The Conservation Volunteers charity urges everyone in Leeds to do their bit to protect vulnerable everyday green spaces or risk losing them

• Approximately one-third of the UK’s green spaces are under threat
• Big Green Weekend 2012 is in Leeds to inspire citywide conservation action

The Conservation Volunteers, an environmental volunteering charity, is calling on everyone in Leeds to get involved in taking care of their local green places as part of the Big Green Weekend, the UK’s biggest weekend of conservation action, and play their part in managing these vital green areas for the future.

Around a third of the UK’s natural assets, including green spaces, rivers, wetlands and wildlife habitats, are in danger of being lost to development or degraded through neglect.

The Conservation Volunteers’ Big Green Weekend will take place in Leeds at Hollybush Conservation Centre from 11am to 4pm on 7 October 2012.   

John Preston of The Conservation Volunteers said: “Leeds has lots of great green spaces and there are many ways in which ordinary people can get involved to enjoy them and also to take practical action to improve them. We’re inviting everyone to come down to Hollybush Conservation Centre to take part in the Big Green Weekend this Sunday and try some hands on activities and be inspired to do it again. Join in and feel good .”

Big Green Weekend activity in Leeds will include hands-on activities for all ages with environmental education games, children’s arts and crafts, green woodworking, willow weaving, bushcraft, bird box building, face-painting, block paving, bulb planting and more!

David Boutle of Armley Common Right Trust said: “We were in need of support to help with maintaining Charlie Cake Park in Armley and were delighted with the help The Conservation Volunteers provided through cutting back the bushes and clearing litter.  We hope that the people of Leeds will show their support coming along and getting involved in the Big Green Weekend.”

The Conservation Volunteers’ Big Green Weekend will encourage people from across the UK to get involved in looking after their local green places, from creating community gardens and clearing footpaths to conducting wildlife surveys and fundraising for local conservation projects.

Over 3,500 people volunteered as part of the first ever Big Green Weekend in 2011 and in 2012 there will be 10 flagship events taking place across the UK in Leeds, Cornwall, Belfast, Staffordshire, County Durham, London, Kent, Manchester, Bristol and Falkirk. Further events all across Europe will be run through The Conservation Volunteers’ sister organisation, the Conservation Volunteers Alliance.

For more information about The Conservation Volunteers’ Big Green Weekend and how to get involved visit: www.tcv.org.uk