30 April 2006

Six students from Bristol University achieved the John Muir Discovery Award through volunteering for CSV. The award aims to encourage the discovery and conservation of wild places in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration, is non-competitive and open to all.

In the words of the participants:

“We are a group of Bristol University Students called ‘Greenforce’ who volunteer with CSV in Bristol. This year they facilitated the John Muir Discovery Award, which we really enjoyed.

Although the majority of us are in our 3rd year at Bristol University we were new to the surrounding area. So we initially discovered and explored The Dundry Slopes, Goblin Coombe, Clover Down and their community garden called Lampton Gardens.

We did a variety of activities; we built bat boxes and had a fascinating talk about bats from The Avon Wildlife Trust and then hung some boxes in the local area.

We also built a shelter for forest school children at their site in Goblin Coombe. At Clover Down we went litter picking and at Tyntesfield Estate we helped coppice a hedge.
 
At Lampton Gardens we were involved in digging a wildlife pond and bog garden and planting it up with aquatic and marginal plants, we also designed and built a herb garden.

I really enjoyed being outdoors, doing practical activities in a friendly group, but also doing something worthwhile and seeing the results of what we’ve done. I would love to do the next award but unfortunately I will have left University, although I would certainly recommend this award to fellow students.”

To find out more about the John Muir Award, volunteering and its rewards, please contact Emma Benton on 0117 964 2831, or at emma@csvenvironment.org.uk.