If your firm wishes to have a fun day out of the office and help Bowland into the bargain with some interesting conservation tasks then contact Martin Charlesworth on 01200 426433 or email martin [dot] charlesworth [at] lancashire [dot] gov [dot] uk and he will tell you what activities are available. They could include tree planting, hedge laying, dry stone walling or even building bike trails through Gisburn Forest like Clitheroe firm 3M Health Care.

Case Studies

Environment Agency volunteers rebuild dry stone wall on Organic Farm

Five Employee Volunteers from the Environment Agency’s Warrington office came to Lower Gazegill organic farm on 9th July 2009 to rebuild a dry stone wall lead by Countryside Officer, David Oyston. The location could not have been better; open views of Pendle Hill and a 10 minute walk from the ancient Lower Gazegill farmhouse where Oxford Sandy and Black pigs grunted contentedly after being fed a few ripe peaches as a treat by Ian O’Riley and Emma Robinson whose family have farmed there for about 500 years! The wall stands on the line of a footpath across the farm and it had been decided to create a pond next to the path in the field corner. In fact 2 ponds were dug and fenced off by Ian the farmer and these will help clean up the water flowing along the ditch. It rained at lunchtime but we were under a canopy eating some steak with salad, both produced on the farm, chatting to Ian and Emma about old pigs, the price of milk and life in general. Probably unrepeatable but there’s always plenty of other tasks to do.

Visit www.gazegillorganics.com

 

3M Health Care volunteers build cycle trails in Gisburn Forest

Workers from Clitheroe firm 3M Health Care gave up a day working at the factory in exchange for a day in Gisburn Forest with wheelbarrows, saws, spades and shovels helping Martin Colledge from the Forestry Commission build new cycle trails on June 11th. Martin's plan is to build over 22 kms of trails that will allow progression from 'family friendly routes' through to the toughest 'black routes' that will see Gisburn Forest become the regions finest off-road cycling facility. 3M Health Care offer all their employees the chance to volunteer on local community projects for a day a year. They worked hard, created twisting tracks through virgin forest and had an enjoyable day out! The Gisburn Forest cycling partnership comprises Forestry Commission, United Utilities, the Forest of Bowland and Ribble Valley Borough Council.