I’m Viv, Community Chesterfield’s project support officer. I adore nature, it brings me calm, fascination, wonder and a deep sense of love for the Earth and everything on it. Meeting and working with others of the same mind ticks the social box too and really boosts my mental health and wellbeing.
Managing Lea Wood
I volunteer for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and lead a group of like-minded individuals who help to manage Lea Wood near Matlock. In the picture (left) the volunteers are preparing the ground for us to divert a footpath that had become slippery and dangerous. Our people range from a retired law professor to a service station cashier to a young man completing his gold Duke of Edinburgh award (building steps in the picture below). Every single person is valued and our team is a joy to spend time with. I asked some of the others what they got out of volunteering in this way.
The answers ranged from accomplishing something tangible, something you can see and that others benefit from, to making new friends and connecting with nature. Two of our volunteers have made a lasting friendship that now continues outside of group. All agreed that volunteering outdoors is a great way to boost your physical and mental fitness. What could beat that!