BASILDON Council has issued an invitation to residents to join its teams of countryside volunteers.

The authority says countryside volunteering is a way to get outdoors, keep healthy and enjoy company while making a rewarding and valued contribution to our country parks and nature reserves.

And adds: "We are always on the look out for new countryside volunteers and new applications are always welcome.

"The countryside volunteers are a happy, willing and much appreciated group of folk of all ages, who carry out voluntary tasks and activities at our various country parks and nature reserves.

"They work alongside the council's Parks and Countryside team, either as individual volunteers, or as a member of one of several local countryside groups which include:

• The Friends of Wick Country Park • The Mill Meadows Society

• Apply online to join the countryside volunteers

Volunteering is flexible. You give only whatever time you choose to whichever tasks and activities that appeal to you. Safety advice and work tools and equipment are all provided by the council's Parks and Countryside staff.

Volunteers are only asked to take part in activities which suit their age and the ability, and give satisfaction and pleasure to their volunteering contribution.

Countryside volunteers are wanted at these locations

• Lake Meadows, Billericay

• Mill Meadows Local Nature Reserve, Billericay

• Nevendon Bushes Local Nature Reserve, Pitsea

• Noak Bridge Local Nature Reserve, Billericay

• Norsey Wood Local Nature Reserve, Billericay

• Northlands Park, Pitsea

• Queens Park Country Park, Billericay

• Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea

• Wick Country Park, Wickford

• Wickford Memorial Park, Wickford

• Vange Hill Nature Reserve, Vange

There are a variety of tasks and activities volunteers can take part in. These include...

• Patrolling sites

• Providing information to visitors

• Protecting the landscape and wildlife

• Litter-picking

• Carrying out small scale routine maintenance and repair work

• Helping to manage natural resources of the site with regular practical work

• Keeping a site diary

• Staffing the visitor centres

• Leading guided or Health walks

• Monitoring and recording wildlife

• Assisting education staff with school visits

• Helping with office administration