Volunteering Day - Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve, Newham

Last Friday some of the Graphic Structures team swapped our laptops and mouses for spades, spears and wheelbarrows, getting stuck in volunteering at the Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve in London Borough of Newham.

As we have many developments in LB Newham, we wanted to give something back and improving access in the Nature Reserve was the perfect task.

Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve may be small, but it attracts a surprisingly diverse range of wildlife – from migrating birds such as cuckoos, warblers, and whitethroats, to resident barn owls, bats, and goldfinches as well as grass snakes and other small reptiles.

Our Volunteer Leader, Dave, set us the task of building 40m of new pathway - he saw us coming! Our Civil Engineers, Archie and Susana, were on-hand to advise on the classification requirements for Type 1 fill, never missing an opportunity to educate ourselves.

The task required us to lay new terram and then transport the hardcore from the road access point deep into the nature reserve using wheelbarrows. It was tough work!

The team set-to and developed a system with the roles of shoveling, wheelbarrowing and raking being efficiently undertaken.

The final path

Emma and Eleanor spied an opportunity to achieve more, so armed with gloves and secateurs they cleared existing pathways and steps.

It was such a fun and fulfilling day and the weather held out until we got to the pub! We hope the residents of Newham, and the wildlife of the nature reserve enjoy the new and cleared pathways.

A big thank you to Dave for organising us and keeping us well provided with caffeine, moral support and life tales.