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Join one of the groups listed below to meet new people, learn new skills and enjoy fresh air and exercise.
Medway-wide volunteer groups
Medway Urban Parks and Green Spaces Forum
This forum has been set up in partnership between Groundwork Kent and Medway and Medway Council. It was felt that this umbrella group was needed to represent smaller groups and it works to protect Medway's green spaces.
Contact: Pat Cooper
Phone: 07948 342081
Email: medwayupgsf@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.mupgsf.btik.com
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 to the BTCV (www2.btcv.org.uk).
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
Email: capstonefarmcp@medway.gov.uk
Cherries Orchard Volunteers
Cherries Orchard is a small but important site for nature that the volunteer group hope to maintain as a wildlife haven. Based in Rainham, the group meets every other Sunday at 9.30am. Tasks include path clearance, habitat creation, carrying out wildlife surveys and litter control.
Contact: Jacque Manington
Phone: 01634 373801
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.btik.com
Friends of Borstal Open Spaces
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
Email: info@borstalopenspaces.org.uk
Website: www.borstalopenspaces.org.uk
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 in providing regular scrub clearing, planting activities and fun days, in addition to the long-term plans for 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: Pat Cooper
Phone: 07948 342081
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.
Contact: Rita Hunt
Phone: 01634-295580
Email: ritahunt06@tiscali.co.uk
Friends of Riverside
This group of volunteers carries out countryside management projects such as reedbed 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 to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) (www2.btcv.org.uk) that 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
Levan Strice Volunteers
Levan Strice Wood is in Fairview Avenue in Rainham. The friends of group carries out tasks in the woods like path building, litter clearance, looking after the meadow and supporting Medway Council with woodland management tasks. The group meets on a monthly basis.
Contact: Simon Bellinger
Phone: 01634 338191
Email: simon.bellinger@medway.gov.uk
Thursday Volunteer Group
The Thursday Group is a council-led volunteer group helping to manage areas of ancient woodland and chalk grassland for public access and conservation in Medway. The group meets on most Thursdays, throughout the year.
Contact: Simon Bellinger
Phone: 01634 338191
Email: simon.bellinger@medway.gov.uk
Website: www.thursdaygroup.ik.com
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
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