Volunteers from the Richmond Fellowship group based in Poole will be hanging up their spades for the final time this month, after 8 years of volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT).
The group have given up their time to take part in a wide variety of vital conservation work, most recently helping The Great Heath team with tasks in east Dorset such as clearing rivers, pulling invasive Himilayan Balsam, survey work, and repairing footpaths.
Richmond Fellowship Group supports local people with complex mental health issues as a result of substance misuse, social isolation and homelessness. Due to lack of funding, the Poole branch of the group will no longer be operating.
Service user, Roger Little, who lives with social anxiety, Asperger’s and OCD, has been volunteering since June 2015. He said, “I never thought I would like working outside, but I have really enjoyed spending time in beautiful places and learning about wildlife from the experts by volunteering with DWT. It’s a great distraction from the rat race in towns and cities, and people are always interested to hear about what I’ve learnt. It’s also good to get to know new people.”
John Butler has been volunteering for 2 ½ years. He said, “When I started this I was in a bad way, but volunteering has been a great support to me psychologically and it’s been the most helpful thing throughout my recovery. It’s also really helped with my confidence.”
DWT’s Great Heath Conservation Officer, Megan Lowe said, “We are so thankful to the volunteers from the Richmond Fellowship for all their support over the last 8 years. Volunteers are a huge part of our conservation work in Dorset and come rain or shine they have never let us down! We hope they continue to use outside space during their continued recovery, and they would be very welcome to continue volunteering with DWT outside the group.”
Stephen Smith-Trask, managing director for Richmond Fellowship (south), said: “Reflecting on this fantastically successful partnership it’s incredible to see the progress people using our services have made through volunteering with the Dorset Wildlife Trust.”
“Through their volunteer work people have reconnected with nature and played a key role in preserving some of the areas outstanding natural habitats. In turn this has had a huge benefit on their mental health and well-being and we’re extremely thankful for the support over the last 8 years.”
DWT awarded Richmond Fellowship volunteers in 2011 with the ‘Helen Brotherton’ group volunteering award, in recognition of their commitment and enthusiasm towards wildlife.
If you would like to get involved with volunteering for the Great Heath Living Landscape project, please contact Megan Lowe on 01202 692033, and to explore all DWT’s volunteering opportunities, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering, or phone 01305 264620.
