Weekly update, 16th May

Well summer is sort of almost threatening to come back isn't it?! There's lots going on in this week's update, namely our big push for Volunteers' Week coming up the first week of June so take a look and see what we have planned. In other areas, we are planning a run of craft evenings to create decorations to use at the Summer Picnic on 2nd July so if you're a creative type and fancy an evening of tinkering around (plus cake!) then come on down!

What the volunteers have been up to:

Friday Group (Little Wittenham), 12th May

This week the group headed to Round Hill to repair the deer fencing that surrounds the small clump of woodland on top. The fence not only protects new shoots and re-growth from the local deer population, but also stops the cows that graze on the Clumps from getting in and damaging the woodland. The next session is Friday 19th May.

Sunday Group (Little Wittenham), 14th May

There was more fencing going on over the weekend. This month the Sunday Group were protected coppice stools in Little Wittenham Wood and finishing off the fencing on Round Hill. The next session is Sunday 11th June.

Coming up...

Volunteers' Week: 1st-7th (ish) June

Did you know that Volunteers' Week is coming up? It's a national celebration of all the amazing work that volunteers do up and down the country and provides an opportunity to promote volunteering opportunities for people who may be interested in having a go. This year we have a few things planned so it's the perfect time to come and try something new or encourage a friend or family member to have a go...

• Thursday 1st June: Thursday Group
  We're hoping to encourage new faces to join us at Thrupp Lake in Abingdon. Come and try out some practical conservation volunteering. 
• Friday 2nd June: Friday Group
  Another practical group, this time in Little Wittenham.
• Sunday 4th June: Volunteers BBQ
  We're having a BBQ in the Earth Trust garden to thank all our current volunteers for their brilliant efforts over the past year.  
• Monday 5th June: The Big Dig!
  There is a rather unloved vegetable patch in the garden that we are going to extend by building some raised beds and we need all hands on deck to come along and help. Going forward, we'd like to have a monthly group that can use these newly formed beds for growing delicious veg - the weirder and wonkier the better in our opinion but it will be up to you what's planted (and you'll get to take home your fair share). It will be a bit like an Earth Trust community allotment. Anyone who might be interested in such a project or might have ideas on how we could do this one, please do get in touch.
• Friday 9th June - Friday Group (again!)
  One last promoted day to encourage new faces to come along and have a go. 

If you have any ideas that could help get the word out and maybe inspire a few new people, we'd love to hear from you. After all, a huge amount of work that happens here simply would not be possible without you lot!

Craft Evenings: 7th, 14th and 21st June 

The Summer Picnic is coming up on Sunday 2nd July and it's a big one on account of the Earth Trust hitting 35 years old!

We'll need volunteers on the day but as with any party, we're going to need lots of decorations! We are inviting all creative types out there to come and help us make these in a series of craft evenings (7pm-9pm) in the run up to the big day. We'll provide the materials, and some tea and cake to keep you going. We're thinking paper and felt flower garlands, bunting and cosy tent forts for kids story time but we welcome your ideas too. No technical are skills required, just come and have a go!

So if you fancy getting creative along with some, tea, cake and a good old natter (the best bit of craft evenings surely?) then drop us a line so we know how much cake to get baking!