WARDENS who support the work of the Cotswolds Conservation Board will enjoy a double celebration.

Over 300 voluntary wardens in the Cotswolds contribute to projects across the AONB to help conserve, enhance, and increase understanding of the region.

On Saturday June 23 at the Royal Agricultural University, they are celebrating 50 years of dedicated service to the Cotswolds AONB, as well as recently having been given The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Their work is diverse, and can include projects ranging from improving walkways, gates, and route surfaces, to working with schools and youth groups to introduce young people to the countryside.

The wardens offer over 300 guided walks all across the Cotswolds, the walking and exploring capital of England, every year.

The celebration event will offer a morning of talks exploring the importance of volunteering, and an afternoon of activities including a guided walk, a quiz, and tea served with anniversary cake.

Becky Jones, volunteer coordinator at the Cotswolds Conservation Board, said, “The Cotswolds voluntary wardens provide vital support to the work the done by the Cotswolds Conservation Board. We’re all looking forward to the celebration event – as a way of expressing our gratitude to the wardens, and also as a way of discussing the future.”

John Shaw, head warden, said, “I’ve been a voluntary warden for many years in the Cotswolds, and it has been hugely rewarding – the celebration event will be a wonderful opportunity for us all to share our experiences together.”

As part of the 50th anniversary of the volunteer wardens in the Cotswolds AONB in 2018, the celebratory theme has been education, and reaching the next generation to care for the Cotswolds.

The wardens have been working in education for over 10 years, and this year the Cotswolds Conservation Board has funded a free activities folder with more fantastic opportunities than ever for schools to access the Cotswolds.