BTCV is a charity set up in 1959 which has a successful history of encouraging volunteers to get involved in environmental conservation projects throughout the UK and around the world. The organisation’s mission is to create a more sustainable future by inspiring people and improving places.

Norwichhas a thriving BTCV environmental action volunteers group. Volunteers come out regularly and are a diverse group. Most are not in employment and are developing their skills while making a tangible contribution to the local quality of life and enjoying working as a team. Their work helps improve community sites for people and wildlife. Recent projects include:

St Faiths Common Once lowland heath, this site has been ‘reclaimed’ from forestry and is being restored to typical heathland habitat in parts. During a recent Introduction to Heathland Management course at the site, volunteers learnt about the ecological importance of heathland and how to conserve it. BTCV courses are very ‘hands on’ and the volunteers learn about the reasons behind the tasks they carry out whilst they are doing them. The volunteer team removed a good deal of bramble, honeysuckle and gorse along with young saplings to prevent the heath from reverting to scrub and so back to woodland. Eleven volunteers completed the course requirements successfully and will receive certificates recording their skills and knowledge accredited by NCFE.

Salhouse Churchyard Churchyards can be important wildlife havens, if cared for in the right way. A Churchyard Conservation course covered the various habitats found within a churchyard from bats in the belfry to mosses and lichen growing on gravestones. Salhouse Church has ‘wild areas’ in the churchyard where wildflowers are encouraged to grow by implementing a special mowing regime. The volunteers undertake conservation cuts at certain times of the year and rake all clippings off the ground to encourage wildflowers. The volunteers learned about the work they do in context and all nine successfully completed the course.

The courses were supported by Broadland District Council and the Norwich Fringe Project and financial assistance from the John Jarrold Trust enabled the volunteers to achieve accreditation for their new skills and knowledge.

For more information about the work of BTCV see www.btcv.orgor contact the Norwich Environmental Action Team at BTCV, Royal Oak Court, Horns Lane, Norwich, NR1 3ER. Telephone 01603 767300

Email: norfolk@btcv.org.uk

Below: BTCV volunteers identifying heather at St Faith's Common