Voluntary work opportunities

Four hackberry trees were planted in the courtyard of the social center "La Grande Bastide". Children were involved with the support of the association "Aux Actes Citoyens" (in english"Act Citizens"). The planting of the 4 trees by the children was done with the support of animators/leaders (who work at the Social Center and animate diverse activities at the center), Karine Lurcin, president of the association "Aux Acts Citizens" as well as several members of the association. (Ref. 1). The Social Center of the "Grande Bastide"(non-governmental organization) was behind the idea, stating that: "It is the idea of ​​the center to have the children do the planting. We will surely be inspired by it for future actions", and, "from today, [the children] will always associate the earth with a particular and positive emotion: pleasure" (Ref. 1).

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Cymru’s Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff aims to engage thousands of children, their families, and local communities with Cardiff’s wildlife, enabling them to take action for nature (ref 9). To do this, the project provides free outreach sessions in nurseries, early-years settings/schools, and primary schools across Cardiff to help children discover the wildlife in their school grounds. To reach families, nature-based activities are held. Finally, the project supports communities to help improve and manage pollinator-friendly Urban Buzz sites across the city (ref 9).

Cardiff City Council and Urban Buzz brought together local organizations, community groups supporting wildlife, to create environments to encourage more bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other insects. (ref 1). One project inspired by Urban Buzz is Pharma Bee, a project housed and run by Cardiff University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, that worked to create a bee-friendly campus through their PharmaBees team (ref 7). In association with Urban Buzz, a project run by BugLife, it renovated the Cardiff University’s Redwood Building by planting bee-friendly plants (ref 2), installed beehives and trained bee-keepers (ref 7). The efforts were then expanded to the Hayden Ellis building on Cardiff University's campus (ref 7).

The initiative aimed to create a layout of flowers and perennials in the green belt at Ogrodowa Street in the urban area where historically gardens were located. The initiators also took care of the existing tree crowns. The project has created a green enclave in the very heart of the city, a place for walking and relaxation. It has improved the image and increased the attractiveness of the area. The local community is involved in planting and maintaining the flowerbed [1,2].

As an open root space, climbing plants usually only need a small floor area. Such planting areas can be cut out in a semicircular shape
directly on the facade, for example in the eaves strip of the roof overhangs (irrigation may be necessary). The city department for urban development initiated a funding programme for green facades and walls on private property in the city district of Wolbeck. It formed part of the proposed measures of the urban redevelopment programme for the district to improve its attractiveness and enhance green spaces. It included the reimbursement of up to 70 per cent of the arising material costs provided that the owner commits to maintaining the green façade for ten years. Although only three parties participated in the programme, public awareness of the multiple benefits of green space were raised (ref. 1, 2, 3 and 4).

In 2015, 20,000 British Pounds have been raised to help wildlife in the Elba Park in Sunderland. The funding was granted to create new habitat for priority species in Shiney Row in Elba park. Community groups and schools were one of the major parts of the project. People were engaged to enhance their learning experience. This project was partly crowd-funded (Ref 1).

The project aimed to improve the Owler Beck riverbody catchment in Wakefield. Data collected by the Environment Agency revealed that the Owler Beck catchment is struggling to achieve the 'good ecological status' needed in order to meet the European Water Framework Directive. This is likely due to years of alterations that have removed the diversity of the environments and left the watercourse silty. The project aimed to address these issues by working on the priority sites along the river. A multi-phased scheme had been designed to relieve these pressures and deliver benefits for both people and wildlife across the catchment. (Ref. 1) The project is completed as of 2019 with 200m of river reach length covered in the catchment area. (Ref 7)

The "Sunderland North Community Allotments" project aimed to clear and renovate derelict allotment plots, remove fly-tipping and rubbish and transform the site into brand new resources for local people. The project is expected to increase people’s knowledge of growing healthy produce and aims to enhance their diet whilst improving the amount of exercise and time spent in a green space. The project has been implemented in multiple areas including but not limited to Fulwell, Primrose, Thompson Road, Shields Road, High Southwick, Fulwell and Waterworks Field, Shields Road. Very recently, one of the allotments in Fulwell Mill got destroyed by a devastating fire. (Ref 1, 9 and 10)

Grace House is a charity that provides care to children with disabilities. The staff has created a Sensory Garden and a fruit and vegetable patch to improve the neglected surrounding area. The project is seen as an opportunity for local people to engage in gardening activities as well as a source of health, social and learning benefits. Volunteers have been involved in the execution of the project (Ref 1).

“The Blooming Meadows project aimed to create a network of wildflower meadows across the West Yorkshire landscape [5 districts, including sites managed by Wakefield Council]. In the UK grasslands are one of our most vital habitats, supporting one fifth of all species listed as 'of conservation concern' (known as priority species) - the most supported by any habitat. Sadly, the UK has lost 97% of its wildlife-rich grasslands since the 1940s. Yorkshire Wild Trust worked to create blooming meadows which support some of the wildlife mentioned above across West Yorkshire.” (Ref. 1, 2)