How you can help
There are many ways that you can get involved in helping to create, maintain or encourage others to use parks and green spaces.
Contact the team or see our interactive map to give it a go.
Volunteer
"Helping to put pride back into our communities brings out the feelgood factor in me. Without us volunteers some of our green spaces would disappear." - Barbara Belford, Oak Tree SAFE.
Volunteering in Greenwood couldn't be easier and there is a whole range of activities to take part in all year round. Whatever your interest, or time available, there are lots of practical ways you can get involved.
Becoming a volunteer is fun! You can get involved in the planning of events, writing articles, producing newsletters, or get out into the fresh air to take part in one of the many practical conservation tasks taking place every week. These can range from woodland conservation and hedge laying in winter to grassland and heathland management in summer – but be prepared for anything!
It might just be the new adventure you are looking for - it's free, keeps you fit into the bargain and it's a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
There are lots of groups right on your doorstep who are keen to welcome you and there's also free training available and a host of other benefits. You can contact any of the organisations below or Friends groups. Contact the Greenwood team for a free copy of the Friends of Greenwood directory of volunteering opportunities. So go on - have a go - you might just enjoy it!
Contact one of Greenwood's partnership organisations for further environmental volunteering opportunities.
For younger volunteers:
The Green Hand Gang
If you are aged between 8 and 13 and want to get your hands dirty then Bestwood Country Park’s Green Hand Gang is for you! Learn fascinating facts about all things green and growing and take part in quarterly sessions. All gang members must be accompanied by an adult. Sessions run from 10am – 12 noon. Meet at Alexandra Lodge. Pre book on 0115 927 3674.
Join a Friends Group
You can also join a Friends group in your area. Friends groups are made up of local people who are enthusiastic about their local green space or park. These individuals have organised themselves into a formal group to give them a say about their local area. Some groups hold walks, events and surveys as well as litter picking and practical tasks. Others might volunteer in the visitor centre, organise publicity, fundraise or simply keep a watchful eye on the park.
If there isn’t a Friends group near you – why not start one. Download our Greenwood Community Woodland Handbook or you can get in touch with the team to find out more.
Be A Volunteer Warden
Becoming a volunteer warden is very rewarding and has immense benefits for a park or green space. Local visitors recognise and relate to a point of contact – someone to chat to or complain to, whatever the information - it is vital, and when channelled though a volunteer warden can provide valuable input into the ongoing development of the park. Of course there are many facets to being a volunteer warden and training is available.
Be A Shadow Ranger
Shadow Rangers voluntary work placements are a great way of getting experience of working in the countryside for those wishing to start a career in countryside management. The Forestry Commission’s Sherwood Forest Community Rangers project provides each Shadow Ranger with a mentor from a number of host organisations. On the job training takes place, including practical site management, working with communities, planning and organising countryside events, guided walks and environmental education activities. For more information contact the Sherwood Forest Community Rangers on 01623 822447.
Become a walk leader
This is a great way to take the first steps back into regular exercise. Whether you want to lose weight, increase your mobility, or just meet up with new friends for an easy paced stroll, health walks could be just right for you.
Walks start at around a mile in length, and you can choose some longer walks as your fitness improves. And the great thing is you get to walk at your own pace!
And as you improve you might want to give walk leading a go – local walk groups are always looking for volunteer walk leaders. All leaders and walks are insured and free training is given. Contact your local walk group there’s one practically at the end of your street!
Local Walking for Health Groups
| Hucknall Taking Steps | 07506 390471 |
| Walk On (Ashfield) | 0115 9161808 |
| Walk & Talk (Broxtowe | 0115 8752098 |
| Get Going in Gedling | 07815 512481 |
| Golden Amblers (Arnold) | 0115 9524464 |
| In Step (Mansfield) | 01623 488009 |
| Sherwood Foragers | 01623 401238 |
Friends of Greenwood Community Forum
The Greenwood Community Forest Team can support Friends groups in many ways. We have experience of setting up Friends groups and can help keep that initial enthusiasm going. Once set up, the team and other organisations offer ongoing support.
Click on our map to see members of the Friends of Greenwood Community Forum in your area.
One way the team can help is through the Friends of Greenwood Community Forum. This is a network of Friends groups in the Greenwood area who meet four times a year.
The group's aims are:
- To gather and disseminate information by sharing experience and best practice
- Provide a Forum for discussion, acting as a sounding board
- Provide a valuable pool of skills, knowledge and experience, both to support individual Friends groups and also for input into the Community Forest programme
- Help support the development of new and existing groups through mentoring and advice
We meet at a different Friends group’s site each time, and the host group leads a walk after lunch. This is usually a great way to share knowledge and discuss similar experiences encountered in the development and management of sites.
To find out more about the Forum contact the Greenwood Team on 01623 827326.
Greenwood Community Awards
Each year the Greenwood Partnership says thank you to volunteers by organising a celebration event. This usually includes a barbecue followed by a presentation of achievements over the last 12 months. Individuals recognised by their peers as making an outstanding contribution towards creating, or encouraging people to use the Greenwood Community Forest are presented with an award.
Help Greenwood to Grow
Grow a tree from seed
Every October there's a chance for you to get involved in gathering seeds for growing and replanting in Greenwood. There are many opportunities for schools to take part in seed gathering workshops. Seeds are sown in pots and eventually replanted back into Greenwood to make sure they are native to this part of the world (local provenance).
See the Tree Council website for seed gathering Sunday events every October.
Plant a tree
Whether you want to plant a tree for someone special, are a school or group or want to join friends and neighbours to plant just join in – it’s easy to do and the Greenwood team can help you get started:
- Give advice
- Give grants
- Tell you when and where tree-planting events are taking place
Community Tree Planting Grants
This year the Greenwood Community Tree Planting Grant Scheme will focus more on helping schools and community groups plant trees for shade by offering funding of up to £250 per project. To find out the reasons we need to plant trees for shade read more here.
Application forms for the 2009/10 planting season (November to March) are now available from the Greenwood team. Contact 01623 827323 or download the application form and guidance notes. Don't worry if you are not sure what you would like from your planting scheme as advice is available. The deadline for applications is 12th December, but we encourage groups and schools to apply early as funding is limited.
A key objective of the Greenwood Community Tree Planting Grant scheme is to increase awareness of the importance of tree planting and the benefits of trees. If your application is successful we expect you to promote your project through local media. To help you promote your scheme we have produced a number of documents which can be read on-line, downloaded or printed off.
- Publicising your project - some basic guidelines
- List of local press contacts
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Example press releases - 1) Schools 2) Community Groups
If you want additional advice, contact the Greenwood Team.
Memorial Tree Schemes in Greenwood
Brierley Forest Park
Plant a tree to celebrate a special event or as a memorial for a loved one or just to help your forest grow. The Greenwood Family Tree Scheme is based at Brierley Forest Park. A tree is planted for you in the memorial copse and is recorded in a special book kept at the park.
Colliers Wood, Moorgreen
The Friends of Colliers Wood manage the waterloo copse at Colliers Wood, a community woodland at Moorgreen in Broxtowe. Trees can be planted in the copse for a nominal fee, which pays for a sapling to be planted and a dedication to be made in the memorial book held at Durban House Heritage Centre.
Download an application form for the scheme.
Bestwood Country Park
Plant a tree at Bestwood to celebrate special people and meaningful events. Contact the Bestwood Ranger Team.
National Tree Week
Each year trees are celebrated during National Tree Week, which is usually held in the last week in November and ends with Tree Dressing Day on the first Sunday of December.
Look out for opportunities during National Tree Week and every autumn and winter to get out into the countryside and plant trees yourself. Contact the team for details or visit the Tree Council website for events in your area to celebrate National Tree Week.
Click here to send us a photo of you with your favourite tree to share with others.
