TRIBUTE has been paid to the volunteers who give their time to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the district’s public open spaces.
Warwick District Council expressed its thanks during National Volunteers Week, singling out the Friends of Abbey Fields for a special mention.
The group has been undertaking an active programme with regular working parties to further improve the natural environment of the fields. Tasks completed by the Friends in the past six months include the removal of bramble roots from large areas on the field perimeters and in the churchyard in order to prepare for the sowing of perennial wildflower seeds, the planting of 4,000 snowdrops donated by residents and the removal of non-native invasive weeds.
As well as the maintenance work, the Friends of Abbey Fields also organise nature walks to explore the parkland’s birds, bats, trees, moths and meadow flowers and join in with regular litter picks.
WDC’s environment spokesperson Coun Katie Hunt said: “The council is extremely grateful to the Friends of Abbey Fields and other groups of volunteers throughout the district for the huge amount of work they do alongside our Green Spaces team to take care of our parks, woodlands and nature reserves for the benefit of our whole community. Come rain or shine, throughout the year their contribution is helping to protect and enhance our wildlife and natural habitats, so a big thank you everyone involved.”
To become a member of the Friends of Abbey Fields visit