Muck In4Life at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

People from the West Country are being offered the chance to ‘Muck In4Life’ at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta this week and find out about the fun they can have volunteering to help the environment.

Muck In4Life is the Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) campaign which is encouraging families and people of all ages to get fit and healthy out and about in the countryside, while they take part in conservation volunteering.

There is a huge range of activities which people can take part in with Muck in4Life such as bird surveying, pond desludging and path building.

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies will be visiting the Muck in4Life stand on Friday 7th August to meet some of the families learning about conservation volunteering and having some mini-conservation adventures by making bird boxes, planting seeds and making environmental pledges on the stand’s promise tree.

Visitors can also find out about the Muck in4Life photo competition where you can win high street vouchers simply by taking snaps of volunteering. Winning photos will also be displayed a world famous Kew Gardens.

Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“I’d encourage anyone to have a go at conservation volunteering – you could be doing anything from clearing a pond, building a dry stone wall or footpath or making a bird house. Volunteering and getting your hands dirty is great for your health and will help conserve the animals, plants and trees this country is famous for – and most importantly, it’s fun!

“Come along to our stand at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta and meet people who already volunteer and find out all about the fun you can have doing your bit for the environment – you can also have a go at making a bird box or find out all about marine life in our sandpit.”

One of the groups taking part in the South West is the Avon Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Action Group (WAG). It is a friendly, hardworking group of volunteers which has been running for over ten years and is essential in helping the Trust manage its nature reserves.

Their work is seasonal, so in the summer the tasks include dry-stone walling, stock fencing, path maintenance, hide repair and grass cutting using scythes. In the winter the group turn their hands to hedge-laying, coppicing, bramble bashing and small tree felling.

Group member Mike Chadwell said:

"I joined the group as I had recently retired and wanted a way to make a difference and utilise my spare time” said Group regular Mike Chadwell. “It is a great way of enjoying the thrill of being out in the great outdoors and making a difference".

To find out about conservation volunteering near you, or to enter the photo competition, go to direct.gov.uk/muckin4life.