Frequently asked questions about Gloucester Vale Conservation Volunteers:

• What is GVCV?
• What sort of tasks do you do?
• Where do tasks take place?
• Who are your members?
• When do tasks take place?
• What do you provide?
• How are GVCV funded?
• Why do volunteers join?
• What expenses do you pay?
• What would I need to join in?
• How do I get in touch?
• Who designed your website?

What is GVCV?

GVCV is an independent group of volunteers who do practical, outdoor tasks for charities, public bodies and not-for-profit groups. We are affiliated to The Conservation Volunteers (TCV, formerly BTCV) who can help with advice, grant sourcing, handbooks and anything else related to practical conservation. The majority of our tasks are done for the likes of Gloucestershire City and County Councils,  Parish Councils, Organisations such as FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) and charitable trusts that do not have the staff, volunteers or the budget to do the work themselves.

What sort of tasks do you do?

At heart we are conservation volunteers and primarily do tasks in three groups:

1. Development and maintenance of woodland, wetland and grassland habitats:
   • Planting trees, hedges, reeds, etc
   • Clearance of scrub from grassland, trees from wetland, laurel from woodland, etc
   • Thinning and coppicing trees
2. Enabling the public to access the countryside:
   • Waymarkers
   • Building gates, stiles and bridges
   • Footpath clearance, grading and steps
3. Maintaining traditional crafts:
   • Coppicing
   • Hedge laying

We also do some tasks that arguably have little environmental conservation benefit, but which do have heritage, archaeological or aesthetic value. Occasionally more amenity based work that would have an environmental benefit and/or

See our task types page for more information.

Where do tasks take place?

Our tasks are primarily in Gloucester/Tewkesbury/Cheltenham/Stroud areas plus some a bit further afield. The most regular are:

• Countryside sites
• Severnside Project (near Hempsted) – Gloucester City Council and Severn Trent Water
• Butterfly meadows on Stinchcombe Hill – Stinchcombe Hill Charitable Trust
• Buckholt Woods near Cranham, Edge Common, Bulls Cross (nr Slad), Juniper Hill – Natural England
• Kemerton Wildlife Reserves – Kemerton Charitable Trust
• Quedgeley Local Nature Reserve
• Nosehill Quarry, Bourton
• A number of farm sites under the auspices of FWAG, particularly related to the Carrant Catchment project
• and more recently Churchdown Park

Who are your members?

Anybody who turns out on a task is considered to be a member. There is no membership fee and no minimum attendance requirements, but members do have to be at least 16 years old. The members are drawn from all walks of life and have a wide variety of reasons for volunteering. They are willing workers and, across the group, will take on pretty much any type of outdoors work. A fair number of the members and, in particular, the team leaders are in full-time work but also includes retired folk and increasingly Students studying or having completed Environmental courses.

When do tasks take place?

Since most of our volunteers are in full-time work, we only do tasks at weekends and mostly on Sundays. We start work around 10am and aim to finish by 3-4pm. We can provide pick-up points in Gloucester (normally the station or other points by arrangement) and in Cheltenham (by Imperial Gardens opposite the Queens Hotel) at either 9:00 or 9:30 depending on the distance to the task so that we can be at the site around 9:45. Also organise car sharing.

What do you provide?

GVCV provides hand tools, insurance for its volunteers, first aiders, task leaders, training, tea, coffee and squash, and, not least, good biscuits.

How are GVCV funded?

Our costs (insurance, tools, training – including First Aid, expenses etc) are covered by a small charge that we make to our customers. Most of the organisations we do tasks for pay a fixed fee per volunteer per day, currently £5. We review this figure regularly to ensure it meets our costs. We do not make any profit.

Why do volunteers join?

There are probably more answers to this than we have volunteers. These include combinations of:

• interest in the environment;
• doing something of value;
• helping charities and non-profit organisations increase what they can achieve with their limited resources;
• exercise in the outdoors;
• learning traditional skills and wildlife identification;
• doing practical work;
• socialising;
• simply being outside in a pleasant environment; etc.

What expenses do you pay?

We pay a nominal mileage allowance for drivers who do pick-ups for other volunteers (to encourage people to share). Mileage starts at the Gloucester and Cheltenham pick-up points.

What would I need to join in?

Mainly you need the energy, motivation and sense of humour needed to do physical work outside in all weathers. Old clothes that you don’t mind getting damaged, solid footwear for most tasks (steel toe-capped work boots are recommended), wellingtons for working in wetland sites and waterproofs just in case it rains. We supply work gloves but in the interests of fit and hygiene you may prefer to bring your own. We supply tea, coffee and biscuits but you will normally need to bring your own lunch. You will also need an old bag or rucksack to carry your gear.

How do I get in touch?

E-mail info@gvcv.org.uk

Who designed your website?

The website, artwork and photographs have been provided by GVCV volunteers. The logo and drawings were created by Carmel, a local artist. All rights are reserved so please do not use the images, artwork or design without prior consent.