Calendar Key: ■ River Don Volunteer Day (Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster) ■ River Rother Volunteer Day (Chesterfield) ■Volunteer Training Event ■Citizen Science Survey ■ DCRT Community Event ■Don, Dearne & Rother Network Event ■Find our stall here
Join us for a volunteer day in Hexthorpe Park on Tuesday 4th November, litter-picking around the park and riverside. We will also be removing Himalayan Balsam from the banks of the river if it is tall enough to pull up.
Transition Chesterfield will be hosting a regular volunteer day on the second Thursday of each month at Queen’s Park
Let’s Get Litter Sorted
Now that the Hidden Heritage project has come to an end, Kathy and Margaret from Chesterfield’s Transition Chesterfield group are kindly taking on one of the regular Thursday litterpicking days to help continue the amazing clean-up work along our riversides. Litter will be sorted and surveyed to build up a picture of the biggest polluters!
Please note these days will be advertised on the DCRT events calendar and DCRT volunteers are welcome, but they are run by the Transition team, so you’ll need to let them know if you are attending. Email Kathy on [email protected] if you plan to join the session and please read the details below
Litter Pick Thursdays (2nd Thursday of each month 10 – 11.30am)
When: Thursday 8th June, 10am.
Volunteers are needed and very welcome. Children or anyone needing additional support will need to be accompanied by an adult carer.
Where: For the first few sessions, the meet up point will be in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, on the footpath behind the Cricket Pavilion (What3Words point: invite.button.sulk) and we will be supported by the lovely staff from Don Catchment Rivers Trust who are helping us to get the new group established. From March, we hope to have use of our very own litter picking “superbin” to be located in Queen’s Park!
Why: Our aim is to clean up local footpaths and shared walk & cycle routes. We also hope to highlight the problems caused by single use plastics and disposable snack & drink containers, both in terms of litter but also the waste of resources and urgent need to reduce, reuse and recycle!
How: The group will work together to sort out the litter into separate bags as we pick it up. No-one will be working alone, this is a team effort!
What’s provided: We will provide litter picking tools and gloves (Please feel able to bring your own if you have them)
What to bring: Your own reusable drinks cup (for a hot drink at the end of the litter pick session)
What to wear: Sturdy shoes, long sleeves, full leg covering/long trousers, sensible clothes for the weather eg. a warm hat.
Who: We are trying to think of a good name for our new group – any creative ideas are welcome!
Email Kathy on [email protected] if you have any questions or to let her know that you plan to join the session.
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, DCRT and the friends of Wardsend Cemetery have teamed up to collect Data for Nature as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Data for Nature project. We’ll be hosting monthly bird surveys in the Cemetery and on the riverside to help collect data and monitor birdlife in the area. If you have birding skills we’d really appreciate your help surveying, or if you are a beginner come along to practise your skills!
What to bring: Walking boots or wellies that you don’t mind getting a bit muddy! Bring binoculars if you have them. DCRT will bring the clipboards, survey forms and maps.
Joining us? All are welcome, including beginners. Please let us know if you’ll be coming so we can plan accordingly – email [email protected]
Join the Friends of the Don Valley Way as we work to clear up the litter in and around Swinton Dike.
On the day we will be meeting at 10am and finishing at 1pm. We will meet in the park on the far side of the allotments off North Street. We will complete a risk assessment on the day to ensure the safety of all volunteers. We will be stopping half way through for a tea break. On the day you will need to bring appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear. We can provide wellingtons and waders however we won’t be able to provide footwear for every volunteer.
If you are not yet signed up as a volunteer please email [email protected] to become a volunteer. We will be following all Government guidelines in relation to COVID 19 at the time of the event.
Grassmoor Country Park, Birkin Lane, Chesterfield, S42 5DA
Help us monitor the vegetation at Grassmoor Country Park to determine how it changes as a result of our natural flood management and habitat enhancement scheme. We will be doing plant surveys in and around the flood storage features, recording the abundance of particular species. Though some experience of plant ID would be helpful, it’s not essential so please do come along if you would like to get involved and learn about some of the plants found in the country park.
When: Wednesday 28th June 2023, 10am-1pm
Where: Grassmoor Country Park, South Car Park, off Birkin Lane
What to bring: Walking boots or other sturdy shoes, long sleeves and trousers recommended, waterproofs if rain is forecast, suncream, water and plant ID books if you have them.
Joining us? All are welcome, including beginners. Please let us know if you’ll be coming so we can plan accordingly – email [email protected]
*This volunteer day has been cancelled as there is next to no balsam on site this year!*
Join the Don Catchment Rivers Trust as we tackle the invasive plant species Himalayan Balsam along the banks of the River Rother, helping to increase the diversity of plants, reduce erosion, and protect the river banks. We will be walking through fields and along river banks with uneven ground, pulling out himalayan balsam plants, snapping and trampling the stems.
We will be meeting at 10am and finishing by 3pm with breaks for tea and lunch. We will complete a risk assessment on the day to ensure the safety of all volunteers. You will need to bring appropriate outdoor clothing – long sleeves, trousers and sturdy footwear are recommended.
If you are not yet signed up to volunteer with us, please do so by emailing [email protected].
Please note there is limited parking available at the meeting point. If you intend to drive it would be greatly appreciated if you could park nearby and walk to the meeting point. The Avenue Country Park car park is about a 15 minute walk away (see map below). A DCRT staff member will be in the Avenues car park at 9.45am to show people the way so please be there in time to meet them if you would like to walk together to the meeting point. For any further info please contact us at [email protected].
Join the friends of the Don Valley Way a we help remove the invasive plant Himalayan Balsam from the banks of the river Don ar Carlisle Street in Swinton.
We will be meeting at 10am and finishing at 1pm with a break for refreshments in the middle that will be provided. We will provide gloves on the day and can also provide wellies however these are limited so please wear sturdy footwear.
Please wear long sleeves and trousers that are suitable for outdoor work.
Grassmoor Country Park, Birkin Lane, Chesterfield, S42 5DA
Help us monitor the vegetation at Grassmoor Country Park to determine how it changes as a result of our natural flood management and habitat enhancement scheme. We will be doing plant surveys in and around the flood storage features, recording the abundance of particular species. Though some experience of plant ID would be helpful, it’s not essential so please do come along if you would like to get involved and learn about some of the plants found in the country park.
When: Wednesday 21st June 2023, 10am-3pm (but if you can only make the morning, no problem, just let us know!)
Where: Grassmoor Country Park, South Car Park, off Birkin Lane
What to bring: Walking boots or other sturdy shoes, long sleeves and trousers recommended, waterproofs if rain is forecast, suncream, water, lunch and plant ID books if you have them.
Joining us? All are welcome, including beginners. Please let us know if you’ll be coming so we can plan accordingly – email [email protected]
Join the Don Catchment Rivers Trust as we litter pick in and around the Rother and Holme Brook close to Spital Trail. If you would like to join our events and are new to the Trust, please email [email protected] to get signed up!
Location: Clayton St, Tannery S41 0DU
Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/PEBw6PNqfkgz63dd9
Timing: 10am-1pm (11:30am tea break)
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We will be following all COVID 19 guidelines at the time of this event.
We will be carrying out surveys around the leaky barriers we’ve been installing to slow flows during heavy rainfall to help us get a better understanding of if and how these barriers influence the river channel where they are installed including the bank sides and vegetation. Training will be given on the day and though some experience of plant ID would be helpful, it’s not essential. Access to sites is through woodland on rough ground. All welcome!
Sturdy footwear (wellies preferably), long sleeves, trousers and waterproofs are recommended. All other equipment will be provided.
There are a limited number of spaces available so you will need to book on to this session in advance.
We will be carrying out surveys around the leaky barriers we’ve been installing to slow flows during heavy rainfall to help us get a better understanding of if and how these barriers influence the river channel where they are installed including the bank sides and vegetation. Training will be given on the day and though some experience of plant ID would be helpful, it’s not essential. Access to sites is through woodland on rough ground. All welcome!
Sturdy footwear (wellies preferably), long sleeves, trousers and waterproofs are recommended. All other equipment will be provided.
There are a limited number of spaces available so you will need to book on to this session in advance.
Join the Friends of the Don Valley Way as they remove the invasive plant Himalayan Balsam from the banks of the River Don at Meadow Way.
We will be meeting at 10am and finishing at 1pm with a break for refreshments in the middle that will be provided. We will provide gloves on the day and can also provide wellies however these are limited so please wear sturdy footwear.
Please wear long sleeves and trousers that are suitable for outdoor work.
Grassmoor Country Park, Birkin Lane, Chesterfield, S42 5DA
*This event has been cancelled as the weather was kind to us and we completed the surveys ahead of schedule on the previous volunteer day!*
Help us monitor the vegetation at Grassmoor Country Park to determine how it changes as a result of our natural flood management and habitat enhancement scheme. We will be doing plant surveys in and around the flood storage features, recording the abundance of particular species. Though some experience of plant ID would be helpful, it’s not essential so please do come along if you would like to get involved and learn about some of the plants found in the country park.
When: Wednesday 28th June 2023, 10am-3pm (but if you can only make the morning, no problem, just let us know!)
Where: Grassmoor Country Park, South Car Park, off Birkin Lane
What to bring: Walking boots or other sturdy shoes, long sleeves and trousers recommended, waterproofs if rain is forecast, suncream, water, lunch and plant ID books if you have them.
Joining us? All are welcome, including beginners. Please let us know if you’ll be coming so we can plan accordingly – email [email protected]
Join Don Catchment Rivers Trust for a volunteer day on the Rother Catchment . All abilities welcome!
If you would like to join our events and are new to the Trust, please email [email protected] to get signed up!
Location: Please meet at Bluebank Pools carpark https://goo.gl/maps/FLaUDFMCnNnM1q6A7
Volunteers are welcome to park in the main car park but if there is no space we can arrange alternative parking.
What to bring: We will provide all necessary equipment and refreshments. All you need to wear is appropriate outdoor clothing (waterproof, long sleeves and trousers) and sturdy shoes.