Volunteering and a workout!

I am part of the Environmental Action Society here at Leicester and it has been the perfect society for me to take part in. For three weeks I have taken part in an ongoing conservation project with Leicester City Council to make Victoria Park a clearer and tidier place. This has involved pruning, hacking branches, picking up litter and pulling up weeds. It is such a rewarding task because when I now walk through Victoria Park I can see the difference it has made, for instance there is a much better view of the pond and the huge pile of abandoned clothes in the wooded area has been removed. It also gives me a workout! I am currently sat writing this blog with rather aching arms legs from Wednesdays 2 hour conservation work!

We are also doing Go Green Week from the 9th-13th February where we are trying to inform people of how to be environmentally friendly and promote its benefits through a range of exciting activities, for example giant board games! This is a very important thing to me because there are many simple acts which can be done to help the environment but people do not currently do them, for example recycling- it’s very easy to just throw paper in your bedroom bin, but it’s equally as easy just to pop it into a separate box or carrier bag to then put in the recycling bin. Furthermore, there is often confusion about what to recycle, i.e. what to do with broken glass, batteries etc., so if we’re going to try and increase recycling then we first need to provide people with the correct information.

There is also the chance to work on the ‘plot days’ during the year which involves going to the Hungry 4 Change plot at the Brookfield’s site (on London Road) and helping to grow the vegetables and plants. So if you’re like me and want to have your own vegetable patch when you have your own house then this is the perfect opportunity to learn all the tricks of the trade!

If you are concerned with environmental issues or you like outdoor work or you just want to meet a new, friendly bunch of people then you should considering joining EAS!

For more information about EAS then visit their page on the student union website… http://leicesterunion.com/groups/environmental-action-society