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Diary Dates
Below are the diary dates of 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 which has a round up of all the news and events from the Policy and Conservation sections of Epping Forest District Council’s Directorate of Planning and Economic Development. 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.
July 2009
- Volunteer Day - Thursday 2 July 2009 - Foster Street Burial Ground, North Weald. The annual volunteer day on this small, but impressive churchyard. raking and scrub clearance will be the order of the day. Meet: 10.00am on site. Parking limited to the raodsice verges along Foster Street. Grid Ref: TL 49071 09267
- Guided Walk - Wednesday 8 July 2009 - Parndon Wood Nature Reserve - "How to indentify, Verify and Record Ancient Trees." You are invite to join a free day being organised by the Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Hunt. Booking form and details.
- Volunteer Day - Thursday 9 July 2009 - Epping Forest Burial Park, North Weald. We have been working with the Burial Park since its conception, giving advice and support. On this volunteer day we will be helping remove Rhododendron and having a guided walk around the site. Meet: 10.00am Main Car Park. (Go down Kiln Road, North Weald Village. The entrance to the Burial Park is under the railway bridge on the right hand side of the road. Grid Ref: TL 49021 03487
- Guided Walk - Tuesday 14 July 2009 - Greensted Country Walk. Joint walk with LifeWalks. If you are interested please give Paul H a call. Time 10.00am - 12.30pm
- Volunteer Day - Thursday 16 July 2009 - Bobbingwoth Tip, Bobbingworth. We will be maintaining some of the 5,000 trees that have been planted on the site to date, plus providing log piles and hibernaculm for other wildlife that we hopefully colonise the site. Meet: 10.00am on site, far car park entrance closest to the village. Grid Ref: TL 53635 06505.
- Guided Walk - Sunday 19 July 2009 - Tree Hunt Stapleford Tawney. Chance to discover all about veteran trees on this morning walk to discover the ancient trees in the area. Meet: 10.00am. Please ring for more details and to book a place.
- Volunteer Day - Thursday 23 July 2009 - Hallsford Bridge Meadow, Ongar.
- BBC Breathing Spaces Event - Green Balloon Club - EFDC Green Team - Friday 31 July 2009 - Discovery Wood, Fyfield, "Insect Safari" Join us for a morning of discovery as we investigate the bug world of discovery wood. Suitable for 5 - 11 year olds. Collect some Green ballon Club goodies. Booking essential call (01992) 564 226. Cost £2.
August 2009
- BBC Breathing Spaces Event - Green Balloon Club Green Team - Friday 7 August 2009 - Nazeing Triangle LNR "Green Safari" Join us for a morning of discovery as we investigate the life beneath the ponds at this wetland nature reserve. Suitable for 5 - 11 year olds. Booking essential call (01992) 564 226. Cost £2.
- Green Team - Thursday 13 August 2009 - Copy Wood Field "Haymaking Day" Suitable for 11 plus. Booking essential call (01992) 564 226. Time: 12.00 - 15.00
- Event - Sunday 23 August 2009 - Epping Forest Burial Park, North Weald "Nature Detectives" For children aged 5 and above. The event will allow them to partake in activities such as pond dipping, mini beast hunting, nature trails and craft activities.
Tickets cost £2.00 per child. To book a place please go to the Burial Park Website. http://www.woodlandburialparks.co.uk/epping/events_diary/booking_form/index.html
- Green Team - Thursday 27 August 2009 - All Saints Churchyard, Epping Upland "Haymaking Day" Suitable for 11 plus. Booking essential call (01992) 564 226. Time: 12.00 - 15.00
September 2009
- Meeting - Wednesday 16 September 2009 - Epping Forest Tree Wardens Open Meeting. Civic Offices, Epping 2.00pm
- Meeting - Sunday 20 September 2009 - East Anglian Regional Tree Warden Forum.
Manningtree in Tendering District, Essex. More details to follow.
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.