More volunteers needed to help with brilliant work protecting and improving Huddersfield’s green spaces

Written by Amanda Boothroyd

Three speakers talked about the great work going on to protect and enhance Huddersfield’s green spaces, its precious nature and valued wildlife.

The Huddersfield Civic Society event featured Deb Clarke, the development manager from White Rose Forest which is one of the largest community forests in England; Jeff Keenlyside, director from EPIKS, a team of passionate individuals who co-ordinate environmental projects in Kirklees; and Adrian Pitts, chair of Natural Kirklees, an umbrella organisation for volunteer green space groups.

They are pictured at the top of the story with Jeff on the left.

The event was held at Brian Jackson House in Huddersfield town centre on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and attended by 25 HCS members and guests.

Deb said the White Rose Forest works in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities to increase woodland across the region and improve our natural environment.

In 2024-2025 they planted one million trees and created 53 hectares of new woodlands, trees and hedgerows and their strategic plan for the next 25 years is to create a vast and varied treescape that connects and permeates our towns, cities and countryside. It was heartening to hear about such positive long-term plans that involve communities and imbue them with hope and investment in the future.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, details can be found on their website https://whiteroseforest.org

Jeff said EPIKS is a team of passionate individuals who co-ordinate environmental projects in Kirklees. Their whole ethos is about connecting people with nature with health and well-being underpinning everything they do. They work with residents, community groups, councils, charities, businesses and employees, schools, colleges and universities to increase environmental awareness and deliver practical environmental solutions together. As with White Rose Forest, local engagement is vital to the work that takes place.

If you would be interested in getting involved, details can be found on their website https://epiks.org.uk

Adrian (pictured above) said Natural Kirklees supports more than 100 existing groups and also gives help and advice to anybody wanting to set up a new group, offering the use of tool containers and help with grants towards planting schemes. A key aim is to promote more volunteering and raise awareness in communities and with the large student population that Huddersfield hosts.

Details of groups in your area can be found on the website https://naturalkirklees.org/homepage/

It was a great evening, very interesting and with a wealth of information for everyone to absorb and digest.

A key message from all the speakers was the importance of volunteers in implementing all these fantastic schemes so I would urge you to grab some gloves, put on your wellies and get out there into nature.