Growing Volunteer
Our Community Growing Project, based at the Vine Road Recreation Ground is ‘growing’ and we need volunteers to help with everyday tasks, such as watering, weeding, seed sowing, composting, as well as other tasks on a weekly basis.
This is a volunteer led project supported by Barnes Common. Volunteers are passionate, keen gardeners who have a common aim of growing together and sharing together, while supporting each other in sharing gardening experience and knowledge and inviting everyone from the community to join in. Learning together, having fun and socialising are at the heart of this project.
This is a great role for a keen gardener or a group of keen gardeners, who are self-motivated and proactive and like to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the tasks.
Previous experience in community gardening is not essential.
Contact Jackie to find out more: [email protected]
Wildlife Survey Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help monitor the following species:
Dragonflies & Damselflies
We would welcome one or ideally two volunteers to undertake a monthly transect of dragonflies and damselflies, a task of about 2 hours each time, between May and September inclusive.
Birds
We would welcome one or ideally two volunteers to undertake a transect of birds, a task of about 2 hours each time, on a monthly rolling basis. This role requires early mornings (1 hour after sunrise) and also some level of birding experience.
Mammals
We would welcome two volunteers to undertake a weekly survey of mammals, a task of about 2 hours each time) between March and August inclusive.
Reptiles
We would welcome two volunteers to undertake a weekly survey of mammals, a task of about 1 hour each time during the mornings) between April and September inclusive.
Support, training and equipment will be provided for all of the above roles. If you have your own camera and binoculars these would be useful.
To find out more, contact Will.
Yaffles Lead Volunteer
Our popular nature-based session for family groups with young children are informal, social sessions. They offer a great chance for families to get together, have fun, discover more about their local area, and how we can all do a bit to help. We usually head off for an exploratory nature walk with plenty of hands-on fun activities along the way, returning to Vine Road Recreation Ground.
We are looking for a volunteer who can take the lead, growing the program to engage the wider community.
This role is great for a nature lover who enjoys exploring and learning and working with families and young people.
To find out more, contact Paddy.
Learning Activities Support Volunteer
BCL regularly hosts education sessions for local schools and groups, as well as sessions for families during the school holidays and some weekends. These sessions help young people to learn about the biodiversity, history, and geography of the area around them and may involve exploration of the Common, river or pond dipping, plant and wildlife identification, surveying, as well as various learning activities.
The Learning Volunteer would support the safety of the group as we move around, helping to prepare, distribute and collect equipment, and assisting students and staff throughout the day. Weekday availability is necessary for this role.
This role would be great for some who has experience or an interest in nature and education or working with young people.
To find out more, contact Paddy.
Walk & Talk Volunteer
Our walks and talks across Barnes Common and Leg o’ Mutton are extremely popular, and we would like to do more!
We are looking for some volunteers who have a keen interest in conservation, nature, wildlife and generally enjoy spending time outdoors (in all weather!) and with others. You don’t need to be an expert to lead a walk, but it may be helpful to have some knowledge of the site or your chosen subject, of course we can help to provide information.
Although we do have some set themes for walks throughout the year, additional walks could be general, seasonal or they could reflect your own interests.
This is a flexible role with walks taking place at the weekend, as well as on weekdays and some evenings.
To find out more, contact Jackie.
Duke of Edinburgh Support Volunteer
Barnes Common’s DofE program offers young people the opportunity to volunteer in practical hands-on conservation and environmental work across Barnes Common, Leg o’ Mutton Local Nature Reserve and Vine Road Park.
We aim to grow the program to include a wider group of students and in particular work with local secondary schools.
We are looking for volunteers with an interest in working with the next generation of David Attenboroughs, are enthusiastic about the environment, conservation and nature and don’t mind working outdoors in all weather, getting a bit mucky.
If that sounds like you, then please apply
Experience working with young people, of DofE, knowledge of conservation, working outdoors, using small hand tools and other equipment is a benefit, but not essential as full training is provided.
This role requires a DBS certificate, First Aid and Safeguarding (working with children) training, all of which we can provide.
We are hoping for a regular weekly commitment, although this is flexible.
To find out more about this, or any of our volunteering roles, contact Eve.
Skate Park Lead Volunteer
A key element of the Vine Road Park redesign is the inclusion of a pump track. The local community has shown great interest in skateboarding and rollerblading and BCL wants to foster this growing community of skaters.
We need a lead volunteer, and any other interested volunteers who have some experience with skating and would like to work to grow a local skating community.
This role will include engaging the community in the project, aiding in the planning of skating events at Vine Road, such as ramp building, and the subsequent ramp use, brainstorming sessions for the design of the skate park, and general support for the ongoing pump track project.
To find out more, contact Eve.
Vine Road Project Working Group Volunteer
As the Vine Road Project moves forward, BCL is looking to grow the Vine Road Project Working Group. This group provides the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making in the redesign of Vine Road Park, while also offering a helping hand when it comes to community outreach events and fundraising. This is a great opportunity to participate in this community driven park project, with a focus on creating a space to better serve the residents of Barnes and be a destination for all.
To find out more, contact Eve.
Barnes Community Gardeners Volunteer
BCL proudly hosts Barnes Community Gardeners, who are looking for volunteers to give the occasional hour of their time to work on a variety of projects around Barnes, supporting, amongst others, vulnerable older people, schools, and local community groups.
Our volunteers help us create and maintain community growing spaces, such as the planters outside Barnes Green Centre. We have regular garden clearance days, making vulnerable older people’s gardens safe, as well as working with local schools and other community groups. All our projects aim to make public places more attractive, encourage more wildlife, promote the vitality of our community, and improve health and wellbeing by widening participation in physical activity.
This is a great opportunity for someone who has the odd hour or two to spare and is interested in having fun whilst improving the environment. No experience is necessary, although some knowledge of gardening is a benefit. Enjoying working outdoors and with others is essential.
To find out more, contact Susie.
Litter picking is a vital part of our conservation work. It takes many hours and the work of not only staff, but many volunteers. Some join us every year for our annual clean-up-the-common and some go out weekly in the area near their home. Others litter pick each and every time they are out and about on the common. It really does make a difference. Please click here to find out more about our annual, group and ad hoc litter picks, and to borrow our litter picks.