The Friends of Dean Castle Country Park have volunteered to improve their local environment, and have achieved great results with their Action Earth project: Pickers & Pollinators.

The Friends of the Dean, under the guidance of the East Ayrshire Countryside Ranger Service, have filled in an old, unused concrete pond and rebuilt raised beds which will be filled with flowers, fruiting shrubs and fruit trees. This new habitat will provide food for wildlife and inspire the public about what they could do to make their own garden wildlife friendly. The volunteers have contributed over 100 hours of their own time to the garden, and the Country Park hopes to see its first harvest in the summer of 2021.

This projecy is part of the Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth campaign which wants to help local communities respond to climate change. In Scotland we need to change how we view and use the world around us. A nature-rich future is our best response. Action Earth will be supporting around 170 projects in Scotland in 2020 with grant awards of up to £500. These grants are aimed at groups who support and encourage volunteer activity through practical environmental projects for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.  Grant funding for the campaign is provided by SNH / NatureScot.

Countryside Ranger Kate Dickens, who is co-ordinating the Pickers and Pollinators project said “Everybody can get involved in their local outdoor spaces. They are a shared resource and a shared responsibility. From the smallest individual action to a national campaign, every contribution helps!  Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth grants are designed to help groups of volunteers take practical action to improve and create places for wildlife. If you are a local community group in East Ayrshire, the Countryside Ranger team can also provide advice how to improve your local green spaces for people and nature.”

If you are keen to learn new skills, improve your local environment and have fun at the same time, you can join the Friends of Dean Castle Country Park by calling or texting 07469 406 348.

If you think you might have your own great idea for a project call Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth team on 07808 860356 or register at www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk/actionearth