Page 17 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2016-17

Creating opportunities

Our sites host numerous organised activities each year which
help to bring communities together, from sporting events to
seasonal fairs. This year, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the birth of Beatrix Potter, Essex Wildlife Trust introduced the
Peter Rabbit™ Woodland Trail at their Langdon visitor centre COMMUNITY
and nature reserve, near Basildon. The trail of five solid wood
sculptures of Potter characters, placed along an all-weather VOLUNTEERING:
path, includes Jemima Puddleduck on our adjoining Langdon
Lake and Meadow site. The trail and its quiz, which opened GIVE A LITTLE,
at Easter, has already attracted more than 20,000 people.
GAIN A LOT

MORE THAN In 2016/17 we benefited from more than 11,000 days of
20,000 PEOPLE volunteer activity across our sites, a slight reduction from the
extraordinary contribution (over 14,000 days) the previous
HAVE VISITED year. This is largely as a result of the transfer of the Managing
Partner across the South Yorkshire sites which slightly
LANGDON LAKE reduced the number of events and activities on these sites.
& MEADOW Volunteers’ contribution has an enormous impact on our
sites and also develops their skills and self-confidence.
IN 2016/17 Our volunteers join us for one-off events or regular
activities – all input is valuable. Some of our volunteers
support us every single day. Thank you.

MORE THAN 11,000

DAYS OF VOLUNTARY

ACTIVITY ACROSS

OUR SITES IN 2016/17

Silverdale Our Story Ken has lived his entire life close to Warren House
Park, near Doncaster and worked there when it was
At Silverdale Country Park in Staffordshire, a Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) grant has allowed our Managing Partner, a colliery. He now walks the park twice a day, litter
Groundwork West Midlands, to deliver ‘Silverdale Our picking, spotting necessary repairs and regularly
Story’. The project will work with local people to tell their supporting the ranger with tasks including fence
stories about the old colliery site which is now Silverdale installation, hedge planting and painting.
Country Park, and the wider area. It will bring together
volunteers, former miners, school children, local residents,
the parish council and university students. Stories will be
displayed online and through an interpretation trail at the Ian regularly helps out at the Countess of Chester
park, helping people understand the context in which they Country Park in Cheshire and the park has become
now live, work and visit. Ongoing conservation and habitat integral to his daily life. He began by taking part
improvement work will also be linked to the project. in practical volunteering sessions, and went on to
complete the Green Angels training programme.
Having discovered the benefits of spending time
outdoors, gained confidence and realised a
passion for the natural world, he joined the Friends
of Countess of Chester Country Park group. Now
Chair he dedicates his spare time to looking
after the park and encouraging people to visit.

Joe started volunteering at Liverpool Festival Gardens,
initially helping the rangers with administration. This
unearthed a passion for horticulture so when the
opportunity arose, his commitment earned him
his first job as a Ranger at the Gardens. As the
BEFORE AFTER Land Trust contract to manage the site comes to
an end, we are delighted that he has secured an
apprenticeship at Kew Gardens in London.
the Land Trust Annual Review 2016/17 17