MANY individuals and community groups give their time to protect and restore the environment and biodiversity in the Chew Valley, but they don’t always know of each other’s work.

The Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network (CVNRN) is a local volunteer group whose main aim is to connect individuals and groups so that they can share each other’s enthusiasm, expertise, knowledge and experience. By combining our efforts, we hope to make more effective use of time and resources to restore nature in the Chew Valley.

We are therefore keen to develop more cooperative working among groups, involvement in citizen science projects, and to hold events where interested parties can meet, network and share knowledge. We work across the River Chew catchment area, from Winford to Keynsham, from Chewton Mendip to Hunstrete, and everywhere in-between.

The CVNRN is part of the Chew Valley Reconnected Partnership, a group of local environmental and similar organisations supported by BANES Council (including Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, Avon Needs Trees, Avon Wildlife Trust, Natural England and others). By working with these partners, we can help individuals and groups to join in nature recovery projects and initiatives promoted by the Partnership and ensure that local people are able to contribute to development of the Partnership’s strategy, that funding opportunities for local projects are flagged, and that local initiatives are supported.

You can email us at [email protected] if you or your group/organisation would like to be included in our database of volunteers. Please also include a sentence or two about how you are involved with nature recovery, and any plans, ideas, knowledge, expertise or experience that you can offer.

We will aim to provide regular updates and consultations throughout the year, together with details of local networking events. For organisations, also let us know whether you would like to be listed on our website (cvnrn.org), and whether you are happy for your contact details to appear there. We welcome all ages, but youth groups must be represented by an adult to join the database.

This is an exciting time for nature in the Chew Valley. Major initiatives are planned that mean we have a real opportunity over the next few years to drive forward ecological recovery, and a critical part of the success of those initiatives will be the involvement of local people and organisations.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you from the Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network.

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer for nature and the environment in the Chew Valley. Some of the organisations people might want to consider include: Avon Needs Trees, which is creating new, permanent woodland; CPRE; Bristol Avon Rivers Trust; The Community Farm, a not-for-profit, organic farm that delivers nourishing food across the local area; Avon Wildlife Trust; More Trees BANES; and Avon Reptile and Amphibian Group (ARAG) which seeks to promote reptile and amphibian conservation throughout the Chew Valley and wider Avon region.

To find out more about the network or the above organisations visit the website cvnrn.org