Our 1,200 registered volunteers support our work in many ways, from managing habitats and surveying wildlife, to leading walks and inspiring school children. To coincide with the launch of our campaign 'Help Nature Thrive' we are shining a spotlight on how some of our volunteers help improve biodiversity in the Royal Parks.
Bryony Cross, Volunteer and Programmes Manager at The Royal Parks, said: “From mapping anthills and counting hedgehogs, to planting shrubs and trees, volunteers make a huge contribution to helping nature thrive in some of the country’s busiest parks.
“However, their contribution is not just realised in the Royal Parks, it goes bigger than that. By helping nature thrive, our volunteers are helping reverse worldwide biodiversity loss and that benefits us all.”
Hyde Park Conservation Volunteers
Set up in March 2020, this group has made huge strides in helping nature thrive in between the various coronavirus lockdowns.
Recent projects include habitat improvements on Serpentine Island such as coppicing, dead hedging and putting up bird boxes. In the Hyde Park Nursery Woodland, the volunteers cleared invasive spotted laurel and snowberry and replanted these areas with native shrubs with berries and seeds for birds, and wildflowers with nectar for pollinators.
St James’s Park Duck Island Conservation Volunteers
Since March 2019 volunteers been busy transforming Duck Island in St James’s Park into a thriving nature reserve. They have created two new wildflower meadows, cleared out invasive species of tree and shrub, planted willow saplings and created dead-hedge habitats, which helps fungi and beetles to thrive,
Richmond Park Isabella Plantation Volunteers
The Isabella Plantation, an enchanting 40-acre ornamental woodland garden in Richmond Park, is full of exotic plants and is designed to be interesting all year round. Volunteers support the garden teams in delivering a wide range of tasks including the removal of the invasive Rhododendron ponticum and planting native trees and shrubs.
Wildlife Surveyors
The Royal Parks has a long history of recording wildlife throughout the parks, going back over 100 years. We receive thousands of species records from volunteers every year, providing a huge contribution to our understanding of what animals, plants and fungi are living in and visiting the parks, and informing habitat management and creation works to make the parks even better for wildlife.
A huge thank you to all our volunteers for their dedication, hard work and support for London's wildlife and precious green spaces.
