Hello all

Hope you have had a good week.

Updates since last week…

Volunteer hours

Total hours for the year so far is 4766.75. If you’re interested in each group here’s the totals:

Woodland Working Group (task days etc)             1068.25 hours

Events Volunteering                                                 458.75

History Group                                                           261.75

Practical Group Leaders                                          79

Education Volunteering                                           114

Wildlife Group                                                           1135.5

Woodland Wardens                                                  1364.5

Guided Walk Leaders                                               239

Photography Group                                                 46

In terms of Lottery match-funding, this many hours equates to just under £30,000.

Volunteer of the Year Awards

As you know, volunteers had nominations in two categories – the Wardens were been nominated for Volunteer Group of the Year, and Rob B was nominated for the Bluebell Award (which is for outstanding contribution to a volunteer role in the last 12 months). Some of our Wardens and Rob B went to Kelham Hall in Nottinghamshire for the awards ceremony yesterday – a beautiful building, and a lovely day celebrating the contribution of volunteers across the Trust!

Unfortunately we didn’t bring the awards home this year – but this does not diminish the astonishing efforts put in over the last 12 months, and everyone at the Smithills team would like to acknowledge the work of our nominees.

L-R: Lawrence Marsh, Dave Haythornthwaite, Vicky Entwistle, Robert Aspinall, Phillip Ball, Rob Ball and Pete Hargreaves at the Volunteer of the Year Awards at Kelham Hall

Smithills Supporters’ Group meeting – 3 December 2019

The next SSG meeting is on 3 December at 6.30pm at the Hall – join us for our final meeting of 2019, with a review of the year! Everyone welcome!

Tree planting

Today was the first day of our tree planting fortnight… a lovely sunny day and a great start to the fortnight, with 750 trees planted by Healthwatch Bolton, Motiv8, St Katherine’s Church in Blackrod, and the Rotary Club. Thanks to Richard, Pete M, Alex, Pete, Paul and Rob A for help today – the Wardens set up our newest tree-planting feature, a brew tent! Tree planting this year is luxurious compared to March… a tent, hot drinks, portaloos… whatever next!

Healthwatch Bolton and Motiv8 staff and service users at the planting site on Burnt Edge Lane

Wildlife Group

The Wildlife Group met last week. Stuart and I outlined plans for training sessions next year, targeted at helping us to monitor particular habitats (including the moorland, so that we can monitor recovery post-fire). Stuart also showed the group his work to date on mapping habitats and species on the Estate, which was excellent!

History Group

Next meeting of the History Group is on 28 November. We will be discussing research areas for 2020, and also discussing next steps for the oral history project. Oral historian Vanessa Cardui has joined us to facilitate this aspect of the project, and she will be meeting the group in January for a workshop and planning session.

Vicky Entwistle – Engaging Communities Officer, Smithills