Local business volunteers to restore wetland areas across York

A York charity is aiming to restore and improve several wetland areas across the city with the help of volunteers from a number of local businesses.
Michael Crossland
By Michael Crossland
Published 7th Mar 2023, 16:45 BST

The annual Big Community Challenge will take place in June and is being organised by employee-volunteering charity York Cares, with support from City of York Council ECO Team, St Nicks, and the University of York, which is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Volunteers are taking part from companies including Aviva, BAM Nuttall, Benenden Health, boxxe, Johnson’s of Whixley, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Nestle, Portakabin, Torsion Construction, and The Partners Group, some of whom also provide materials, equipment, advice and skilled labour.

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Holly Hennell, manager at York Cares said: “We want to make this our biggest ever community challenge.

Volunteers from Aviva, Benenden Health, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust, boxxe and Portakabin taking part in the York Cares Big Community Challenge 2022 at Westfield Marsh.Volunteers from Aviva, Benenden Health, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust, boxxe and Portakabin taking part in the York Cares Big Community Challenge 2022 at Westfield Marsh.
Volunteers from Aviva, Benenden Health, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Housing Trust, boxxe and Portakabin taking part in the York Cares Big Community Challenge 2022 at Westfield Marsh.

“The Big Community Challenge is well supported by many of the city’s organisations who all encourage their staff to volunteer, but this year’s project is particularly ambitious. We are also co-ordinating extra dedicated days each week for the local community to lend a hand so that even more people can get involved.”

The team plan to create a bog garden at Hull Road Park, building up the banks along the beck as part of a restoration project in an efforts to repopulate water voles.

They will also create wildflower areas at New Walk, in a bid to improve the habitats of endangered Tansy Beetles.

A wetland area is also planned at Rowntree Park.

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Ellie Stead, CEO at St Nicks said: “These volunteering activities provide a variety of opportunities for people to truly get engaged in making a difference to their local area and natural habitats. The restoration and management of the river and wetland areas in York is vital to ensure the ongoing enhancement and connectivity of these habitats and to increase biodiversity within our city.”

Related topics:York