Lancashire's community spirit shines as volunteers transform green spaces
Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to support communities across the county as part of the first ever Lancashire Volunteering Day.
More than 120 volunteers showcased the amazing work being done to help transform green spaces, strengthen civic pride and bring communities together to connect.
Across Lancaster, Rossendale, the Fylde and Skelmersdale, volunteers including veterans, community groups, business employees, councillors and members of partner organisations and charities came together on October 8 to plant trees, restore playgrounds, improve wildlife habitats and community spaces and make local areas cleaner, greener and more welcoming.
Councillor Ella Worthington, cabinet member for Civic Pride, took part enthusiastically at a session in Helmsdale, Skelmersdale. Volunteers worked on playground and bench improvements, along with litter picking, planting and biodiversity activities.
Cllr Worthington (left) with volunteers
Cllr Worthington said: “I had such a great time getting stuck in, and it was brilliant to see what we had achieved by the end of the day.
“Volunteers do amazing work across Lancashire, and we wanted the first Lancashire Volunteering Day to celebrate their contribution throughout the year.
“The day forms part of our Our Lancashire civic pride initiative, which is all about bringing people together and encouraging everyone to do their bit for their community. It was wonderful to see people of all ages and from all walks of life getting involved.”
At Claver Hill Community Farm in Lancaster, volunteers improved wildlife habitats and nature trails, maintained hedgerows and fruit trees, replanted paths and carried out practical jobs including mulching, path creation and vegetation clearance.
Kathy Barton, a long-standing volunteer at Claver Hill, said:
"Our community project has nature trails and food growing. The benefits of volunteering include meeting lots of friends and growing your own food which is free of chemicals.
"I just love being out in nature and if you have any stresses you come here and you will just not even think about them for the whole day. I highly recommend volunteering."
More than 50 volunteers helped improve the footpath between East Lancashire Railway Station and New Hall Hey Retail Park in Rawtenstall, carrying out weeding, cutting back brambles and improving accessibility. Volunteers also created a dead hedge using the twigs and branches they had just trimmed, providing valuable habitat for wildlife including birds, insects and hedgehogs.
Nasreen Akhtar, Learning and Development Officer at Lancashire County Council, said:
"I was born and bred in Rawtenstall so it's very nostalgic looking back at what used to be here. It was brilliant to see so many people and we've done a great deal of work, giving back to the community."
James Tomlinson, Lancashire County Council's Champion for Rural Affairs, the Agricultural Community and Parishes, took part at in a session at Blackburns Farm Nurseries & Wildlife Centre in Wrea Green, Fylde. Volunteers supported tree planting, maintained raised beds and food-growing areas, carried out general horticultural activities, and helped with conservation work across the site.
He said: "It was brilliant supporting Lancashire Volunteer Day and seeing this brilliant initiative and how it benefits the community. Through my role as a Champion, I've witnessed first-hand the benefits community groups bring to areas. They bring people together, tackle issues such as mental health and well-being, and make communities more cohesive."