06
June
2017
|
17:39
Europe/London

Hampstead Heath celebrates Volunteers’ Week

On Sunday (4 June), the City of London Corporation, in partnership with Heath Hands and English Heritage celebrated with a Volunteer Open Day at Kenwood House as part of national Volunteers’ Week.

Over 300 visitors turned up to the Flower Garden at Kenwood to find more about volunteering opportunities across the Heath through talks and workshops with volunteers across the three organisations.

Aside from volunteering opportunities, there were many activities on the day including butter churning, family crafts, talks, tours and music performances.

Karina Dostalova, the City of London Corporation’s Chairman of the Hampstead Heath Management Committee, said:

“Our volunteers make an invaluable contribution to maintaining one of London’s most treasured open spaces and are very much the lifeblood of Hampstead Heath.

“Volunteers’ Week is a great opportunity to focus on the positive impact that volunteers have on our green spaces all year round.

“Across our open spaces we are creating a culture that supports volunteers to flourish as individuals and at the same time physically improve and promote the natural environment to others.”

Colin Houston, Projects and Volunteer Manger of Heath Hands said:

“With our partners we deliver an inclusive volunteering programme across Kenwood Estate, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Golders Hill Park and at Keats House.

“Volunteers’ Week is a chance to highlight the many opportunities that exist on these green spaces.

“We welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities, regardless of situation. No previous experience is required, we just ask for enthusiasm and a commitment to volunteering your time with us. You can get involved with practical conservation and gardening sessions, delivering events and educational activities, wildlife monitoring and much more.”

Bianca Pasquero, Volunteer Coordinator at Kenwood for English Heritage said:

“The Volunteer Fair was a great success as it was an opportunity to celebrate our volunteers’ hard work and to tell people about the fantastically wide range of volunteering roles we still have available.

“The support and dedication of our volunteers is absolutely vital to us; it’s thanks to them that we’re able to open Kenwood on a daily basis and bring history to life for our visitors.

“We were also pleased to work in partnership with Heath Hands and the City of London Corporation in organising the event.”

Hampstead Heath is located 3.5 miles from Trafalgar Square and receives over 7 million visits a year. The City Corporation spends more than £5 million a year to maintain the Heath which includes a zoo, an athletics track, an education centre, extensive children's facilities, three swimming ponds and a Lido.

The City of London Corporation manages 11,000 acres of green space across London and south east England, including Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches, with many of its sites designated National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest for their unique ecology and rare plant species. They are funded by over £29million a year from the City of London Corporation, together with donations, sponsorship, grants and income generated on site.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contact:

Carl Locsin, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

T 020 7332 3654 / M 0738 862 229

E carl.locsin@cityoflondon.gov.uk