Countryside Management Volunteers awarded High Sheriff Making a Difference Award

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster JP presented a Making a Difference Award for Outstanding Service to Improving the Environment for Wildlife and People to the North Herts Mid Week Volunteer Group. 

The group awarded are a weekly conservation volunteer group covering the North Hertfordshire. This group has a regular attendance of around 20 volunteers, many of whom are trained leaders, first aiders and machinery users. Thanks to this resource, the group are often able to complete a variety of tasks across a wider geographical area. On the day of Annie's visit the volunteers were cutting a third of the reed bed, completing hedgerow maintenance and filling up a ditch with sand bags to prevent the lagoon leaking water.

The tasks are popular with the volunteers for a number of reasons; they get to go to places in the county where they wouldn’t normally go and the jobs are ones in which they can see the different they have made. For the County Council and members of the public, they provide an incredibly valuable service, keeping paths, conservation areas and green areas open and safe to use. 

“I was delighted to award a Making a Difference Award' for outstanding service to the Countryside Management to the North Herts Mid Week Volunteer Group who turn out in all weathers to enable the public safe access to some of North Hertfordshire's most beautiful natural locations. Circa 20 volunteers each week, many of whom are trained leaders, first aiders and machinery users. One volunteer described it as ‘being out in our green gym'. Thank you so much for keeping these areas accessible and beautiful for Hertfordshire residents.” 

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP

Thank you to Herts County Council for their continued support of the Countryside Management Service and helping keep Hertfordshire’s conservation areas open and safe to use. If you’d like to get involved with volunteering with your local group or find out more visit the Countryside Management Service website here.

For further details of the event and the High Sheriff’s visit, please contact Jane Parker j.parker20@herts.ac.uk.