Happy 10th birthday to our wonderful CityParks Volunteer Rangers!

In 2011, a small group of volunteers started meeting every Friday morning to help with conservation tasks around the city.

The residents had responded to an appeal by Cityparks Ranger Neil Doyle to bring together people with an interest in conservation to tackle projects in and around the city.

The group thrived and, ten years on, the CityParks Ranger Volunteers now meet twice a week, working on a wide range of projects.

Neil explained how it all began: “After years of working in our parks with various ‘friends of’ groups, residents’ associations and external conservation organisations, I began to think about setting up our own group.

“I started collecting email addresses and the CityParks Ranger Volunteers were born!”

The volunteers work in parks and nature reserves all over the city. “We go wherever we are needed, making visual improvements, creating and maintaining wildlife habitats and doing all those jobs that wouldn’t get done without the help of volunteers,” added Neil.

Covid challenges

The last 18 months have been challenging as volunteers worked around the Covid restrictions.Neil said: "We alternated between nothing happening at all to being extremely busy.

“Interest in volunteering has never been so strong but, up until 17 May, whenever we weren’t in a ‘lockdown’ we were restricted to meeting in groups of six. So, we had to run at least six sessions per week on rota system to fit everyone in. That was a very busy time.”

Today, the volunteers are back on track, meeting every Wednesday and Friday to work on a variety of projects. “We’re all outdoors, happy to see each other again, and it’s fantastic to finally be able to say we are back!”

Coppicing

Last week, the volunteers were busy coppicing in Stanmer Park. “The act of cutting these hazel trees keeps them at a juvenile stage of growth,” explained Neil.

“The tree sends up new shoots and this repeated cutting (every 8 years,) prolongs the life of the tree, improves diversity within the woodland and provides benefits for wildlife by allowing the sunlight to reach the woodland floor.”

He added that coppicing also provides a sustainable source of timber which CityParks use for projects around the city, which have recently included hedge laying at Dyke Road Park and an ornamental fence in Palmeira Square.

The volunteers were joined by Councillor Amy Heley, chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee. “It was lovely to spend time working with this fantastic group of volunteers, who do such a great job helping to protect and enhance our parks and countryside,“ she said.

Neil's Nomads!

Volunteers can work as often as they are able. “It’s very flexible,” said Neil. “I don’t ask for any upfront commitment. I send out an email once a week saying where the task is and ask volunteers to reply so that I know how many people are coming and how many tools to bring.

"There are regulars (who have informally nicknamed the group ‘Neil’s Nomads’) who come most weeks, and there are some people who I only see once or twice or year.

“It’s a very special thing when all these people come along in their own free time and help make the parks and nature reserves nicer places for people and for wildlife.

“It’s particularly rewarding when a member of the public walks past when we’re working, and thanks the volunteers for all their hard work. Fantastic!”

Range of tasks

Volunteer Mick, 75, says: “It’s nice to get back home, sit back in my armchair, and think ‘we did a good job today. Afterwards, I can take my grandkids to the park to show them what we did.”

Cliff, 59, has been volunteering with the CityParks Ranger Volunteers for over 7 years. “This group is unique in that every session the conservation task is different - some weeks we’re helping garden a seafront square, other weeks we’re coppicing hazel in Stanmer Woods.

“I particularly like the way CityParks Ranger Volunteers work with and support all the other green space volunteer groups.

"Volunteering with Neil has inspired me to get involved with the Brighton & Hove Green Spaces Forum which connects the 70+ green space volunteer groups we have across the city.”

Learning new skills

Fellow volunteer Aimee, 30, added: “It’s good to feel like you’re helping the local community, visiting new places and learning new skills.

“We get a nice mix of ages (18 or over) and abilities from students who need the work experience, the recently retired who still want to stay active, nature loving freelancers and self-employed or part-time workers who want to break up the week with some conservation and a chat. Some will even take a day’s annual leave so they can come along!”

Neil added that there are tasks to suit all volunteers. “Some people are up for hard graft and they like to come along, raise the heart rate and break a sweat, while others prefer their conservation at a more relaxed pace.

“The attitude of the CityParks Ranger Volunteers has always been, do as little or as much as you like. If there are enough of us, then very quickly a little can add up to a lot.”

Want to join?

New volunteers are always welcome. The CityParks Volunteer Rangers meet every Wednesday and Friday at 10am. To find out more and to sign up email Cityparks.volunteers@brighton-hove.gov.uk