Green Recovery Celebration Event 06 June 2pm Hinchingbrooke Country Park

The weather is finally brightening up, meaning it’s the perfect time to get some fresh air and learn new skills. Environmental charity Groundwork East and Huntingdonshire District Council are encouraging volunteers to do just that as part of their Green Recovery project.

Green Recovery works with communities to improve public spaces and boost biodiversity. To achieve these goals, the Groundwork team work with local volunteers who want to develop their personal and practical skills. Activities include cutting back overgrown vegetation, making bat boxes and planting bulbs and shrubs. There is also focus on developing interpersonal skills such as teamworking, communication and managing conflict. Volunteers joining the course are offered the opportunity to achieve a City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture and a City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Employability Skills. The volunteers also spend time looking at CVs, good interview practice, and creating individual action plans for after the project.

There are six volunteers on the current cohort working to create a new habitat in the form of a raised nature pond. The pond will be used by visiting groups, members of the public and by the resident Fireflies Forest school for pond dipping and other nature based educational activities. The pond is being created by building up the sides with railway sleepers – the purpose of having the pond raised is so that it can be accessible to wheelchair users.

Working with members of the community to help build a new habitat that will boost biodiversity, educate the next generation, and bring people closer to nature is what the Green Recovery Project is all about. We help our participants build their confidence, gain new skills, and support them in their journeys after the project is completed. The new pond is a blue space that will be used by a plethora of people come together, to learn about nature, and improve mental health

Eve Lucas, Project Officer, Groundwork East

Our partnership with Groundwork is a testament to our Council’s commitment to increase biodiversity, ensuring a better future for generations to come. This partnership also helps jobseekers build new skills and get back into work. This means more local people with skills that are vital to looking after Huntingdonshire’s plants and wildlife. Congratulations to everyone who has completed this course and thank you for all your hard work at Hinchingbrooke Country Park!

Cllr Lara Davenport-Ray, Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment

It was amazing, fun, and makes you feel good. I’m getting out more and my fitness has improved. I have become more social and made good friends. I will continue to do productive tasks and have a lot of knowledge from the course so will be able to use it in the future to find a job

Volunteer

The next cohort of Green Recovery volunteers will begin on Wednesday 10 July at Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon.

To find out more and sign up, visit Green Recovery.

Please contact eve.lucas@groundwork.org.uk or jacob.bunt@groundwork.org.uk if you have any questions.