The 6-year, multi-million-pound initiative has had volunteering sessions held locally to me, on sites that I was unaware of. It looked like a great opportunity to help restore these urban green spaces, and to also explore them for myself while picking up many skills and meeting new people along the way.

My first volunteering sessions were spent at Kenworthy Woods Woods, where I was helping to plant thousands of bulbs. We planted a range of native plants, including Dog Violet, Wood Anemones, Red Campion, Wild Garlic, English Bluebells and Honeysuckle, which all help to restore the forest floor. We were instructed by the volunteer leaders to use trowels and bulb planters to dig holes in the soil to put the bulbs in, and then to cover the holes over and compress the soil. I gained so much knowledge on how these species supported the ecosystem, including how they help to contain soil nutrients by slowing erosion, and how they provide food and shelter for animals and invertebrates. 

It was fascinating speaking to the volunteer leaders and the other volunteers as everyone had come from different backgrounds and for different purposes, yet we were all there for our interest in the environment. I loved being a part of that community as it really deepened my sense of connection with the project sites, and with nature as a whole. Aside from the planting, we spent some time at the end of the sessions using iNaturalist to identify other species in the woodlands, which was great in helping to expand my knowledge even further.

My most recent volunteering sessions took place at Kenworthy woods, helping with the huge “Balsam bashing” task. We spent the sessions removing masses of Himalayan Balsam, where we uprooted it and snapped its stem to prevent further growth. The volunteer leaders helped me learn lots about Himalayan Balsam, explaining how their fast growth and large leaves have a detrimental effect on the native plant species. I thoroughly enjoyed these sessions, as it was satisfying to know that each plant I uprooted stopped up to 800 seeds from being spread. I also found it incredibly therapeutic too, as there was birdsong to be heard constantly amongst the quiet of the woodland, away from the busyness of the surrounding urban areas.

I have absolutely loved being a part of the Championing Nature project. It has helped me meet so many like-minded people and has widened my knowledge about the real impact which many plant species make on local habitats. It was great knowing that my involvement will have a lasting effect on these green spaces, helping to protect the local wildlife for years to come.