Who we work with
Our work at ParkLife SW is centered around creating opportunities to work with others to make our world a greener place. At the core of all our projects are our volunteers, community groups, work and partner organisations, and schools and colleges. We believe people power and community play a huge part in improving our environment and spreading awareness on ways that we can help care for nature.
We are passionate about creating opportunities for everyone to take part in, to learn from, and to hopefully meet new people along the way.
We strive to make our events inclusive and accessible and believe everyone can get involved in environmental conservation.
If you are interested in joining in, find out more about those we work with below.
Project of the month
October project of the month – brushwood faggot making
ParkLife has teamed up with the Dart Saltmarsh Restoration Project, and this autumn is assisting with gully blocking trials. The idea is to trap silt in a number of small channels that are eroding the valuable saltmarsh habitats that are present on the banks of the tidal Dart estuary.
This will be done by staking brushwood faggots, which are porous structures that will trap silt and help restore the marsh, in a way that will allow the unique vegetation to re establish. The faggots are being created by the ParkLife team and local volunteers. Willow and hazel coppice material – brushwood – is bound together in bundles. The bundles are approximately 2m in length and 300mm wide.
Once created, the brushwood faggots will be taken by boat from Steamer Quay to the saltmarsh sites known as ‘Home Reach’ and ‘40’ off’ where they will be staked in position. If you’d like to be involved in brushwood faggot making please contact the ParkLife team.
Community groups
ParkLife works alongside residents associations, green, environment, wildlife and climate groups, adult learners and other local organisations keen to be involved hands-on in landscape and biodiversity enhancements. We are committed to giving opportunity to people who don’t often get a chance to be active in the great outdoors.
Schools & young people
The team works with school pupils and college students of all ages – from reception to Year 11. Young people are increasingly knowledgeable about environmental issues, and ParkLife helps put that theory into practice. Projects take place in school grounds, or with transport provided, at coastal and countryside locations further afield.
ParkLife volunteers
People with a passion for our wildlife and landscape join in with ParkLife activities as individuals. ParkLife aims to provide regular projects on a network of parks and natural spaces suitable for a volunteer ‘task force’. This includes activities like tree planting and meadow creation.
Business and work groups
There is a renewed interest among business organisations for their staff to be engaged in environmental activities. These environmental ‘away days’ can have many benefits, not least in terms of team building whilst carrying out valuable tasks together, often in great locations. There are also opportunities to be involved in terms of climate change mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.