Environmental volunteering opportunities

We want Leicester to be clean and litter free so we can enjoy our parks and open spaces as much as we can. Our Street Champions act as the 'eyes and ears' of the community, undertaking tasks like litter picking within their neighbourhood, or reporting environmental problems to the council via My Account (this goes directly through to the relevant council department to prioritise and action).

Reportable issues include:

• Abandoned vehicle, bike or trolley
• Dog fouling
• Fly-tipping
• Footways
• Glass on public highway
• Graffiti
• Grit bin refill
• Litter
• Needles & syringes
• Obstructions of roads & pavements
• Other
• Overhanging trees & shrubs
• Parking issues
• Parks & play area
• Potholes
• Roads & Cycleways
• Scams
• Street Cleansing – sweeping
• Street lighting – light not working
• Street lighting & traffic signs
• Street litter bin
• Wheelie bins – domestic or commercial

The Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ scheme in Leicester is made up of over thirty independent volunteer groups who ‘clean and green’ their local area.

With projects taking place in parks, cemeteries, woodlands, front gardens and allotments and they all improve Leicester for residents and visitors to the city.

For more information about the scheme visit the national RHS Britain in Bloom and the East Midlands in Bloom websites.

For further information about volunteering and to express an interest without obligation please email LEV@leicester.gov.uk.

Leicester’s cemeteries are a rich resource of the city’s heritage and social history. We work with a number of voluntary community groups to offer a range of volunteering opportunities to help conserve, maintain and promote the cemeteries.

Friends of Belgrave Cemetery

Formed in 2004, they aim to promote interest regarding the maintenance and conservation of this peaceful Victorian cemetery and organise activities which aid with the restoration of the cemetery and preserve its heritage.

Volunteer opportunities include assisting the public locating family graves, looking after old graves, sweeping paths, gardening and conservation jobs. The volunteers also arrange regular events, including guided walks and the annual commemorations of Armistice Day.

For more information please visit: friendsofbelgravecemetery.org.

Friends of Welford Road Cemetery

Volunteers staff the cemetery’s visitor centre, helping visitors to research their family history, and produce a regular newsletter containing research into the history of the cemetery and of those buried there. The volunteers also arrange regular events, including guided walks and the annual commemorations of ANZAC Day and Armistice Day.

For more information please visit: fowrcl.org.uk

Saffron Garden of Peace

Volunteers meet regularly to help with the maintenance and conservation of Saffron Hill cemetery undertaking such tasks as assisting the public in locating family graves, looking after old graves, sweeping paths, gardening and conservation jobs.

For more information please visit: saffrongarden.org.

For further information and to express an interest without obligation please email LEV@leicester.gov.uk.

If you are looking to take your first steps in horticulture, thinking of a change of career or have previously worked in horticulture and would like to refresh your skills, work experience with our Parks and Open Spaces team can help.

You will be required to provide your own safety work boots with a good tread. We will ask you to wear old clothing suitable for working in all weathers and seasons, as it may become snagged on thorns. All other safety and protective apparel will be provided depending on the work you will be undertaking.

You will be expected to fully complete a five to eight week placement at one of the following parks:

• Abbey Park and Pets Corner
• Evington Park
• Knighton Park
• Belgrave Hall Gardens
• Braunstone Park
• Castle Gardens
• Saffron Hill Cemetery
• Welford Road Cemetery
• Gilroes Cemetery

*We aim to place you in a convenient location near to where you live.

On your first day you will be guided through our health and safety induction training and introduced to the staff you will be with over the course of the placement.

Please note that we are unable to offer full time employment as a result of your work experience placement but can provide a full reference on completion of your work experience.

Our working day starts at 7.30am and finishes at 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday and 7.30am - 3pm on a Friday.

For further information and to express an interest without obligation please email LEV@leicester.gov.uk.

Our Tree Wardens are a small, independent group of volunteers who share a passion for trees. They support us by monitoring trees for storm damage or disease, as well as drought in summer.

We are also working on creating new tree trails for city parks and streets, full of information about tree history, uses, biology and folklore to help Leicester’s residents and visitors get to know our trees more and tree wardens can get involved in the development of this.

In the future we also hope to map community orchards and other fruit and nut trees in the city, to encourage harvesting and enjoying of the abundance in the autumn. We also aim to plant trees as well as maintain and develop newly planted woodlands.

Regular training is provided, and we expect a level of commitment from our tree wardens, and work is carried out in all weathers.

Get more information and find out how to apply to be a Tree Warden

Do you feel frustrated if you see litter on the streets and on green open spaces? If you want to make a difference, why don’t you become a Litter Champion?

Litter picking can be highly rewarding and you can see an immediate difference afterwards. If this sounds like something you would like to do then please do apply and join us. We would really appreciate your help.

It is free to join and take part. You will become part of a large citywide outdoor volunteering scheme, with likeminded people who share your passion for our local environment.

Get more information and find out how to apply to be a Litter Champion.

Are you a teacher, community group leader or employee looking for outdoor adventures for your students or with your colleagues? We offer bespoke packages to suit you and your needs

We will look after you and will do the following:

• Organise your volunteering day, so it is ready to start when you arrive
• Offer construction projects, environmental clean-ups, gardening make-overs, conservation or habitat creation
• Provide all the equipment and materials ready for you on the day
• The Environmental Ranger will safely guide all members through the tasks, so no prior experience is necessary
• We will also take care of all safety considerations and insurance, so you can enjoy your experience to the full