB.

Age Concern

Visit Age Concern Lancashire (www.ageconcernlancs.org.uk) for details of many volunteering opportunities. In the Ribble Valley there is a new project called 'Healthy Ageing' which provides healthy ageing related activities for all older people living in the Ribble Valley. One proposed project in Clitheroe is for parents/grandparents to work with school children passing on their knowledge of gardening and vegetable growing in a soon to be reclaimed allotment area. For further details contact the co-ordinator on 01200 453077.

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