New Year, new you? Volunteer to make a difference in 2018!

Opportunities in the Clyde and Avon Valley

Filed under News

Date posted: Thursday, 21 December 2017

As a new year dawns, it’s time for fresh starts and resolutions. What better way to make a positive change in your life, and others, than through volunteering? Volunteering is one of the most rewarding activities that you can do, giving something back to your community but also helping you to meet people, learn new skills or put existing ones to use, gain confidence, take on a challenge, and most importantly, to have fun.

Volunteers at RSPB Baron's Haugh help to restore ancient parkland

At Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), volunteers play a crucial role in conserving and celebrating the unique local landscape and culture heritage. In 2016 alone, a total of around 136 volunteers spent just under 3200 hours improving access, researching historic sites, maintaining heritage features, caring for ancient woodland, and a whole lot more at sites around the area including Chatelherault Country Park, Strathclyde Country Park, Mauldslie Woods and Lanark.

It’s not too late for you to join in. Browse the opportunities below and get in touch with the listed contacts to find out more and get involved.

Lend a hand with Forth Eco Project Growers

Interested in helping your local food growers? Then why don't you come along and take part in some fun gardening sessions with Forth Eco Project Growers and Clydesdale Community Initiatives to help maintain this area. All tools will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing.

The dates are as follows,10.15am-12.15pm:

Tuesday 9 Oct

Tuesday 13 Nov

Tuesday 11 Dec

Please contact CCI for full details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Environmental Volunteering at Loudon Pond, Douglas Water

Join Clydesdale Community Initatives and local volunteers to help clear paths to get access to Loudon Pond nature reserve on Thursday, 15 November 10am-2.30pm. Meeting point at the entrance to Loudon Pond.

All tools will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing. Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Community Gardening at Kirkfieldbank Park

Are you a pupil at the local school or a member of the community and interested in gardening? Come and join Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) and Kirkfieldbank Community Group to help tidy the Kirkfieldbank sensory garden on Tuesday 28th August from 10am-12.30pm.

In addition to the gardening session there is also a fruit tree pruning training session on the morning of Tuesday 23rd October from 10am-12pm. This will be led by CCI Horticulturist Catherine McCluskey with CCI gardening group members also attending.

Gardening tools will be provided but feel free to bring your own! Please wear weather appropriate clothing. Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Help local groups with the apple season

Join Clydesdale Community Initiatives and Clyde Valley Orchards Co-operative help pick apples from the orchards in the Clyde Valley with apple pressing days to follow.

Apple picking - meeting place at Dobbies Car Park, 10am-2.30pm, dates as follows:

Wednesday, 17 October

Wednesday, 24 October

Other dates may follow dependent on volume of apple crops.

Apple pressing at Clydesdale Community Initiatives, Langloch Farm, Lanark, 10am-2pm, dates as follows:

Tuesday, 23 October

All tools will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing.

Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Stonehouse Park Environmental Volunteering - last Wednesday in the month

Join CCI and Friends of Stonehouse Park to take part in environmental volunteering including improving the woodland area, clearing pathways and making new benches. Meeting place is the Pavilion in Stonehouse Park at 10.15am.

Sessions are last Wednesday in the month 10.15am-2.30pm

All tools will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing.

Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lend a hand at Lesmahagow Allotments

Come along and take part in fun and therapeutic gardening sessions with Lesmahagow Development Trust and Clydesdale Community Initiatives to help maintain this area.

Meet on the following Tuesdays - 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec, 10.15am-2.30pm.

All tools will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing.

Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Help plant trees at Upperton

Help plant trees at Upperton, North Lanarkshire, ML6 7TW on Wednesday 5 Dec and Thursday 6 Dec, 10am. Join Clydesdale Community Initiatives and local volunteers to help plant trees.

All tools will be provided. Please wear weather appropriate clothing.

Please contact CCI to book a place or for further details on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go on, sign up to make a difference today!