Latest News - Walks, Talks, Events and Volunteering

International Year of Biodiversity 2010

Latest News 

• 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

• Multi-For Woodland Project
• Epping Forest Green Lane Local Wildlife Sites Project
• International Year of Biodiversity 2010
• BBC Breathing Spaces
• Local Wildlife Sites and National Indicator 197

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. Further information can also be found in the lastest "EYE" newsletter. 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. For more details email us or call the Countrycare Office on (01992) 788 203.   

March 2010 

• Volunteer Day - Thursday 11 March 2010, Home Mead LNR, Loughton (LoWS) Last summer we cut and cleared an area off the main meadow area. This included stump removal by contractors. The remaining scrub  will create a graded edge to the meadow. Following on from work last month we are returning to the site to continue the coppice rotation of scrub. This will take place off the main hardened pathway close to the main pedestrian entrance.Meet: 10.00am at the entrance to the reserve off England's Lane. Please park in the neighbouring streets. Grid Reference: TQ 43799 97781
• Volunteer Day - Thursday 18 March 2010, Penson's Green Lane, Ongar (LoWS) A return visit to this site as we continue our attempt to get into positive conservation management.  This ancient lane contains a few veteran trees and the notable Wild Service Tree.  It is an important corridor running between arable fields and connecting up some areas of woodland and ponds creating a mosaic of habitats. We will be working around (not in) one of the ponds, coppicing and opening up the canopy to allow more light onto the woodland floor. Meet: 10.00am, ** Vojan Indian Resturant Car Park** at start of lane just of A414. Grid Reference:  TL 53581 03605
• Volunteer Day - Thursday 25 March 2010, Epping Green Millennium Garden, Epping Upland.

April 2010

• Guided Walk - Sunday 18 April 2010, Lambourne. "Spring has sprung" Join us for a walk around the bluebell woods of the old Lambourne Estate including Apes Grove, Mutton Corner and Great Wood.  Meet: 10.30am please book by calling (01992) 788 203 or via email mailto:contactcountrycare@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

May 2010

• Guided Walk - Saturday 8 May 2010, Lambourne. "Creature of the night". Join us for an evening walk around Lambourne Church to discover any bats that may be in the area. Meet: 8.00pm please book by calling (01992) 788 203 or via email mailto:contactcountrycare@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

June 2010

• Guided Walk - Sunday 13 June 2010, Matching. "Hedgerow Surveying" - details to follow.

Major Dates for 2010

• 22 May 2010 - International Day for Biological Diversity

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 Volunteer 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.