Volunteer week: metres and peters of the footpaths
From 25 February to 5 March 2023, we celebrate volunteer week. In the Grenspark, more than 100 volunteers dedicate themselves to the maintenance of 6,000 hectares of natural beauty. Ranging from maintaining the mountain bike trails, manning the fire tower, monitoring plants and animals, guiding hikes, checking the trails to supervising a youth camp. Each have their duties and are invaluable to the area. We would like to introduce you to some of our enthusiastic volunteers.
Meters and godmothers of the footpaths
Simonne and Carla are metres of hiking trail Mont Noir. Each footpath in the Grenspark has its own measurer or godfather who is responsible for monitoring the footpath. They also clean up small litter and help maintain the paths and nature. We asked Simonne and Carla 3 questions about their voluntary work.
Thank you metres and peters for your efforts!
As volunteers, how did you end up at the Grenspark?
"Our parents/great-grandparents were born on the edge of the heath and grandfather was a peat cutter. Our bond with the heathland has always been there, instilled with the mother's milk, as it were. The north side in particular is our habitat because of this. 2020, corona in the country, the heath was our biggest outlet, our battery charger in these strange times. The first period was totally uncrowded, which reinforced the connection with our piece of nature. We had seen on the website that we could do more for the moors, that we could make ourselves useful to the area that had already given us so much. So we signed up to be metres on a footpath and were accidentally given lizard. We were overjoyed, a wonderful gift! Because part of hiking trail Lizard went through the nesting area, nature managers decided to reroute the trail a bit and build a new route around Mont Noir estate. Fortunately, we got walking trail 'Mont Noir' in its place."
What do your duties as volunteers entail?
"We do regular inspection rounds. On such a round you check if everything is still in order such as;
- the signposts,
- Clean up fly-tipping,
- Report blocked paths by trees or branches,
- sometimes also a round in the opposite direction to notice different things anyway.
We use an app to report irregularities, poopy!"
What was -until now- your best volunteer moment?
"We have countless beautiful volunteer moments. We have picnics all year round by the pond near Mont Noir on our rounds. In full sun, snow, wind or rain, it doesn't stop us. We jump for joy when we see another roe deer or the sheep... It gives us satisfaction and energy."
