info@hmvcg-cic.org.uk
Heaton Mersey Village Conservation Group CIC
Heaton Mersey Village Conservation Group (HMVCG) is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of our community through volunteer-led initiatives. Together, we can create a sustainable environment for future generations.
Volunteer Opportunities
Participate in various volunteer events dedicated to maintaining and enhancing our green spaces.We cannot do it on our own and need your help to keep our events and activities a regular feature of the life of the area.
Whatever time or skills you have to offer your help will be greatly appreciated. In return volunteers gain new skills and experiences and enjoyment and satisfaction from working with others, being outdoors and closer to nature and making a real difference; all of which have been shown to be important to maintaining and improving wellbeing.
So, why not contact us today to find out more or join us at one of our meetings or activity days. We post our events to our Events Page and on our Facebook page.
Please note, if you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by an adult at our task days.
Events
We collaborate with the Stockport Council Greenspaces team, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, The Mammal Society and the Orchard Project on many of our HMVCG events.
Check our events page to see what's coming up and for a snapshot of our previous activities!
Projects
- Craig Road Community Orchard
- Vale Close Bog Garden
- Fundraising Activities
- Heritage Walking
- Bat Walks
- Pop-Up Cafe
- HMVCG Sculpture Trail
- Community Task Days
- CSR Task Days - Working with our Community Partners
- The Park Pavillion
About HMVCG CIC
A Community Committed to Conservation
Heaton Mersey Village Conservation Group (HMVCG) promotes the protection and care of Heaton Mersey’s conservation areas and green spaces. We mobilize volunteers to foster community engagement in local environmental efforts. In collaboration with Stockport Council, we ensure our green spaces flourish.
Greening Health:
An Interview between Jo Ward and Susan Arslan, about HMVCG’s Role in the SPACE Project
Sue: Jo, we’ve been hearing a lot about the SPACE Project recently. Can you start by telling us what it’s all about?
Jo: Absolutely! SPACE stands for Social Prescribing and Civic Engagement, and it’s a really exciting ERASMUS+ initiative. Back in January 2024, Heaton Mersey Village Conservation Group C.I.C.—HMVCG—was invited to join a European bid writing team. The goal? To secure funding for a project that brings together two powerful forces: green social prescribing and volunteering. It’s about helping people connect with nature to boost both their wellbeing and the environment.
Sue: That sounds like a perfect fit for HMVCG. Why did you feel it aligned so well with our mission?
Jo: It really was a natural step for us. HMVCG has always been about preserving and enhancing green spaces through volunteer-led action. So, a project focused on public engagement with nature, improving community health, and boosting environmental wellbeing? That ticks every box for us. We’ve always believed that the best way to create a sustainable future is by working together—and this project embodies that ethos.
Interview conducted on 1 August 2025
* Sue and Jo are Directors of HMVCG C.I.C.
Sue: And the bid was successful—congratulations! What does HMVCG’s role in the project look like?
Jo: Thank you! Yes, we were thrilled when the bid was approved. HMVCG is leading the UK side of the project, working with fantastic partners from Brussels, Spain, Greece, Southern Ireland and Malta. We’re also collaborating with professionals from medicine, green prescribing and volunteering sectors here in the UK. It’s a truly cross-sector, cross-country effort.
Sue: You mentioned “green social prescribing.” Can you explain what that is?
Jo: Green social prescribing—sometimes called the Natural Health Service here in the UK—is about connecting people to nature-based activities to support their physical and mental health. That might mean guided walks, community gardening, conservation volunteering, or simply spending time in parks or by rivers. The evidence is growing that green and blue spaces—think woodlands, canals, wetlands—are vital not just for ecosystem health, but for human health too.
Sue: And this project has a specific focus on cancer support, right?
Jo: Yes, that’s an important part of it. With cancer diagnosis rates now at 1 in 2 in the UK, we saw an opportunity to explore how green prescribing can play a role in recovery and rehabilitation. Whether it’s reducing stress, supporting physical activity, or rebuilding confidence, nature can be a powerful ally for people living with and beyond cancer.
Sue: That’s powerful. What’s the ambition for the SPACE project?
Jo: Simply put, it’s to get more people using and caring for green and blue spaces—for their own health and for the benefit of nature. We want to raise awareness, build engagement, and secure investment to improve the quality and reach of green prescribing. And of course, we’re focused on demonstrating the real, measurable value of this work.
Sue: And where are you now in the project timeline?
Jo: We’re coming to the end of the first stage this August. We’ve been carrying out a UK and EU-wide scoping exercise, and we’re publishing a report that includes:
- A review of the evidence behind green prescribing and its links to cancer recovery and general wellbeing
- Mapping of the current social and green prescribing infrastructure
- Focus group insights
- Case studies
- And clear opportunities for future growth
Sue: That’s quite a body of work. What should we be looking out for next?
Jo: The report is just the beginning! We’ll be using its findings to shape the next phase of the project. So, keep an eye on our website and social media—there’s so much more to come. As we like to say: watch this SPACE.
50
Projects Completed
200
Community Volunteers
5
Partnerships Established