26 August 2020 | 1 minute read

AWE makes donation to Greenham and Crookham Conservation Volunteers

The AWE Charity Fund has made a £550 donation to Greenham and Crookham Conservation Volunteers (GCCV) allowing the purchase of various tools to help the group’s conservation work.

Greenham and Crookham Commons, near Newbury, are an area of open grassland and heathland forming the largest continuous tract of open heath in Berkshire. The area is enjoyed by many in the local community, along with walkers, cyclists and various nature groups. AWE’s donation will help GCCV purchase clearing tools such as pruning saws and lopping shears, along with some heavy-duty tools for maintenance of the commons.

Steve Gales, who works at AWE and volunteers with GCCV, applied to AWE’s Charity Fund which manages requests for support from individuals and local charities. Steve and his partner Christelle both help with GCCV’s conservation work on a monthly basis and regularly run there, taking advantage of the various trails at the commons.

AWE’s Charity Fund Secretary, Michele Maidment, said: “We are pleased to help the volunteering group as we know that many people, including AWE staff, enjoy visiting the commons to boost their physical and mental wellbeing. The commons are also a haven for wildlife, particularly rare ground nesting birds, so this work is very much in keeping with our Biodiversity Action Plan 2020-25 to increase local biodiversity.”

John Parker, Chairman of GCCV, commented: “Thanks for the generous donation towards the upkeep of our tools and our running costs. Your donation is very much appreciated to help the GCCV continue in its efforts to maintain and improve the commons as a valued nature conservation area and public recreation space.”

As with most lowland heath the commons tend to revert to scrub and woodland, so much of GCCV’s efforts are focused on tree and scrub clearance, and the acquired tools will assist this conservation work. The volunteers also help to maintain the infrastructure of paths, gates, fences, boardwalks and footpath signs at the commons.

More news

Strategic Alliance Partners Conference hits the mark

Senior representatives from AWE, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and the university community gathered at the recently held Strategic Alliance Partners Conference to discuss and debate areas of STEM that support our mission. The two-day event organised by the External Technical Partnerships Office brought together government, academia, […]

Features

28 Apr 2025

Strengthening International Ties

International collaboration is vital in strengthening national defence and nuclear security and despite the high levels of security involved, collaboration amongst allies is strong. At AWE, a dedicated team of experts, advisors and business managers govern regular exchanges with international partners to facilitate collaboration and cooperation, and support research and development in nuclear science and […]

Detecting the undetectable

At AWE Blacknest, experts in forensic seismology work behind the scenes to support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Their mission? To detect and verify potential nuclear tests worldwide by analysing seismic data. Our seismologists play a key role in upholding global security and arms control through cutting-edge research, international collaboration, and advanced monitoring techniques.