Getting caught up

I figure if this blog is going to chart my volunteering I should probably include what I've done so far.


I got an email last Thursday from the Trust which included details of a River Clean Up happening the next day.  Short notice but I had nothing planned so I decided to go along.   It was great.  Nice bunch of people. Did an hour of litter picking on and around the river. Quick tea break then it was upriver to pull invasive plants. It was a bit of a scramble to get to the site on the river bank where the Himalayan Basalm was growing. Never having been to a clean up before I wasn't sure what to expect so had chucked my Crocs in my bag just in case I needed to go in the water. Didn't take me long to volunteer to put them on and pull the basalm that was unreachable from the bank.  Wading knee deep (thankfully I'd worn shorts) I was in my element.  The water was cold at first but I soon aclimatised and my feet were toasty warm.

Absolutely loved it and can't wait until the next session. Really enjoyed the 2 mile stroll there and then back again but I think The Boy will need to get his bike fixed up for me so that I can get to the further away sessions.


On Monday evening I attended my first River Patrol meeting.  River Patrol Volunteers adopt a stretch of river and once a week, patrol it to check for any problems (fallen trees, litter, dog poo, pollution, vandalism, overgrown vegetation etc), note position of invasive species (Himalayan Basalm, Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Mink) and monitor walkway usage, wildlife and protected species (otters and bats).  They then meet up every couple of months to report on what has been happening along the river and look at any areas that need work or more patrols in future.  At the meeting I learnt the position of the elusive kingfishers which I have heard so much about but never seen for myself. I also learnt about the stocking of fish in the river and the flood defense works that are currently being carried out. I got a new map of the river and am now looking forward to getting out on my first patrol. My main zones will be 7 and 8 as they're either side of the canal but once my feet improve (or The Boy fixes the bike up) I'll be able to do some other zones too.

I plan to get myself a log book to save constantly printing out the patrol sheets and accumulated photos or pictures of the plants and wildlife I should be looking out for. After all, I have no idea what river lamprey look like or the difference between a water vole and water shrew.

Hopefully soon I'll get a call about volunteering in the visitor's centre.