Friends of Firs Farm trustee Chris Ferrari encourages more local residents to get involved with the charity

The new Firs Farm Community Hub opened in February this year. It’s proved very popular with local people as somewhere to meet, enjoy a coffee or even try out a fitness class. But it has also given a real boost to the management of Firs Farm Wetlands, with help from the community.
The wetlands is a series of watercourses and lakes designed to avoid and reduce flooding. It also improves biodiversity and provides a great place for people in the local area to relax and enjoy themselves. Although owned by Enfield Council, Firs Farm is looked after by volunteers for the good of the community. The Friends of Firs Farm charity regularly organises residents and community groups to help maintain and improve the park.
Together, dedicated volunteers have planted over 2,000 trees, shrubs, bulbs, and various other plants. They’ve also established new wildlife habitats, including bug and bee hotels, a stumpery, hibernaculums (wildlife refuges) and pond islands for nesting, all aimed at supporting wildlife.
Every Monday and Saturday morning, the charity’s dedicated weekly teams undertake routine ‘gardening’ conservation tasks. These include cutting back overgrown vegetation, litter picking, mulching and weeding.
Tree planting is done during the winter. Community tree planting days are announced via the charity’s website, newsletter and social media. Many residents have ‘adopted’ a tree and come back to see how it is growing. During the summer, extra help may be needed to water the newly planted trees.
Friends of Firs Farm is always looking for more people to help with work at the wetlands. “Our volunteers do fantastic work all year round,” says chair of trustees Toni Guiver. “They achieve an incredible amount, and we’re really pleased that we now have the facilities to give them a warm cup of coffee, or even a hot shower, when the work is done”.
The charity is hoping that the new facilities at the community hub will give a real boost to volunteering at the wetlands. Participation fell during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ironically, however, the lockdowns only emphasised the importance of this valuable green space for local people. The wetlands provided a lifeline for many and helped maintain good mental health during this challenging time.
Now there is the chance for people to put something back and help maintain and improve this beautiful space so even more can enjoy it. The charity always has opportunities for you to get involved in a variety of land-based conservation tasks. These might include habitat building, maintenance, or clearing invasive species to make way for more of our native species to thrive in Firs Farm. Other tasks can include bulb planting or tree conservation work, depending on the time of year.
At the wetlands itself, wearing waders and waterproof gloves. volunteers venture into the ponds or stream to clear up the watercourse, removing any litter and debris and managing the habitats, vegetation.
All you need to join in is some suitable footwear to walk through undergrowth or be safe in the often damp, wet and muddy conditions, and some bramble-proof gloves. You need to make sure you wear suitable clothing that covers arms and legs to protect from brambles and nettles. To keep you safe, there will be a health and safety briefing on the day to show you how to use tools safely and to take care when working close to water.
If you’d like to get involved with volunteering work at Firs Farm, please contact Toni Guiver:
Call 07956 537 974
Email [email protected]
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