“It was a pleasure to support local biodiversity, and work alongside volunteers and local pupils. It was fantastic to see them enjoy the outdoors with laughter and great interest in what it means to maintain a green space for all to enjoy!”
That’s the verdict of volunteer Kish following a job well done at a recent ‘Wildways Along the Ching’ event run by local charity The Conservation Volunteers (TVC) in partnership with the council.
Last month, Kish and her fellow TCV members joined pupils from South Chingford School at Wadham Meadows, one of six key sites making up this year’s Wildways initiative.
Working together, the group spent an afternoon creating and enhancing the site’s habitat to support the hedgehogs that live on the site.
Kish continues: “I really enjoyed spending the day at Wadham Meadows with TCV. It was great to learn how to use pruning and bow saws to cut logs for the welfare and care of hedgehogs in the undergrowth areas, making a flowing water feeding tray and log area and created some ‘hedgehog highways’ by creating holes in some of the fencing.
“It was hard work, but very satisfying at the end. The highlight for me was when young students from a local school arrived with big smiles and eager to work with great enthusiasm and excitement. A couple of students spoke very little English but were also able to communicate in Urdu.”
Kish is one of a number of dedicated local people investing their own time to support the wildlife and biodiversity of the Ching – all supported by Wildways. The initiative, which runs until spring 2027, is designed to bring local volunteers together to enhance to expand and improve the local ecosystem and the wildlife it supports.
The Ching runs for ten kilometres through the borough and provides a patchwork of green and blue spaces vital to a range of birds, mammals insects and plants.
By supporting and improving six sites in this area, Wildways is connecting local habitats and ecosystems all the way from Epping Forest to Walthamstow Marshes.
Wildways Along the Ching is supported by £350,000 of Mayor of London funding secured by the council.
There are so many opportunities to get involved in Wildways Along the Ching. From creative and arty activities to conservation volunteering, there’s something for everyone.
Find out more about Wildways and get involved.