TCV’s ‘Reclaiming the Riverside’ is restoring the green corridor along the River Crane at Cranford, West London, revitalising 3km of riverside and adjoining habitat for the community and wildlife.
Many Cranford locals remember playing in the River Crane as children. They remember a beautiful park, filled with birdlife, newts and frogs. Unfortunately, the Lower Crane at Cranford, immediately east of Heathrow Airport, is badly affected by habitat degradation, fly tipping and invasive species. However, the beauty is still there, and the land is slowly being restored, expanding the urban wildlife corridor and connecting patches of priority habitat along the riverside, including nature reserves downstream.
TCV is working 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 run community engagement activities, and Crane Valley CIC, with additional collaboration with Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE).
For information on LGOAL’s activities, please visit Get Involved – Let’s Go Outside and Learn CIC (lgoal.org)
What we’re achieving together
Together we’ve restored large stretches of riverside, loads of park space and reopened a section of path from Waye Avenue to Avenue Park, restoring river and grassland priority habitat. We are connecting local people with nature through practical volunteering, citizen science and other nature-based activities.
Contact
Please get in touch with Project Officer Fergus Walters to find out more and how you can get involved.
- Email: gg-cranford@tcv.org.uk
- Mobile: 07740899682
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 will teach you any necessary skills and how to handle tools safely. You work at your own pace so all abilities are welcome.
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 especially welcome local people who would like to become volunteer officers with TCV to learn valuable practical skills and who can help deliver the project.
People often worry that they will lose benefits if they volunteer. The Conservation Volunteers is a registered charity and so you are legally entitled to volunteer full time with us and still claim Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and housing benefit, depending upon your domestic arrangements.
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
We supply:
- Tools
- Gloves
- Hand wash and hand sanitizer
- Refreshments and snacks
What would I do and where?
The main area of work is currently Avenue Park, although we work occasionally in Waye Avenue Open Space.
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 07740899682. Leave a message if we don’t answer and we’ll get back to you.
Or you can email gg-cranford@tcv.org.uk b
We tend to meet in Avenue Park, near the outdoor gym. There are two sessions on a Friday: 10:45 – 14:00 and 14:00 – 16:00. There are breaks for refreshment. Come for as long or as little as you’d like.
If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.