Celebrating 15 years of partnership working with TARCA
The Anton River Conservation Association (TARCA) is marking its 15th anniversary this year and Test Valley Borough Council is taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to these community heroes for their ongoing work.
The initiative to set up the group originally came from the council, who set up a meeting to look at how volunteers could help with work in the nature reserves. A good number of the original members had been working as volunteers on the Riverside Project at Goodworth Clatford and that group evolved into TARCA.
Since they were formed in 2009, we have worked in partnership with TARCA to complete annual work programmes that help look after and care for Test Valley’s popular nature reserves including Anton Lakes Local Nature Reserve, Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve, Ox Drove Meadow, Harewood Common and Ladies Walk.
Over the years, hundreds of TARCA volunteers from Andover and the wider area have worked alongside council staff, spending a total of more than 16,000 hours of time conserving and caring for our nature reserves to help ensure the species who call them home, can thrive.
Long-term member Terry Stevens said:
“What we get out of this group is immeasurable: an improved knowledge of all aspects of nature and the environment and a really close group of long-term friends. Then there’s the knowledge that through TARCA’s efforts we have made a great improvement to all the reserves that we all work in.”
Fellow volunteer Ron Davis added:
“The fact that people see us working has helped make people aware of their environments and more people are now litter picking. My original reason for joining the group was to do something to make my small part of our precious planet in better condition than we found it for our grandchildren. It must have worked because our two granddaughters have been heavily involved in local conservation work and one went on an expedition to Costa Rica to help in their conservation work.”
Cllr Alison Johnston, Portfolio Holder for Climate Emergency and Countryside, said:
“We would like to thank all TARCA members for their dedication over the past fifteen years and congratulate them on reaching their anniversary milestone.
“The volunteers are instrumental to the overall management of our nature reserves and this is a great example of how, by working in partnerships with local organisations, we can deliver sustainable and lasting benefits for our communities, which is one of the key aims of our corporate plan. We’re very much looking forward to working alongside the team at TARCA for the next 15 years… and beyond!”
Anyone can join TARCA, just turn up to an event and get involved. There’s info on the sessions on the TARCA website at antonriver-conservation.org.uk or on our website at testvalley.gov.uk/communityandleisure/naturereserves/countryside-events
Events are free with tools provided but participants should wear suitable clothes and sensible shoes.