If like many of us you’ve enjoyed Aston’s Eyot and want to get involved further, then there are plenty of ways you can contribute, from giving a gift or giving your time.
Join the Aston’s Eyot Community
This is a very easy way to support the nature reserve. You can help keep preserve the eyot as a wildlife haven by giving a small annual donation to the Friends of Aston’s Eyot. By joining the community for a small annual donation, you will become a friend. You’ll be supporting the running costs for the eyot which include things like:
- felling dangerous trees
- maintaining paths
- expert professional conservation support
- buying materials for conservation
You’ll also get details of events, work parties and other opportunities, and occasional newsletters.
Join a ‘working party’
All the conservation work and maintenance of Aston’s Eyot is done by volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the generosity of others.
On the last Sunday of each month we get together for a couple of hours to take on a variety of tasks. From scything nettles, to digging ponds, to planting trees, it’s a great way to learn more about rewilding and conservation. You’ll pick up new skills, as well as getting fresh air and some (mildly) physical activity. And there’s always tea and cake as a reward.
There may also be additional work parties that crop up from time to time so keep an eye on emails and on our Facebook Feed.
Join in with seasonal jobs
If you cant make the work parties or they’re not your thing then there are plenty of other practical ways you can help:
- Join the scything team (we’ll teach you how).
- Help with mowing jobs using the petrol driven power-scythe.
- Undertake other practical tasks as required (eg piling fallen branches, fence
repair). - Or let us know if you think there is something you’ve got that we need –
especially practical skills, such as IT support or accountancy.
Become a Wild Flower Champion
Have your own patch (tiny or larger!) on the eyot. Once you have your patch, your task is simple: encourage wild flowers. It mainly involves weeding out plants like nettles that swamp other species. This patch could be:
- A section of path edge
- A section of meadow (flower rich grassland)
- An enclosure where deer are kept out so they do not eat the flowers
Monitor wildlife
Seen something interesting? Send in your photos and sightings, or get involved in more depth.
