The Conservation Volunteers' network of blogs
In over five decades of inspiring people and improving places, The Conservation Volunteers has consistently supported people working locally to improve their environment and their life chances, and created resilience in the most vulnerable communities.
Welcome to The Conservation Volunteers blogs. Where we share what we do.
Conserving the natural environment is high on the agenda of 2021, with COP26 taking place and many reports of climate change in the media. The focus is often on the wider impact for communities and the natural world. But why is connecting with nature so important for individuals and specifically, for mental health? As the […]
Continue reading Connecting with nature to support mental health
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
Our fantastic network of I Dig Trees community groups have smashed the target to plant 1.4 million life-sustaining, carbon-cutting trees. As the tree planting phenomenon continues, Prof Jonathan Grey of Wild Trout Trust tells us how the trees ordered through our #IDigTrees programme with OVO Energy are helping to bring habitats, food and shelter for […]
Continue reading I Dig Trees guest blog: Did you know, trout grow on trees?
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
The first couple of months have been jam-packed full of learning for TCV’s WildSkills trainees, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. From tree planting to running community events, our trainees in the north share some of their tasks and describe the impact of their traineeships. Read here for an introduction to TCV’s WildSkills trainees, […]
Continue reading WildSkills: Learning the multiple skills of a practical conservationist
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
Introduction: May is the time to start a lot of summer cropping seeds! This includes courgette, sweetcorn, peas & beans, leaf crops and also autumn pumpkins & squash. You can also sow more of the things you did in April and get some successional growing on the go! Read the previous articles here: January / […]
Continue reading Grow Your Own in 2021 – May
This article was posted in the blog Health for Life
With the support of our incredible volunteers, TCV’s Tree Nursery team in Northern Ireland collects seed from local trees, germinating and growing over 65,000 native Irish trees every year to repopulate planting projects from Bellcoo to Ballycastle. Planting native indigenous trees is critical to preserving the unique ecology of an area. Native tree stock protects […]
Continue reading Growing trees from seed at TCV's Tree Nursery (and 6 reasons why trees are important)
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the recent passing of our patron His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness took the position as patron of The Conservation Volunteers (then the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) in 1970, as the charity became independent. As condolences and tributes from […]
Continue reading Remembering HRH Prince Philip
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) WildSkills program is a traineeship, providing young people with barriers to employment a real opportunity to kick-start an exciting and rewarding outdoor career.
Continue reading WildSkills: kickstarting rewarding outdoor careers
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
Introduction: April is a great time to sow your second lot of seeds if you are doing successional sowing. This method can be used for lots of food crops. It’s also a great time to start the rest of your main food crops! Read the previous articles here: January / February / March If you are […]
Continue reading Grow Your Own in 2021 - April
This article was posted in the blog Health for Life
Ticks can be found throughout the UK but there are certain sites and areas that carry a greater risk. Ticks like dense vegetation, moisture and humidity, and hosts (animals). Habitats such as woodlands, grasslands and moorlands are traditionally higher risk areas, particularly where there is deer or livestock grazing. Yet this does not mean that […]
Continue reading Prevent ticks from becoming a pest
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs
Our local green spaces can soon be enjoyed with family and friends once again after months of separation, as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. This new level of freedom is celebrated by many across the UK, however for our environment it signals the sign of a new epidemic. Last summer the relaxation of lockdown regulations […]
Continue reading Stop our green spaces becoming rubbish.
This article was posted in the blog TCV Blogs