Thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery, we were able to deliver two productive volunteer work sessions along the River Rea this week, focusing on habitat improvement, access, and tackling the impacts of recent storms. The sessions brought together a brilliant group of volunteers whose hard work is already making a visible difference to these much-loved green spaces.
Friday: Storm Damage Clearance at Ten Acres
Our first session took place on Friday at the Ten Acres site, where recent storms had caused significant damage to paths and woodland areas. The main focus of the day was addressing a very large fallen willow that had come down across the woodland pathway outside Beilby. The tree was completely blocking access and posed an ongoing safety concern for path users.
Volunteers worked methodically to clear and manage the fallen willow, opening the route back up while ensuring the surrounding woodland was treated with care. Alongside this major task, the team also dealt with smaller storm debris, helping to make the site safer and more accessible for local people and wildlife alike. Despite the physical nature of the work, spirits were high and the teamwork on display was fantastic.
Harvest Green: Restoring the Riverside
Our second session saw the team down at Harvest Green, where the focus shifted to longer-term habitat restoration along the riverside. Over time, this area had become dominated by bramble monoculture, limiting biodiversity and access to the river. Volunteers got stuck in clearing back bramble growth to open up the space and allow a more diverse mix of plants to re-establish.
In addition to vegetation management, the group also removed litter from along the riverbank, helping to improve both the appearance of the site and the health of the river environment. Bags of rubbish were collected, making an immediate and visible improvement to the area.
A Big Thank You
These sessions highlight what can be achieved through community action when supported by vital funding. National Lottery funding made it possible to organise tools, staff time, and safe working practices, enabling volunteers to have a real and lasting impact along the River Rea.
A huge thank you goes to everyone who gave their time and energy this week. Your efforts are helping to restore habitats, improve access, and care for these important green spaces for the benefit of both people and wildlife. We look forward to building on this work in the weeks ahead.
Friday – Storm Damage @ Ten Acres
Saturday – Rubbish & Bramble @ Harvest Green
