Friends of Pocklington Green Spaces
Pocklington’s newest conservation group has just turned one year old; we take the opportunity to find out more.
A year after it began, the Friends of Pocklington Green Spaces group has already carried out a fair bit of work in the local area. The group carries out practical conservation activities, encouraging people to get out and helping to preserve and improve the area’s green spaces. It now has a core membership, and an established work routine.
“We meet on Friday mornings at 10:00,” says Task Manager Karen Spruyt, “On the first week of the month we’re at Burnby Hall. On the second, we do jobs for the Town Council and on the third, we’re up at the Buddhist Centre at Kilnwick Percy, working on a walkway. More recently, on fourth Fridays we’ve been volunteering with the Canal and River Trust.”
“The group hasn’t had any trouble finding work to be done.”
The group was formed after Green Gym, a project run by The Conservation Volunteers, came to an end. “Green Gym was a real success,” says Karen. “When it ended we wanted to continue doing the same work, and so Friends of Pocklington Green Spaces was set up. The anniversary we’re celebrating just now is our anniversary of being totally independent.”
So far the group hasn’t had any trouble finding work to be done, with Karen using existing contacts from the Green Gym to find out about projects which need their help. The Town Council, for example, always has something on the go. “We spent most of last year finishing off the footpath at West Green,” she says, “And we did bulb planting at Barmby Moor – we all had to wear high-visibility jackets for that, as it was along the main road. Then just last week, we were up at Primrose Wood. The Town Council work is very varied.”
Something the group would love to have in their second year, is a few more members.
“Sometimes only a handful of people turn up,” says Karen, “although there are twelve of us altogether in the group. There are lots of benefits to taking part, especially just working in the outdoors. Not everyone can get out and up to the Dales, but it’s nice to just get out locally and realise that we do have green spaces nearby. It’s important to help maintain them too, because they are rapidly disappearing.”
There is also of course the social aspect of belonging to the group. “There are people there to chat to if you feel like it,” says Karen, “or you can just work in your own space if you prefer.”
Member Joyce Buckingham loves being involved with the group: “My husband, Mervyn, and I have been with the group since its inception,” says Joyce, and we thoroughly enjoy being involved in such a worthwhile enterprise. Mervyn mostly enjoys the construction work and I love working at Burnby Hall Gardens. It’s a great way to burn off calories and make friends in the process. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.”
Friends of Pocklington Green Spaces is a friendly, informal group. New members are welcome and no experience is needed – just enjoy being outdoors.
The group currently meets on Fridays at 10:00 for around two hours, but you can stay for a shorter or longer time if you wish. There is also a possibility of meeting on different days for those who can’t make Fridays. The group would love to hear from prospective members, and is also interested in finding out about other similar projects where their help could be used. Contact Friends of Pocklington Green Spaces on: 07905 033248.
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