Whether you have half an hour to spare or more, there are lots of ways you can volunteer in Bedford's parks and open spaces.
Read about how to get involved - no experience necessary and all training will be provided.
Priory Country Park Volunteers
Join the Park Warden to undertake practical conservation, habitat and maintenance tasks around the park. The volunteers meet every Monday and Thursday. Sunday volunteers meet once a month from October until March - winter months only.
For further information please contact Jon on 01234 718012 (answer phone) or email pcp@bedford.gov.uk.
All sessions start at 9.30am from the visitors centre and finish at 3pm.
Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park
Contact: Park Guardians 01234 720016
The Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park( HOCP) work with the managers of the Park and Bedford Borough Council to help maintain and improve the site for both visitors and wildlife.
The Friends of HOCP fall into two broad groups, active volunteers and interested supporters. The active volunteers work with staff on a wide range of practical activities, some routine work and some taking the form of special projects. Routine work carried out by the volunteers includes ground clearance, hedge maintenance, woodland coppicing, path clearance, equipment maintenance.
Bedford Park Volunteers
Contact: hdarbon@ntlworld.com
The Bedford Park volunteer gardening group meets on the first Sunday of every month at East Lodge at 10am for two hours. Working under the direction of the park’s staff, the group undertakes a range of necessary functions, including the maintenance of the community herb garden.
Friends of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort
Contact: contact@putnoemowsburyfriends.org.uk
www.putnoemowsburyfriends.org.uk
The Friends of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort help to safeguard the future of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort. The group works with Bedford Borough Council to manage, promote and enhance both sites. Informal meetings are held every two months with Borough representatives to discuss and arrange weekly tasks and special events.
The Friends meet every Wednesday from 1.30pm to 4pm for their weekly tasks. Membership is free.
Abbey Fields Gardening Group
Contact Helen: hkonstan@ntlworld.com
A local resident formed this group in 2018 to completely overhaul the roundabouts along Abbey Fields road, Elstow by replanting them with beautiful shrubs, flowers and trees.
As momentum has built, more of the Abbey Fields community have joined forces to carry out a variety of greenspace projects including planting an orchard, bulb planting, roundabout maintenance, brook clearances and the clearing arising’s to the Moors.
If you are a local resident and/or looking for a friendly, pro-active and passionate gardening group to join, then get in touch with the group via the email address above.
Membership is free and tasks and events are arranged on a regular but ad-hoc basis.
Bromham Conservation Group
Contact: bcg@peterargyle.plus.com
If you are interested in improving the natural habitats in Bromham’s many nature areas then this group is for you.
Bromham Conservation Group undertake voluntary tasks for Bromham Parish Council and Bedford Borough Council under the instruction and guidance of their officers on their various sites in Bromham. Tasks include coppicing trees, cutting back pathways, wildflower meadows, building nesting areas, building hedges, gates, fences and bridges to clearing brooks and looking after the Community Orchard.
They general organise 3 sessions a month from 10am - 12.30pm and anytime that can be given is greatly appreciated.
Friends of Hill Rise Nature Reserve
Contact: info@hillrisenaturereserve.org.uk
Hill Rise Local Nature Reserve is a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acres) site owned by Bedford Borough Council and jointly managed by local volunteers and the Council. Despite its small size, the reserve is able to support a great variety of wildlife and there is always something to see at any time of the year.
Hill Rise are always keen to welcome new volunteers to support the maintenance of this beautiful Community Green Flag site. If you are interested in joining in with monthly tasks, contact Shalaine and Peter via the email address above.
Friends of Bedford Cemetery - Foster Hill Road
Contact: Margaret Carpenter 01234 360003
This small group meets alternate Thursdays between 10am and midday to do various tasks around the cemetery including sweeping, tidying up, ivy removal etc. The group is also undertaking research into the graves and establishing the wildlife and plant life that live on the site.
Green Man Garden Volunteers - Addison Howard Park
Contact: volunteering@bedford.gov.uk
This volunteer group operates in a small garden located at the back of Addison Park (near to The Grange/Pidgen Club). They take part in tasks on a weekly basis, from planting to clearing to hosting community events and in 2017/18 completely transformed the garden into a tranquil and natural environment for all to enjoy. The wildlife enjoy new garden installations including a small pond and many herb, vegetable and fruit boxes.
The Green Man Garden Volunteers are working on a project to make our roundabouts more vibrant and colourful, which you can get involved in.
Golden Gardens
Contact: Nursery Gardens (open every day) - Jim Robinson 07747 704558
Milburn Gardens (open every Tuesday morning) - Kathy Wright 07714 338630
Golden Gardens was originally two disused garage sites (the plots at Milburn Road and Elliott Crescent in Goldington) and are now two thriving community gardens. There is always plenty going on in the gardens and help is always appreciated in the maintenance and ongoing development. All ages and abilities welcome.
