Ladywell Live
  • Local News
  • Community
    • Community Groups
  • Neighbourhood
    • Where to Eat/Drink
    • Other Local Businesses
    • Family Support – Resources
  • Local History
  • Ladywell Assembly
    • About Ladywell Assembly
  • Ladywell Society
    • About Ladywell Society
  • Contact
  • Local News
  • Community
    • Community Groups
  • Neighbourhood
    • Where to Eat/Drink
    • Other Local Businesses
    • Family Support – Resources
  • Local History
  • Ladywell Assembly
    • About Ladywell Assembly
  • Ladywell Society
    • About Ladywell Society
  • Contact
AssemblyCommunityLocal NewsTop Stories

Nature volunteering in Lewisham. What’s the big idea?

by Tony January 14, 2022
January 14, 2022
Volunteers in Beckenham Place Park

I had a bit of a lightbulb moment during a recent meeting of the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership after someone said that they couldn’t get any volunteers to help during an orchard pruning and clearing day, writes Lawrence Beale Collins of the Healthy Rivers Project

This struck me as odd. The Healthy Rivers Project has been running volunteering events during the pandemic using a booking system, and we have been over-subscribed. People told me that they wanted to get out, help out and get some
fresh air.

It was at this moment that I decided to create a hub for both potential volunteers and those running nature-based events throughout the borough of Lewisham. This hub is a group on Facebook called Nature Volunteering in Lewisham (NViL) and it’s open to everyone.

Working in Ladywell Fields

Anyone running a project in the borough of Lewisham, near its borders or along the Ravensbourne river catchment, can share a scheduled volunteering day with the group so that any potential volunteers out there can see what’s going on and decide if they’d like to join in.

So, what sort of people volunteer? Over the last few years the demographic amongst participants has broadened. Lots of younger people are volunteering these days, which is great to see.

We’ve also seen a good number of those living in some of the new developments, such as central Lewisham and Catford Green, because they see the river every day and want to keep it looking good. They also help out in Ladywell Fields too.

What is also key here is that all the projects that are looking for volunteers are mostly run by volunteers themselves – community orchards, local park friends’ groups, local cemeteries (often a haven for wildlife) are all run by dedicated local teams.

You can also learn a lot. Personally, I’ve learnt so much talking to people along the riverbank, mainly about bird behaviour and identification.

Many of these park groups and others in the borough and beyond, run bird walks, tree walks, local history walks etc and these will all be going up on the NViL facebook page too in 2022, when it warms up a bit!

Anyone thinking about doing a bit of volunteering can also post to the group and ask if there is
anything happening that they can help out with.

There are other great groups that coordinate general volunteering, away from a nature setting, like Lewisham Local and Voluntary Action Lewisham. But if it’s a nature cure you’re looking for then come over to Nature Volunteering in Lewisham and enjoy the best green spaces in London.

communitygreen spacesLadywell
0 comment
2
FacebookTwitterWhatsapp
previous post
Folk festival, street trees, exercise equipment and safer streets project among 11 community projects recommended for NCIL funding in Ladywell ward
next post
Update: Sister Midnight makes urgent appeal for help as private buyer makes rival offer for Ravensbourne Arms

Related Posts

Playtower Action Group launches community petition demanding decisive...

June 1, 2025

Ladywell ward panel sets out three priorities for...

May 16, 2025

Lewisham council wins case against owner who converted...

May 13, 2025

Brockley Max 2025 – just two weeks to...

May 13, 2025

Residents up in arms over disruption caused by...

May 13, 2025

Gillian Street building to be demolished to make...

May 9, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Ladywell Society News

Search the site

Sign up for our newsletter

Recent Tweets

Tweets by LadywellLive

Tag cloud

Arts Assembly Brockley Brockley Max Business catford cemeteries charities community Coronavirus council Council cuts Crime cycling development environment FoBLC green spaces health high street Hilly Fields housing Ladywell Ladywell assembly Ladywell history Ladywell Society Lewisham Lewisham Council lewisham local Local business Local History Mike Guilfoyle Music NCIL planning Playtower police pollution safer neighbourhoods shops street trees traffic transport Volunteering volunteers

Recent Comments

  • Sandra Margolies on Brockley Max 2025 – just two weeks to go!
  • Catford Mews closes as Lewisham borough's only cinema repossessed - The Greenwich Wire on UPDATE – Council looks at applying for Heritage Lottery funding for Play Tower after developers Guildmore delay starting work amid rising costs
  • PL on Three projects – Ladywell Fields play area, Max in the Park, Christmas trees – recommended for NCIL funding
  • Slum clearance: Pear Tree Cottages, Loampit Vale – Long & Lazy Lewisham on Know your neighbourhood: Maude’s memoir recalls the rickets and deprivation of Ladywell’s Botany Bay
  • CROFTON COLUMN - Autumn News - HopCroft Neighbourhood Forum on Oscar’s couple Joel and Alina look at other options for restaurant in Ladywell after dropping plans for former Coral betting shop

Categories

  • Assembly
  • Community
  • Featured
  • Ladywell Society
  • Local History
  • Local News
  • Neighbourhood
  • Slider
  • Top Stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Privacy Policy
Designed and Developed by Catbytes

Read alsox

Safer neighbourhood panel briefing: constant drug dealing angers...

October 31, 2019

Lewisham School of Muralism is now taking applications...

December 6, 2020

Close your road and enjoy a bit of...

May 27, 2019
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok