BURTON ENVIRONMENT GROUP
Burton Environment Group
When the Burton Environment Group first began in 2004 its aims were, among others: to conserve, improve and manage the physical and natural environment of Kirkburton and Highburton, and also to preserve the cultural heritage of the two villages. Our volunteers care passionately about these aims and regularly work together to enable our villages to recognise and celebrate all that is good within our local environment.
We can be found working around the two villages, focussing mainly on a few specific areas but also responding to the changing demands of the environment in other locations. Our three main areas of focus are; Burton Dean, including the Community Field, the Town Quarry and the Memorial Gardens.
Our present work party coordinator Steve will send out email and Facebook alerts to invite all who are interested to join in with proposed jobs and a merry bunch of volunteers will turn out with whatever tools and skills they can offer. Volunteers choose tasks that suit their own capabilities and share any expertise to help others learn new skills. Tasks may include gardening jobs such as weeding, planting, strimming, grass cutting or pruning. Maintenance jobs including repairing dry stone walls, wooden bridges, installing benches and painting fences are often popular. We have regular litter picking sessions and in the autumn are extremely busy clearing leaves when footpaths become dangerously slippery.
We have a small sub-group which focusses specifically on increasing the biodiversity of the area of the Community Field as we feel this is such an important issue to develop.
BEG has taken on some larger projects in the past, involving fundraising and grant applications to create new features in various locations. Much hard work and dedication is needed in their upkeep and maintenance and our BEG members give their time to care for these and other areas of interest in the local environment . We work with the full support of Kirklees Council and follow their Health and Safety Guidelines.
These two villages are great places to live with so many green spaces to admire, paths to explore and so many buildings stamped with the character of generation after generation of inhabitants. Our natural resources and green spaces need protection and sometimes low level management if they are to flourish and we are rewarded by seeing the fruits of our labours throughout the seasons. BEG is always happy to welcome new volunteers to the group – the more, the merrier! Please see contact details below.
Chairman – Peter Taylor – sueandpetertaylor@yahoo.co.uk