Article created : 12/06/2009

Your opportunity to carry out conservation projects in your parish.



Following our successful partnership working with Essex County Council (ECC) for last year’s Essex Tree Initiative, RCCE will again be working with ECC’s Natural Environment team on conservation projects in parishes.

For the Essex Tree Initiative, RCCE allocated 25,000 trees and hedging plants to 46 parishes or settlements throughout the county. Volunteers within these communities contributed nearly 3,000 hours of time to apply for the trees, prepare the ground and carry out the planting. All of the trees planted through this scheme are in publicly accessible locations to ensure maximum benefit for all local residents.

This year RCCE is looking to work with parishes which have Local Wildlife Sites (LoWS) or are within a “Living Landscape” area. The types of projects we anticipate providing assistance with in these parishes would be pond restoration, planting hedgerows to connect remote woodlands and conservation sites, and establishing more grassland environments.

There is a wide variety of support available for parishes to undertake these conservation projects – from BTCV leading volunteer groups to small grants and expert conservation advice. If your parish council, village hall management committee, parochial church council or other community group is interested in carrying out a conservation project, please contact Michelle Gardiner at RCCE michelle.gardiner@essexrcc.org.uk to discuss your potential ideas. RCCE has detailed information on where the LoWS and “Living Landscape” areas are located within the county, so this can be discussed as part of your initial enquiry.