Conservation Volunteers Galway

Conservation Volunteers (Galway) was founded in 2010 by Mayo woman Caitriona Cunningham who brought the concept to Galway from Fingal. We are a 100% voluntary amateur group working on Saturdays at least once a month doing various practical outdoor tasks for public benefit, such as tree planting, seashore clean-ups, wildflower meadow development and woodland path maintenance. We also collaborate with other similar groups in Galway city and county.

Our purpose is to protect and enhance our natural heritage by volunteer participation in practical conservation projects. We assist NGOs local authorities and community groups in enhancing, maintaining access to, and promoting education and awareness of areas with biodiversity value.
Our main resource is the energy and enthusiasm of our members who contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere on our workdays, whilst achieving completion of the tasks to be done. We have many members who show up frequently, occasionally, individually or in groups, often bringing another friend or two the next time they come. We have a good mix of locals, ex-pats, young and not-so-young, and students including overseas students, We somewhat overlap membership and activities with similar local groups.
We are autonomous regarding annual maintenance and cleanup works, and we seek guidance form expert authorities such the NPWS before staring new projects.
Our Facebook page shows a record of works done including:
Pathway maintenance in Barna wood and Roscam wood
Creation of a freshwater pond in the birdwatch reserve at Rusheen, (between the windsurfing centre and hunters park).
Maintenance of wildflower areas at Cairn Ard Park, Westside of circular road, and Renville Park, Oranmore-Maree.
Clean-ups along seashores within Galway city.

Seasonal Work Plan

Our general seasonal work-plan, not including one-off projects, out-of-town trips, collaborations with other groups or new ideas, no matter how daft. …..If an idea isn’t absurd, it’s not worth having!
Winter: December – woodland path maintenance / Tree planting
January – Rough-shore coast cleanup / Tree planting
February – Rough-shore coast cleanup / Tree planting
Spring: March – Wildflower meadow preparation / Hedgerow planting
April – Wildflower meadow seeding.
May – Coast cleanup / Publicity activity for biodiversity week
Summer: June – Let nature take its course …
July – Let nature take its course … / Wildflower seed gathering
August – Wildflower seed gathering / Noxious weed removal.
Autumn: September – Wildflower meadow weed removal / cutting at end of season
October – Wildflower meadow cutting at end of season / Woodland path maintenance
November – Woodland path maintenance.

Join us

The best way to is to join in our activities is to simply send an email to cvgalway@gmail.com to be added to our listings. We usually circulate notification mid-week prior to the event depending on a decent weather forecast. Our events are good opportunities to meet like-minded people in informal settings, including when carpooling en-route. On workdays, we go steadily with caution. Sensible outdoor footwear and clothing is advised. If you can, bring a lunch-snack and/or interesting homemade foods to share. We’ll provide tools plus hot tea & biscuits.