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Greenspace volunteering
Whatever your age, ability and background, there are lots of
opportunities to get involved as a volunteer, improving Medway's
parks and Greenspaces. You may like the idea of helping with
practical conservation tasks, manning a visitor centre or becoming
involved in guiding the future development of the Greenspace.
Joining a local conservation, volunteering or "friends of" group
can give you:
- a sense of achievement;
- a new way of getting fresh air and exercise;
- improved knowledge and skills;
- an opportunity to improve your local environment.
We need your help to improve Medway's parks and Greenspaces. If
you are interested in joining one of Medway's conservation
volunteer groups please contact the group directly using the
details provided below.
Community Engagement Framework
The Community
Engagement Framework provides guidance for new and existing
friends and volunteer groups. The Framework provides information on
how to set up a group and the support available for
established groups. To use this file you will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader. If you do not have it on your computer, please use our
advice page.
Medway-wide volunteer groups
Medway Urban Parks and Green Spaces Forum
The forum was formed in 2006 bringing together existing friends,
community and amenity groups interested in supporting, promoting,
developing and protecting our parks, gardens, leisure, historic and
recreation areas. It encourages the formation of new groups
and can supply an introductory leaflet and a resources pack
covering anything from arranging the first meeting of local users
to risk assessment for events. It monitors agreed projects
and is consulted on local strategies.
Contact: Pat Cooper
Phone: 07948 342081
Email: medwayupgsf@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.mupgsf.btik.com/
Medway Countryside Forum
This forum works to
- raise the appreciation of Medway's countryside sites;
- support action from official and volunteer groups to protect
the countryside and to increase the access to countryside sites;
and
- raise awareness of the threats for Medway's Countryside,
wildlife and open spaces.
The forum is supported by a wide range of official and voluntary
organisations that are represented at each meeting.
Contact: David Murr
Phone: 01634 38951
Medway Towns Conservation Volunteers (MTCV)
This group carries out conservation and ground maintenance and
trains new members in countryside management. It was involved in a
project at Berengrave Local Nature Reserve to manage plant growth
and build boardwalks.
MTCV won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2006 for its
conservation work in the countryside and in recognition of the
interest it instils among environmental volunteers. It is
co-ordinated from Capstone Farm Country Park visitor centre and
affiliated with the The Conservation Volunteers.
Contact: Capstone Farm Country Park
Phone: 01634 338191
Email: capstonefarmcp@medway.gov.uk
Site-specific volunteer groups
Capstone Park Volunteers
Capstone is the ideal place for anyone wanting
to take part in conservation. It offers a chance to get away from
everyday stress and discover long-lost muscles. Based at Capstone
Farm Country Park, the group meets on Monday and Tuesday mornings
weekly and one Sunday a month. Tasks include scrub clearance,
coppicing, hedge and tree planting, hedging, surveys, woodland
management and park events.
Contact: Capstone Farm Country Park
Phone: 01634 338191
Fax: 01634 811438
Write to: Capstone Farm Country Park, Capstone Road, Gillingham,
Kent ME7 3JG
Email: capstonefarmcp@medway.gov.uk
Cuxton Countryside group
This group helps in the conservation and promotion of the
countryside and public rights of way within the parish of Cuxton.
Based around Cuxton, the group meets monthly on Saturday and Sunday
mornings. Tasks include footpath maintenance and woodland work.
Contact: Rita Hunt
Phone: 01634 295580
Email: ritahunt@tiscali.co.uk
Friends of Berengrave
Berengrave
and Rainham Dock East Local Nature Reserves are located at the
junction of Berengrave Lane and the Lower Rainham Road in Rainham.
The group works with Medway Council to conserve and enhance the
existing biodiversity, promote the use for educational and
scientific purposes and research the history of the site.
Contact: Brian Baker
Phone: 01634 233014
Email: friendsberengrave@btinternet.com
Website: www.friendsofberengrave.btck.co.uk/
Borstal Open Spaces Society
Borstal Open Spaces is a voluntary group, encompassing Borstal
Recreation Ground and Baty’s Marsh. The group meets regularly to
discuss issues about the sites and organises work parties
throughout the year, for example marsh clear-up, tree cutting,
litter picks etc. The idea is to work with Medway Council to ensure
that the open spaces are protected from development, to enhance the
use of the site and their environmental values.
Contact: Jacqui Baty
Phone: 01634 817453
Friends of Broomhill
This Strood community organisation is mandated to improve and
enrich Broomhill Park and the adjacent open green space for the
benefit of local residents. The organisation is dedicating time and
effort to providing regular scrub clearing and planting
activities and fun days, in addition to the long-term plans for the
area’s improvement and enlargement.
Contact: Odette Buchanan
Phone: 01634 718231
Email: odette_buchanan@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.friendsofbroomhill.org.uk/
Friends of Hillyfields
Hillyfields is a large informal open space with a small remnant
orchard. Medway Council has been
working to create an urban park at the site
and the government, Medway Liveability and Section 106 funding has
generated £665,000 of investment. The Friends of Hillyfields meet
regularly to discuss local issues with the park, organise events,
planting days and litter picks.
Contact: Jane Ward
Email: friendsofhillyfields@hotmail.co.uk
Friends of Rede Common
Found in Watling Street, Rede Common is the last piece of open
countryside in Strood and the group works to preserve and protect
the site for generations to come. Views from the ridge stretch all
the way round the compass, from Grain in the east, past Sheppey,
over all of Medway, across to Burnham Downs and the hills
surrounding Maidstone to the south, and Cobham Woods in the west.
The group meets for four working parties a year with regular
committee meetings and social events.
Phone Janet Wickens on 01634 721127 or Rita Hunt on
01634 295580
Email: ritahunt06@tiscali.co.uk
Riverside Country Park Volunteers
This group of volunteers carries out countryside management
projects such as reed bed cutting, pond clearing and footpath
maintenance, wildlife surveying and recording, helping at events
from the annual country fair to children’s nature day and staffing
the reception desk at the Riverside Country Park visitor
centre.
The Friends are affiliated with The Conservation
Volunteers which provides free training in leadership, emergency
first aid and practical conservation. The group is co-ordinated
from the Riverside Country Park visitor centre.
Contact: Riverside Country Park
Phone:01634 337432
Email: riversidecp@medway.gov.uk
Watts Meadow Volunteers
The volunteers meet regularly to carry out site management work,
path and litter clearance. Watts meadow is in Rochester, just off
Priestfields Road. It is managed for wildlife with both grassland
areas and a small woodland. The group meets quarterly to carry out
site management tasks.
Contact: Capstone Farm Country Park
Phone:01634 338191
Email: capstonefarmcp@medway.gov.uk
Friends of Gillingham Park
Friends of Gillingham Park is a constitutional group of
volunteers dedicated to protecting and enhancing the park for the
benefit of all users. It seeks to ensure the park is well
maintained and to preserve its beauty and tranquillity as well as
what is offered to the community regarding sport and space.
Contact: Medway Council
Phone: 01634 333333
Email: greenspaces@medway.gov.uk
Friends of Horsted Valley
Friends of Hosted Valley came to being on the 28 October 2010,
when the first meeting was held at St. Stephens Church and a
committee was elected. It is a community group working in
conjunction with Medway Council, with the joint aim of protecting
and enhancing the green and open spaces in the Horsted Valley.
Horsted Valley Green space is made up of Horsted Farm,
Daisy and Coney Banks, Bishops Hoath Wood and Barnfield
Recreation Field.
Website: www.fhv.btck.co.uk/
Email: horsted.valley@gmail.com
The Friends of the Great Lines Heritage Park
The Friends of Great Lines Heritage Park is an independent
community group. It aims to preserve and promote Great Lines
Heritage Park as a valued and protected open space for the
enjoyment and well-being of local residents and visitors taking
full account of its historical significance and the strong and
strong attachment to it felt by people of Medway.
Contact: Nicola Moy
Email: nicola.moy@medway.gov.uk
Website: http://foglhp.foag.org.uk/
Friends of The Admiral's Gardens
This community group aims to influence the development of open
space, woodlands and lines fortifications as a new community
park. It also safeguards the gardens as an open space,
holds events suitable for all ages and ensures there is access for
the whole community.
Contact: Adam Price
Address: 13 Clifton Road, Gillingham, ME7 1NA
Phone: 01634 571426
Email: aprice_nthgill@hotmail.com
Website:http://foag.org.uk/
Friends of the Vines
This community friends group works
actively to encourage the renaissance of the historic garden. The
group meets six times a year and supports Medway Council's improved
Green Flag management of the area. The group also works with Kent
Wildlife Trust to highlight wildlife within the Vines.
Contact: Sarah Griffin
Email: smgriffin1@hotmail.com
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