Latest News - Walks, Talks, Events and Volunteering

International Year of Biodiversity 2010

Latest News 

• 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.   

February 2010     

• Volunteer Day - Tuesday 2 February 2010, Nazeing Church Field, Nazeing (LoWS)

  Another Local Wildlife Site, Nazeing Church Fields are an important feature in the landscape providing grassland habitat between arable fields with boundary hedgerows on all four sides.  The top field has become overgrown with brambles and scrub encroaching on The Three Forest Way that runs down the west side.  We will be removing bramble to reinstate the footpath along this edge. Meet:  10.00am, park sensitively near Nazeing Church.  Grid reference: TL 41448 06963. Please call if you need a lift from Loughton Station. Joint project with the West Essex Ramblers

• Volunteer Day - Thursday 4 February 2010, Nazeing Church Field, Nazeing (LoWS)Another Local Wildlife Site, Nazeing Church Fields are an important feature in the landscape providing grassland habitat between arable fields with boundary hedgerows on all four sides.  The top field has become overgrown with brambles and scrub encroaching on The Three Forest Way that runs down the west side.  We will be removing bramble to reinstate the footpath along this edge. Meet:  10.00am, park sensitively near Nazeing Church.  Grid reference: TL 41448 06963.  
• Volunteer Day - Thursday 11 February 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. This 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 February 2010, Weald Common LNR, North Weald (LoWS) A return trip after our aborted We have not visited this section of the reserve for several years. We will be reclaiming an area of grassland by clearing bramble and small fragments of young scrub. Meet: 10.00am, North Weald Village Hall, off the High Road. Grid Reference: TL 49755 03970
• Volunteer Day - Saturday 20 February 2010 - Willingale Road Allotments, Loughton

  On this project we are working in partnership with Loughton Town Council who are responsible for this small piece of land. We will be continuing work started last October on turning a these former allotments into a useful community green space. It has great potential for reptiles with slow worms and common lizard already found there along with two fantastic veteran oaks and many established fruit trees. We need your help to continue to clear bramble and rubbish to uncover what may be on the site! Meet: 10.00am.  Street parking meet at the gate entrance, Willingale Road.Grid Reference: TQ 44515 97117

• Volunteer Day - Thursday 25 February 2010, Penson's Lane, Ongar (LoWS)

  Another of our Local Wildlife Sites that we are attempting 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, park sensitively on the track leading to New Barns Cottages. Grid Reference:  TL 53581 03605
• Volunteer Day - Sunday 28 February 2010, Hainault Forest.

  Join us for the day as we create a glade and new pollards in conjunction with the Woodland Trust. Meet: 10.00am Lay by Car Park off Romford Road (north bound) opposite All Saints Church, Chigwell Row Grid Reference: TQ 464 932..

March 2009 

• Volunteer Day - Tuesday 2 March 2010, North Lane, Moreton (LoWS) Details to be confirmed. Please call if you need a lift from Loughton Station. Joint project with the West Essex Ramblers.
• Vounteer Day - Thursday 4 March 2010, Stewards Green Lane, Epping (LoWS EPW113). Following on from our project in January we will be continuing our work on this wonderful green lane, which in the middle ages formed the main route between London and Newmarket. Today, it's the start of the Counties long distance footpath the Essex Way. In the past we have undertaken a number of projects on the lane such as drainage and scrub removal. It has been a number of years now since we last worked on the lane and like many of our lanes it has become overgrown with scrub down its centre lowering its biodiversity value. Your help is needed to coppice the scrub and return the lane (in parts) to its orginal width. Meet: 10.00am, Stewards Green Road end of the lane. Parking is limited to the end of the lane. Grid Reference: TL 46858 00997 
• Volunteer Day - Sunday 7 March 2010, Linder's Field LNR, Buckhurst Hill. (LoWS EPM19). *Buckhurst Hill Youth Group only* We will be working on the main section of wood on the site - Plucketts Wood. Meet: 10.30am at the gates to the reserve on Roebuck Lane. Grid Reference:  TQ 41450 94435 
• 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, park sensitively on the track leading to New Barns Cottages. Grid Reference:  TL 53581 03605
• Volunteer Day - Thursday 25 March 2010, Epping Green Millennium Garden, Epping Upland.

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.