Volunteering with the Wensum Valley Trust
A lot of useful outdoor work to conserve wildlife and improve countryside access has been done in the past by the Wensum Valley Project with the help of volunteers. With the establishment of the Wensum Valley Trust in March 2007 there are now opportunities for volunteers to help with essential indoor work. As well as contributing to important and interesting work, volunteers can meet new people, learn new skills and best of all have fun!
Indoor voluntary work with the WVT
If you good at writing, communicating, co-ordinating people or have clerical or computer skills you may be able to support the work of the WVT without ever getting your hands dirty! Volunteers can help to run the WVT membership, contribute to newsletters and even co-ordinate other volunteers. Supervision and expenses would be given for this kind of work, whether carried in the Gressenhall office or at home.
If interested, please contact WVT Manager.
Outdoor voluntary work in the Wensum Valley
There are many opportunities for volunteering in the countryside of the Wensum Valley. Whether it be with the roving WEVOLS (Wensum Volunteers), the Wensum Rivercare Group (Norwich) or one of the site based groups, you can enjoy a day in the beautiful Wensum Valley in good company, keep fit, and have the satisfaction of doing important work.
WEVOLS
Who are the WEVOLS?
The WEVOLS are the WEnsum VOLunteerS - a volunteer group run by the Assistant Project Officer, carrying out practical conservation tasks throughout the Wensum Valley Project area – all the way from west Norfolk to Norwich.
The WEVOLS work on interesting and beautiful sites, some of which are not open to the public. WEVOLS learn about wildlife and plants, and how habitat management can benefit them.
The tasks are incredibly varied, including nature conservation and footpath work. They range from tree planting and meadow mowing to boardwalk and stile construction.
Recent tasks in the Norwich area have been reclaiming wildflower grassland areas from brambles and coppicing dyke-side alders and willows to encourage lush vegetation for endangered water voles to feed on.
Further up the valley we have been helping the Voluntary Warden at Sparham Pools Nature Reserve near Lyng. Wildlife corridors between meadow areas were created and gorse was coppiced to establish a variety of height and structure in the undergrowth so as to benefit a variety of bird species.
At Hoe Common, near East Dereham, we have been controlling bracken to prevent it dominating the important heathland flora.
How to become a WEVOL
Previous experience is not necessary. We provide training and tools.
If you give us a contact number, we can then let you know about upcoming tasks. It does not matter how often you come out. Once a year is still very much appreciated. If you do not have any transport we may occasionally be able to offer a lift. We can also offer re-imbursement for fuel or public transport costs.
However we do try to keep people’s travelling distance to a minimum. For example people who live in Norwich usually attend the Norwich-area tasks!
Tasks are not set on a particular day but are usually on weekdays, starting at 10am and finishing by 4pm, but you do not have to stay the whole day.
You will need to bring a packed lunch and wear outdoor clothing but we will provide biscuits!
We will send you quarterly updates on tasks the WEVOLS have been involved with.
Please
Wensum Rivercare Group
This Norwich community group was set up in January 2004. The group has ‘adopted’ the River Wensum from Train Wood (behind the Halfords superstore on Barker Street) to Sweetbriar Road and carries out litter clean-ups every couple of months. Usually between 15 and 25 volunteers take part.
The results have been amazing, with huge quantities of litter and dumped junk removed from this
area.
The group was set up as a partnership between ‘Rivercare’ and the Wensum Valley Project. Rivercare is itself a partnership organisation between ENCAMS
(who run the Tidy Britain Campaign), the Environment Agency and Anglian Water which funds it.
There have been 2 m
eetings
so far in 2006. The next meeting dates will be set soon so keep an eye
out here for details.
For more information or if you have a group of people interested in adopting your own stretch of the River Wensum or its tributaries please contact us or see the website www.rivercare.org.uk.
Other countryside management volunteering in the Wensum Valley
- FACT (Fakenham Area Conservation Team) work in the Fakenham Area on a variety of different sites including Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve, local footpaths and other sites important for wildlife and people. Tasks are held every other Sunday and some weekdays.
Contact Geoff Fletcher on 01328 862164.
- Great Ryburgh Wildlife Group is local group that works in the Great Ryburgh area and manages its own small nature reserve. On the edge of the River Wensum floodplain this small woodland reserve has a bird hide and pond. Residents of Great Ryburgh may visit by arrangement.
Contact Steve Cale on 01328 829589.
Site-based volunteering
Some groups or individual volunteers are dedicated to particular sites and welcome new volunteers.
Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve, near Fakenham
Although FACT and WEVOLS help on this Hawk and Owl Trust wetland reserve, there is still plenty of work here for volunteers. See www.sculthorpemoor.co.uk or contact Nigel Middleton for more information on 0797 9826622.
Sparham Pools, near Lyng.
A diverse Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve consisting of flooded gravel pits, grassland, woodland and small remnants of heathland. Managed by voluntary warden Alwyn Jackson who is always looking for more help! Phone 01362 637752.
- Beetley Meadows, near East Dereham
This is a County Wildlife Site consisting of wildflower meadows, riverbanks and scrub on the edge of Beetley. Local volunteers are needed to help with the annual hay cutting and other management. Contact WVT
Hoe Common, near East Dereham
A beautiful site being managed to restore the valuable and unique heathland habitat.
Contact WVT.
Work Placements
Some of the organisations mentioned in this website, and some land-owners, may be able to provide work placements to students seeking work experience. Unfortunately the Wensum Valley Project is unable to offer work placements or to set them up for others.