Latest News - Walks, Talks, Events and Volunteering

International Year of Biodiversity 2010

Latest News

8 July 2010 - Ape's Grove Boardwalk
16 June 2010 - Countrycare's 24th Annual Report produced
11 May 2010 - DEFRA Hedgerow Survey Grant Confirmed
26 April 2010 - New Landmark Tree for Roydon
23 April 2010 - Press Coverage of the Weald Common LNR Project
16 March 2010 - Latest on Water Poplar (Native Black Poplar) DNA fingerprinting
5 March 2010 - Great British Elm Experiment
6 January 2010 - Stewards Green Lane LoWS gets underway
05 December 2009 - Tree O'Clock event at Hainault Forest
30 November 2009 - CJS Hedge and Tree Special
13 November 2009 - Big profit from Nature Conservation BBC News
News Archive - Previous stories and links

Latest Projects

Diary Dates

Below are all Countrycare's activities for volunteering, the Green Team, Tree Wardening, walks, talks and events. Unless it says so the events are free and open to all. Some events need to be booked and places will be limited. For more information about volunteering see the Countrycare Volunteer Group. In addition to Countrycare's work our partners also undertake volunteering for biodiversity and work on the public footpath network in the district (see bottom of page for details). Unless stated you are welcome to simply turn up for any activity listed below and we will be pleased to see you. We pick up from Loughton Station every Thursday at 9.30 am. All Volunteer days start at 10am on site unless otherwise stated. For more details email us or call the Countrycare Office on (01992) 788203.

August 2010

Volunteer Day - Thursday 26 August 2010, Chigwell Row Wood, Chigwell Lowland heathland is a rare and threatened habitat, with only six hectares remaining in Essex. It is therefore very important that we take care of the area of heathland in Chigwell. With that in mind we will be doing our annual cut to prevent invasive species from taking over the area. This will help desirable heathland plants such as tormentil, heather, gorse and lousewort to thrive. Meet: 10.00am Lay-by Car Park off Romford Road (north bound) opposite All Saints Church, Chigwell Row. IG74QD Grid Reference: TQ 464 932.

Green Team Event Friday 27 August 2010 "Insect Safari & Pond Dipping" Nazeing Scout Hut, Nazeing. This site offers youngsters the opportunity to pond dip and insect hunt in a safe environment. Countrycare and Community Development will lead a morning of environmental discovery. Weather permitting the morning may offer a walk along some of the districts public footpaths, without crossing a single road. Meet: Off Waltham Road, Middle Street, Nazeing.

Grid Reference: TL 400 055 Cost: £3 Time:10.00am – 12.00pm. Please book by calling (01992) 564 363

September 2010

Thursday 2nd September:Bobbingworth Former Landfill Site.

We will be returning to Bobbingworth to continue the important task of mulching around the trees. Without the mulch to retain the moisture in the soil these trees will die, so it is vital that we continue to do this. Meet: 10am car park on Stony Lane (furthest away from Moreton Village). Grid Reference: TL 53679 06273

Thursday 9th September:Nazeing Triangle.

This will be a good day for any pond lovers. We will be winching out the willows that are still in the pond and clearing the reed to prevent it from encroaching too far.Bring wellies or waders if you have them. Meet: 10am.Please park sympathetically in Betts Lane and surrounding roads. Grid reference: TL 414 065

Thursday 16th September:Bobbingworth Former Landfill Site.

As above.

Meet: 10am car park on Stony Lane (furthest away from Moreton Village) Grid Reference: TL 53679 06273

Thursday 23rd September:Lambourne Woods

Another day on the Lambourne estate working towards the Multifor Project. We will be continuing with some construction work, as well as some benches, some waymarkers and a little bramble bashing. Meet: 10.00am, car park of St Mary & All Saint’s Church, Church Lane, Lambourne. Grid Ref: TQ 4795 9610

Thursday 30th September:Chigwell Row Wood This week we will be undertaking a variety of tasks including coppicing, flailing, putting in more scrapes on the heath and replacing a few waymarker posts. Meet: 10.00am Lay-by Car Park off Romford Road (north bound) opposite All Saints Church, Chigwell Row, IG74QD. Grid Reference: TQ 464 932.

***Don’t forget we pick up from Loughton Station every Thursday at 9.30 am***

All Volunteer days start at 10am on site unless otherwise stated.

Major Dates for 2010

22 May 2010 - International Day for Biological Diversity
27 November - 5 December 2010 - National Tree Week

Other Volunteering Opportunities

Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) is an umbrella organisation that provides advice, information and development support services to voluntary and community organisations and volunteers in the Epping Forest District. They are based in Epping and have been operational since 1993, during which time we have grown from a minimal staff team to 33 employees - 16 core staff carrying out core functions for the Council for Voluntary Service and the Volunteer Centres, plus, 17 project staff across 9 projects. We are governed by our members (around 200 local voluntary and community groups) through an elected Board of Trustees. Countrycare are signed up members of VAEF and many of our volunteers come to us via this great organisation.
The West Essex Ramblers Working Party run a programme of volunteer days aimed at improving the district's public rights of way network. If you would like more information please contact the volunteer coordinator.
The Essex Wildlife Trust run volunteer projects every Wednesday on the Roding Valley Meadows LNR and also work on Gernon Bushes in Coopersale and Hawksmere Spring in Stapleford Tawney. For further details contact the EWT Warden.
The Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers are a group who are actively involved in the conservation and management of Epping Forest. The EFCV have done great work on the Forest for over 30 years and hold regular volunteer projects during the week and at weekends. Contact the EFCV.
The Woodland Trust manage two major sites within the district - Hainault Forest and Theydon Bois Wood. Countrycare run a number of joint projects with the WT for further details download the latest events.