VOLUNTEERS have transformed some of the communal seating areas and the main car park at an RSPCA wildlife centre near Taunton.
As part of its wildlife-friendly initiatives, RSPCA West Hatch Animal and Wildlife Centre invited 12 members of the customer service team at Somerset Council to give up their time to mark The Big Help Out, a large-scale national volunteering initiative which took place last weekend.
West Hatch has now scheduled volunteer sessions for the first Saturdays of each month as part of a scheme to spruce up and improve the natural habitats on the 22-acre site.
They’re looking for green-fingered recruits to undertake a variety of gardening and groundwork tasks.
The volunteers will be asked to throw themselves into some weeding and pruning, while also tidying up fences and clearing vegetation to maintain garden areas. They will also join in with centre staff to create some wildlife-friendly areas on the site.
West Hatch spokesperson Tina Huntington said: “We would like to express a huge thanks to the team from Somerset Council who came into the centre to mark The Big Help Out 2024 by volunteering and giving up their time.
“They were a fabulous team who worked tirelessly and with huge passion. Staff, volunteers, and visitors have all commented on how lovely the areas look now after their efforts.
“The flowers that the team planted were very kindly donated by our last team from Somerset Council, to show their appreciation for a great day volunteering at the centre.
“We would love to recruit more volunteers who have a passion for both the outdoors and for animals.
“They may even have some experience of undertaking groundwork, but that’s not essential. It’s a great way of keeping active and making new friends.
“Volunteers will help with projects which will help nature and maximise the benefits to the animals we care for.”
The monthly Conservation and Grounds Maintenance Volunteering Team Days are planned to start on July 6 and run from 10am to 3pm.
Anyone interested as well as those wanting to discuss corporate volunteering, should email tina.huntington@rspca.org.uk.
To view volunteering vacancies at West Hatch visit www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer.
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