On Friday morning we met Hazel, the volunteer co-ordinator for the group who care for Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve.

We walked the length of the reserve together – along the brick path the volunteers built themselves – and talked about what it means to look after a space like this week in, week out.

Pilley Bridge is one of Cheltenham’s designated nature reserves, a quiet green corridor tucked between roads and housing. It doesn’t shout about itself. You could easily miss it. But step inside and it feels like a different place altogether: trees arching overhead, water moving through, birdsong carrying between the banks.

Hazel and the small, dedicated volunteer team are its custodians. They manage, repair and plant, clear and build. The brick path running through part of the reserve is a testament to their practical skill and long-term commitment. It’s not just a green space – it’s cared for.

They spoke warmly about the council’s Green Spaces team and the support they provide. But like many volunteer-led spaces, there are challenges.

There’s the ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour. The frustration of rubbish and green waste dumped where it shouldn’t be. And perhaps most pressing, the difficulty of finding enough skilled volunteers who can commit regularly and help share the responsibility of managing the site.

It made us reflect on something we’ve been thinking about a lot: Cheltenham isn’t short of green spaces. What it needs is stronger connections between the people who care for them.

Across the town, there are “Friends of” groups, informal volunteer teams, residents quietly tending verges, schools planting trees, individuals installing swift boxes and digging ponds. Each group is doing valuable work. But often they’re doing it in isolation.

If we’re serious about building a nature network in Cheltenham, it isn’t just about maps and strategy. It’s about people. About recognising the experience and commitment already in place. About supporting volunteer groups so they don’t burn out. About connecting skills to need.

Pilley Bridge is part of that network.

If you have practical skills and could offer time on a regular basis, Hazel and the team would love to hear from you at info@pilleybridge.org.uk.

And if you’re part of another group caring for nature in Cheltenham – we’d really like to connect with you. The stronger our links, the stronger our green spaces. Contact us if you would like to chat.