Countryside Restoration Trust has received a grant of £20000 to create a brand-new Volunteer Programme.

How we will use the grant

In 2020, the country was put on pause due to multiple lockdowns, and unfortunately, most of our volunteering days had to be postponed. This year, when normality begins again and is safe to do so, we want to welcome even more volunteers to our properties. This grant will support the recruitment, equipping and training of new volunteers at our sites.

In previous years, volunteers have completed works on a somewhat ad-hoc basis in conjunction with the tenant farmer. Soon, the CRT will recruit a new Conservation Manager. Under guidance from them, a strategic document detailing which species to focus on, which habitats need creating and which conservation activities need completing will further enhance our volunteers' impact.

The benefits of our volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the CRT work and undertake many activities that help us achieve our vision. We believe in encouraging people to become involved with their local CRT farms' lives and work. Our volunteers play a vital role in conservation work, wildlife monitoring, and organising events. We currently have 120 regular volunteers who contributed approximately 8,000 hours in 2019.

We have tenant farmers who work tirelessly to improve the land they rent and to create spaces for wildlife. However, they are also very busy, working hard to make a living in one of the hardest and gruelling industries in the UK. Therefore, the farmers utilise the CRT volunteers to carry out conservation and monitoring activities on the farms.

Interested in volunteering?

Support the programme by donating towards new equipment!

About the Garfield Weston Foundation

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded, charitable grant-making foundation, which supports a wide range of causes across the UK, donating over £80 million annually.  It was established in 1958 by the Weston family and is one of the largest and most respected charitable institutions in the UK which has donated over £1 billion.  

Almost 2000 charities across the UK benefit each year from grants made by the Foundation, ranging from small, community and volunteer projects, to large national organisations.