Volunteers thanked for their vital role in caring for Test Valley’s countryside
Volunteers thanked for their vital role in caring for Test Valley’s countryside
Test Valley Borough Council hosted a special event on Saturday 14 March at Broughton Community Hub to thank volunteers for their contribution to caring for the borough’s countryside. The event brought together volunteer groups, councillors and council officers to recognise the shared effort that helps protect and enhance Test Valley’s valued green spaces.
Volunteer groups attending included Friends of The Parks, Wilder Romsey, TARCA, Tadburn Conservation Volunteers and TVBC Citizen Scientists, alongside councillors and council leaders. The Worshipful, the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Gordon Bailey MBE, welcomed guests on behalf of the council, with attendees including Councillor Neil Gwynne and Andy Ferrier, chief executive of Test Valley Borough Council.
The event also featured a guest talk from Dr Andy Barker, a long-standing volunteer and butterfly recorder, who shared his experience of more than 15 years supporting the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Andy spoke about the value of training, encouragement and long-term commitment in building strong volunteer networks, and how local biological recording plays an important role in understanding and conserving wildlife.
During 2025, the council’s countryside team worked with 1,035 volunteers who together contributed around 3000 hours of their time. This included around 2,000 hours supporting conservation activity on the ground and more than 1,000 hours contributing to citizen science activity. This work takes place alongside the council’s own countryside teams, who plan, manage and deliver improvements across sites throughout the year.
A key achievement this year has been the continued growth of the council’s new citizen science programme. The programme supports volunteers to record wildlife and habitats in their local areas, creating high‑quality data that informs conservation work and contributes to wider understanding both locally and nationally. This year, 84 citizen scientists contributed 288 hours of voluntary work, submitting 2,600 verified records to the national biological records database (iRecord) and a further 5,881 butterfly sightings to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
Volunteers have also played an important role in a wide range of other countryside projects across the borough. Their work has included hedge laying and scalloping, enhancing wildflower meadows and rivers, and helping to control invasive species such as Himalayan balsam and Crassula. Each of these projects reflects the same collaborative approach, with volunteers and council teams working side by side to deliver real benefits for nature and for local communities.
Councillor Neil Gwynne said; “It was a real pleasure to join everyone at the event and to say a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers. I come along not only as a councillor, but because I genuinely enjoy taking part in these activities and seeing the difference they make. The enthusiasm and pride our volunteers bring to our green spaces is inspiring, and it’s always a joy to be alongside them as they help care for the places we all value. Our countryside teams work incredibly hard throughout the year, and seeing volunteers and officers working together is something I’m always proud to witness.”
The Worshipful, Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Gordon Bailey, said the event highlighted the importance of teamwork in caring for the borough’s green spaces. He said; “It was wonderful to be at the event, to meet so many of our volunteers in person and to thank them for their contribution to both their communities and the natural environment.”
Portfolio Holder Climate Emergency and Countryside, Councillor Alison Johnston said the event was an important opportunity to pause and say thank you; “This event was all about bringing people together to recognise the time, effort and passion our volunteers give to Test Valley’s green spaces. It was an opportunity to thank them properly, to celebrate what we’ve achieved together, and to acknowledge the shared commitment that underpins our work. Their contribution supports not only today’s countryside but the future of these spaces, ensuring they can be enjoyed by everyone for many years to come.”
The council works closely with volunteers across its countryside sites, with teams and volunteers regularly working side by side. This combined approach helps maintain local nature reserves and Green Flag sites to high standards, while also strengthening community connections.
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