Page 16 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2016-17

Community Cohesion

and Volunteering

Volunteering and the engagement of local communities
is an extremely valuable way to enhance our sites by
creating emotional ownership. We also want to ensure that
the benefit is two-way. We aim to focus on how we can
help our volunteers gain improved skills, confidence and
health whilst our green spaces benefit from their input.

Community cohesion
and events

Our activities and events help to bring
communities together. Regular groups
also help people to meet others, overcome
loneliness and social isolation and gain
skills. Many of our sites have regular walking
groups and working parties and a number
also have ‘friends of’ groups which offer
invaluable help and support to our rangers.

Our four hectare Mayles Lane site in Knowle
Village, Fareham, Hampshire has been
transformed thanks to the hard work of a
team of 12 volunteers, many with physical
and mental health challenges. Their
dedication and support from the Land Trust
means that the site now benefits from poly
tunnels for growing salads, a community
orchard, wildlife pond, wildflower meadows,
bee hives and a feature sculpture. This small
site now provides a haven for nature, but
also for local Scout, beekeeping, youth and
archery groups who all regularly use the site.

Corporate volunteers

A number of our sites have individual teams have thoroughly enjoyed the
relationships with local businesses experience and benefited greatly.
that use our green spaces as part of We have strengthened our partnership
team building and staff engagement
away days. Our rangers facilitate with agricultural company AB Agri,
these events, ensuring that the and have been working together
individuals and teams benefit to develop the AB Agri Pollinator
as well as our green spaces. Project, which involves improving
the habitats for pollinators across
We also work with businesses and a selection of our sites and theirs.
identify the most suitable green AB Agri recognises the importance
space for them to volunteer at. For of pollinators to their core business
example, Dentsu Aegis in London and by delivering such a project,
has visited Greenwich Peninsula (which also involves input from
Ecology Park several times over Buglife, Groundwork Wakefield and
the last couple of years, helping to TCV) we will be able to meet goals
improve the shingle beach habitat, for improving the environment, to
replant the entrance area and cut benefit pollinators and people.
back reed marshes. Not only has the
Ecology Park been enhanced by the
additional support and labour, but the

16 the Land Trust Annual Review 2016/17