Prime Minister hosts Environmental Volunteers Reception
What do Woodland Trust wardens, volunteer speakers and woodland management enthusiasts have in common with the Prime Minister?
They were all at a high profile Environmental Volunteers Reception at Number 10 – with PM Gordon Brown personally hosting no fewer than ten Trust volunteers from all over the country amongst the 100-plus gathering.
The two-hour early evening event also attracted senior members of the Cabinet as the Government rolled out the red carpet in recognition of the invaluable contribution that volunteers make across the environment sector.
With recent calculations graphically illustrating the value to the Trust of its enthusiastic and skilled volunteers, the Downing Street event was a welcome opportunity to reflect volunteers’ contribution to the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.
The value of the Trust’s 1,000 active registered volunteers has recently been calculated as the equivalent of 117 full time employees – roughly half the Trust’s work force.
During 2008 they freely gave over 228,364 hours of their time, the financial equivalent of £1.96m over the year.
Nikki Williams, Trust volunteer development manager, has nothing but praise for the charity’s unsung heroes. “We are so lucky with the numbers and sheer knowledge within the huge range of Trust volunteers and it is very satisfying to see that dedication recognised at Government level.”
”No conservation organisation thrives without volunteer support, but I think the Trust is especially fortunate in the individuals we attract who contribute so much to our overall success and all too often remain unrecognised.”.
The ‘value’ of volunteers is also of particular importance when it comes to grant applications, she confirmed, with the Trust able to factor in voluntary contribution as match funding for such major projects as the Ancient Tree Hunt and VisitWoods.
Invited to meet the prime Minister were:
Gwilym Thomas: A regular volunteer at Green Castle Woods and Coed Ystrad near Carmarthen in South West Wales - repairing steps and footpaths as part of the Green Castle Woodlanders group
John Martin: A volunteer site warden for 10 Trust sites in West Surrey, a, practical leader with the Woodlanders group and volunteer speaker.
Mike Murray: The Scot is has been a volunteer warden at Crinan Wood in Argyll & Bute for over ten years. During that time he has been growing and planting trees from seed and protecting regenerating seedlings, with the aim of establishing 100 new trees in the wood each year.
David Bull: Trust work party leader at Hillhouse Wood in Essex, working on regular work parties with a small group from the local community.
Keith Wilkinson: Part of the Bilton Conservation Group, near Harrogate, who also leads walks and helps with events on the Nidd Gorge Woodlands in Yorkshire.
John Coates: Belongs to the Lineover woods group near Cheltenham, has his own nursery family business for many years and whose volunteering includes leading guided walks
Eric Forsyth: Chair of Friends of Storeton woods in Cheshire, a group that carries out practical management work as well as promoting the wood to the local community.
David Ware: A long time volunteer warden at Ashenbank Wood in Kent who also assisting work parties from other organizations who come in to work in the woods. He is also a volunteer speaker and a guided walk leader.
George French: Has been looking after Whittle Dene Wood in Northumberland for many years, picking litter, and reporting antisocial behaviour.
John Michelle: Work party leader for a group who manage Northfield wood in Suffolk, John also leads walks, helps with events and is an extremely knowledgeable and professional volunteer.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.