MP and 200 volunteers Spring into Action


14 May 2007

Peatlands campaigner and Don Valley MP Caroline Flint joined two hundred volunteers from environmental charity BTCV and Natural England from across Yorkshire and the East Midlands to celebrate a special Spring into Action day at Hatfield Moor National Nature Reserve, Friday 11 May.

Caroline helped the volunteers undertake a range of conservation tasks including ragwort pulling, hedgerow maintenance and healthy walks. Caroline also handed out certificates to a number of volunteers who have given over 200 days of time to BTCV.

Caroline said: "It was a real treat to join keen volunteers for a day of healthy activity improving access to Hatfield Moors, one of our environmental treasures. I hope many more people will contact BTCV to join Spring into Action - it's a great way to spend a day."

The event was part of BTCV's nationwide Spring into Action campaign, backed by Prudential plc, the Cabinet Office and Community Channel. The campaign runs until 7 June with hundreds of events around the UK, encouraging everyone to get involved in looking after their local wildlife and green spaces. For details of other free and fun eco-events across the UK visit: www.btcv.org

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, has also given his support to the campaign. He said: "BTCV has done an amazing job motivating communities up and down the country to get involved and make a real difference to their local environment.

"As well as doing vital work to look after local wildlife and landscapes, the Spring into Action campaign has enabled hundreds of people to benefit from the experience of volunteering and bears witness to the community spirit that thrives across the UK."

Hatfield Moor is part of the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve (NNR), managed by Natural England, and is the largest area of raised bog wilderness in lowland Britain. Peat extraction on the moor was halted in 2004 after the Labour Government purchased entrusted National England with the restoration of Thorne & Hatfield Moors site to allow the wildlife of the Peatlands to flourish.