Volunteers spring into action on Rochdale nature sites

Emily stacking off-cuts into a dead hedge

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A group of countryside volunteers have been improving their skills by transforming a number of local nature sites including Roch Valley in Rochdale.

The eight volunteers completed the work as part of the 12-week Practical Countryside Skills programme run by Groundwork. The scheme equips volunteers with a range of skills in outdoor conservation – skills they practice and put to good use through improvements to local nature sites.

The group has been hard at work at Roch Valley in Rochdale where they assisted in the creation of a new forest schools area. The vision of the Roch Valley Education Partnership is to create an outdoor learning environment to be used by local schools.

Countryside Skills volunteers helped to thin the woodland around the proposed learning area, create a natural path using reclaimed materials and assisted in building the banking for a series of new ponds.

In addition to the work at Roch Valley the volunteers also completed projects at Irkside in Middleton and nature sites in Bury and Oldham.

Dustie Hickey, one of the volunteers who carried out the work, said: “It was an amazing time spent with really lovely people. It was wonderful to find new places that I never knew existed.”

Matthew Lynwood, programme leader from Groundwork, said: “The group should be very proud of their achievements. Their work will allow more people to access and enjoy the excellent green spaces in our local area.”