The past
The group was started, as the Sale and Altrincham Conservation Volunteers, in 1986 by Brian Barr-Taylor, South Manchester senior project officer for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV; now The Conservation Volunteers), and Rod Blanco, a lifelong lover of nature much involved with Cheshire Conservation Trust (as it was then), together with other Cheshire Trust volunteers (including Paul Lowis as publicity officer and Stewart Sim as tasks organiser). Brian had identified a number of conservation areas in south Manchester which would benefit from volunteer help, if that could be organised on a regular basis and the group set to work.
In our first year grants from the Royal Jubilee and Prince’s Trusts and from the Shell Community Service Fund totalling £600 bought us a sound, basic stock of tools which we were gradually able to expand into a reasonably comprehensive collection. During this time a lot of work was put in to ensure that the group had a steady supply of both worksites for our tasks and volunteers to do the work. The success of the first year’s tasks was due in great part to the Cheshire Conservation Trust who provided worksites, volunteers, and much valuable work experience! BTCV supplied formal training on weekend courses, a lot of much-needed advice, plenty of worksites and contacts, extra tools when necessary, money for initial publicity, and on-site help and supervision until the group became more or less self-sufficient.
The present
The group has continued to operate since 1986, and we remain affiliated to The Conservation Volunteers. In 2021 we decided to change our name to the South Manchester Conservation Volunteers, to reflect better the wider area that our activities cover. We still undertake a task every two to three weeks. We welcome a wide range of volunteers on our tasks – both experienced and inexperienced – and do not charge any membership fees.
And the future…
The group is only as active as the volunteers who get involved! If you would like to help us continue into the future, please consider volunteering and assisting with the work that we do – please see the other pages on this site or contact us for more information!
SMCV 