Conservation volunteering

Green Thursday

We run a volunteer conservation group every Thursday which is open to all. Come along and keep fit while helping to take care of your local environment at one of our woodlands. Whether you can spare half a day or just a couple of hours, your time and help are invaluable to us. More about our conservation events and nature walks.

Tools, gloves and hot drinks are provided, but if you intend to stay longer, please bring a packed lunch. Please wear appropriate footwear and appropriate warm waterproof clothing suitable for outdoors activities. All work parties are subject to the weather, if in doubt please call us to confirm details on 01494 421 825

• When: Thursdays
• Time: 10am
• Meet: By the Rye Centre, Holywell Mead, Rye car park, High Wycombe.

Photograph courtesy of Dave Marriott

Conservation volunteer projects

We have 19 woodland sites - including five Local Nature Reserves, that we need help with important conservation work all year round.
There are a series of projects and events which enable active public participation. See conservation events and nature walks. These are also advertised in the WOW - What's on in Wycombe events listing.

We are very pleased to be working in partnership with The Shaw Trust, a national charity that helps disabled and disadvantaged people to gain skills to help them back into the work place.

Gillian Hudson; Team Leader at High Wycombe Shaw Trust said "It is proving to be a very beneficial partnership for us, in so much that our clients who take part are having the opportunity to take part in Environmental Conservation Projects, which highlight local "Green" issues. Anything that gets clients out into the local countryside working and being active can only be a good thing, and it also gives them a real sense of achievement and purpose".

Individuals who have worked with The Shaw Trust have spoken about their experiences:

Giles Mcclory: "I like being outside, and enjoy helping the woodland service. I enjoy helping and cleaning the environment by keeping the woods clean of rubbish. I hope this is keeping me fit and helps me to work as part of a team."

David Crisp: "I like working outside, and I enjoy helping Wycombe Rangers to keep the woods around the town tidy. I find helping the environment very rewarding."

Glenmore Williams: "I like going out with the Rangers into the countryside on a Thursday morning. I enjoy trimming the bushes and putting down steps. This makes me feel good."

We welcome enquiries from all sections of the community to engage in conservation work throughout the district for the benefit of biodiversity and the community.

Revive The Wye

Formed in 2008 by The Chiltern Society (See link below), The High Wycombe Society and the Wycombe Wildlife Group as a Wycombe Strategic Partnership project, the Revive the Wye project aims to protect and improve the natural environment of the River Wye and to make it a special place that people can enjoy and in which wildlife can flourish. The project builds on earlier work by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, Wycombe District Council and the Environment Agency.

The Wye flows from the north-west of West Wycombe, through High Wycombe, Wycombe Marsh, Loudwater, Wooburn and Bourne End, before joining the River Thames. It has a network of back-streams and tributaries, including the Hughenden Stream, which will also be included in the project.

The River Wye is one of a number of important chalk streams in the Chilterns. Chalk streams are an internationally rare habitat and support a wide variety of wildlife, including some of the UK's most endangered species.

The Revive the Wye project is run by a Steering Group that includes representatives from Wycombe District Council, the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project and the Environment Agency, as well as the three initiating organisations. Local businesses such as TNS have also become involved through their CSR programme.

The objectives of the project are:

• To protect and enhance the natural environment and setting of The River Wye, its tributaries and back streams.
• To encourage the creation of access corridors along the river.
• To engage with landowners and tenants of properties bordering the river with a view to seeking their assistance to enhance the setting of the river.
• To consider and respond to planning issues affecting the river.
• To raise awareness of The River Wye and matters related to it.
• To form a Friends of the Wye Group to help achieve these objectives.

For more information on the project see the Revive The Wye (see link below) website.

Volunteer warden scheme

We have opportunities for people to become local volunteer wardens for many of our sites. Our wardens provide us with valuable help, keeping an eye on the local environment and reporting back to us anything ranging from; wildlife sightings to fallen trees to fly-tipping problems. You are also encouraged to help on work parties and with events such as guided walks.

Corporate and team building opportunities

 

 

 

 

We offer corporate social responsibility and team building opportunities for businesses and groups who enjoy working in their local environment. Through this venture, companies are able to become closely linked to a site as a conservation partner, getting involved in practical conservation, or they can contribute towards interpretation materials or items such as benches.