Our volunteers are the heart of everything we do, without them we could not do the work we do. It’s not uncommon to see our team of over 100 volunteers helping to protect Barnes Common, wading in to the Beverley Brook creating berms, checking water quality and surveying invertebrates, weeding and planting in our community growing project or assisting with a session of young learners at our seasonal ‘Yaffles’ nature walks. The help they provide benefits not only wildlife but also the whole community.

Volunteering brings people together with a shared sense of purpose; it can reduce stress and boost wellbeing, both physical and mental. Along the way, volunteers can gain new skills, share their knowledge, and enjoy new and meaningful experiences, all while making friends. Many volunteers improve their employment prospects and go on to have long careers in fields they may not have considered before volunteering!

Anyone can volunteer, no matter your age or ability and you can donate as much or as little time as you wish! Last year our volunteers collectively donated over 8,000 hours – if we were to convert that to monetary terms at the London Living Wage, it’s well over £110,000!

Our volunteers are passionate, they care about what we do and want to give back to the community and our local green spaces. “I’ve been volunteering on the common for eight years or more. There is hard work, but there is also lots of laughter and camaraderie too. You meet with people of different ages and backgrounds in a common endeavour”, says Stephanie, one of our long-term volunteers.

So, if you are thinking about volunteering and would like to find out more, get in touch or visit us at this year’s Richmond CVS Volunteering Fair on Wednesday 21 May at RHACC, where we’ll have a stand. You can chat to volunteers and hear about their experiences and ask staff questions about roles and how to get involved.

This Volunteers’ Week (2–8 June 2025), we will be celebrating and saying thank you to the incredible Barnes Common volunteers. We’re so grateful for everything they do.