TCV’s ‘Reclaiming the Riverside’ will restore the green corridor along the River Crane at Cranford, West London, revitalising 3km of riverside and adjoining habitat and putting the diverse local community at the heart of delivery.
The Lower Crane at Cranford, immediately east of Heathrow Airport, is badly affected by habitat degradation, fly tipping and invasive species. This land will be restored, expanding the urban wildlife corridor and connecting higher quality patches of priority habitat along the riverside including nature reserves downstream. A key part of the project is to make safe, restore and reopen a 250m disused section of river.
TCV will work with local volunteers from Cranford Action Group, a grassroots community group, London Boroughs of Hounslow and Hillingdon, and landowners London Wildlife Trust.
Partners also include Let’s Go Out And Learn (LGOAL), who’ll be running community engagement activities, and Crane Valley CIC, with additional collaboration with Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE).
What we’ll achieve together
Together we will conserve and restore nature across 20 hectares, including river and grassland priority habitat. We aim to connect 650 local people from the diverse local communities-with nature through practical volunteering, citizen science and other nature-based activities, and reopen a key section of river path.
Contact
Please get in touch with Senior Project Officer Judith Ressler to find out more and how you can get involved.
- Email : j.ressler@tcv.org.uk
- Mobile: 07483 050 759
Is it for me? Who can volunteer?
No experience is necessary as all the projects are suitable for first time volunteers. We only ask you to fill in our welfare form on your first day of attending so we have your emergency contacts.
Projects are run by experienced leaders who as well as explaining how to safely use any hand tools required, will also teach you any necessary skills. You work at your own pace so don’t worry if you’re not super fit.
The minimum age for volunteering is 16. If you are under 18 you must come with someone who knows you and is over 18.
If you have a support worker assigned to you, we ask that they come with you when you volunteer with us to give you the support needed and actively participate in the activities as much as possible.
We are also looking for local people who would like to become volunteer officers with TCV to learn about practical conservation work and who can help deliver the project.
What stuff do I need?
You bring:
- Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Clothes suitable for the weather, we are often out for more than 4 hours at a time in all weather conditions
- Sturdy footwear is good – though we have plenty of wellingtons you can borrow if you don’t have any of those
Due to Covid restriction we are unable to offer any refreshments during breaks so please be sure to bring your own packed lunch and enough to drink.
We supply:
- Tools
- Gloves
- Hand wash and hand sanitizer
What would I do and where?
The main areas of work are along the river Crane which runs through Cranford Park, Avenue Park, Berkley Meadows, Waye Avenue Park and past Huckerby’s Meadow.
Tasks are seasonal and range from litter piking to, Himalayan Balsam removal, shrub clearance, wildflower meadow creating, hay making using scythes, building a new footpath, nature surveys.
Plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and get to know your local environment and community.
When would I volunteer?
Check out the task programme or give us a ring/ text the mobile on 077646 55 667. Leave a message if we don’t answer and we’ll get back to you.
Or you can email j.ressler@tcv.org.uk
Our meeting time is currently 10.00am at the advertised meeting point. By 10:30am latest we move out to where we work (this can be different from the meeting point), finishing work by about 3:30pm.
Please call if you are running late. Our offices are bases at The ETNA Community Centre in Twickenham, but currently all project officers work from home when they are not out on projects.
All activities will be risk assessed and follow our COVID-19-secure guidance.
If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.