Young Volunteers North

Blog by Malcolm Judge, Community Engagement Officer

A Young Volunteers North group, set up by Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, Ruth Alcroft, meets once a month at the trust’s Gosling Sike base. The group averages 5-12 volunteers, aged between 13-17, and goes out to sites around Cumbria to carry out nature recovery work.

During two days of tree guard removal at Hallbankgate Farm, the volunteers worked incredibly well as a team, pulling out the guards and then separating the tubes, stakes and cable ties. Some of the trees had failed, although plenty were growing well and some were bursting out of their guards. Ian and Rebecca, who run the farm, introduced everyone to the ‘Beyonces’ of the cow world, and some pigeon squibs nesting in their cosy bothy. Talking over lunch, we learnt that two obstacles to the children getting outside were the weather and the dreaded homework. However, when they did get outside, there were a huge range of activities that they got involved with, from sketching to biking to brave outdoor swimmers.

The group often start sessions at Gosling Sike with some survey work. We also joined a bioblitz at Bothel in May, where we were introduced to a wide range of skulls. A sharp-eyed volunteer spotted a caddis fly larvae doing a very good impression of a twig.

In June, the volunteers set up and ran an information stall at Susan’s Farm in Houghton, sending visitors off on a tree hunt and using a ‘plastics tombola’ to raise awareness about plastic pollution and recycling. The volunteers encouraged visitors to hold their maps the right way up, ‘have a sweet’ for their efforts, and informed them about the ‘sheer number of plastics in our everyday lives’.

We joined in with the Eden Rivers Trust’s Big Balsam Bash event in July. Our patch was on the edge of Wetheral Woods and followed on from previous balsam bashing work parties. The plants were so tall that we were often pulling out plants standing way above our heads.

A fantastic day raking hay at Sandilands, near Milburn, with Elizabeth Woodcock was enjoyed in August. The views were tremendous and there was a good deal of ‘rake-leaning’ as we took them all in. The volunteers worked so well they made short work of the hay raking and so spent the afternoon collecting yellow rattle seeds. These will be planted in the winter to help develop a biodiverse hay meadow.

In September, we returned to Susan’s Farm and worked on a community woodland, clearing sycamore saplings to help keep a biodiverse wood. The volunteers enjoyed getting their hands on loppers, handsaws and secateurs, and Susan Aglionby explained the history and importance of the site.

Thanks to Cumbria Community Transport who provide the minibuses for the visits.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Young Volunteers North sessions are run monthly and are suitable for 13-17 year olds. It is a great opportunity to learn about nature and wildlife, meet like-minded people and help take action for nature. Find out more here.

Malcolm Judge, Community Engagement Officer with the North Pennines National Landscape, works on Eden Rivers Trust’s Access To Eden project, a partnership programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.