INDIVIDUALS, organisations and volunteers gathered recently for the launch of a new project to 'conserve and enhance' the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Helping Hands for Heritage project, which officially launched last week, will bring together volunteers, local experts and groups to develop and support a skilled and knowledgeable volunteer task force across the AONB. The Tamar Valley AONB team, acting as the umbrella organisation for the project, will work in partnership with other organisations to build the capacity of the 'Valley Volunteers' scheme and in turn monitor, record, research and address a wide variety of wildlife, landscapes, archaeology and historic buildings that are at risk of being lost or damaged. The two-year project has been able to go ahead due to a grant of more than £93,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and funding from other sources to create a budget of £126,385. Project officer Sam Barnes said: 'The idea is to create a trained volunteer task force with the AONB and build on the capacity of volunteers in the valley. We also hope to bring the skills to other organisations and communities by offering training and opportunities for existing and new volunteers.' The project will divide the AONB area into four zones — North Tamar, Middle Tamar, Tavy and Lynher. Sam said they would do this so people can have a local opportunity for training. 'We also hope to draw in people from the towns — Tavistock, Callington, Launceston, Saltash and Plymouth, to skill up and do some training and take their skills back to their area,' said Sam. 'One of the special qualities of the AONB is its remarkable heritage, its sense of place and the community. But the heritage is constantly under pressure for change and we need to carefully manage this. We need to conserve and enhance the AONB rather than preserve it.' Funding partners for the project include the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Heritage Landscape World Heritage Site, Tamar Community Trust, Devon County Council, Buckland Monachorum Parish Council and Calstock Parish Council. Sam said: 'There are 25 other organisations and individuals who have committed to support us through ways such as the loan of equipment, in-kind training, lunches for volunteers and free training venues. We hope to attract a wide range of volunteers to this project, including families and the unemployed.' The money will be put towards a dedicated project officer to oversee the scheme, the paying of experts to train volunteers, money for equipment and materials that may be needed, volunteer expenses, the interpretation of surveys and findings from the project into guides, leaflets etc, new software that might be needed, publicity and promotion and payment towards AXA certification for various modules for the volunteers. The project will share its data from surveys and research projects with other organisations and it is hoped the volunteer work will provide access to heritage sites and build relationships between organisations, communities and landowners. Organisers said it is not just about volunteering, it is about learning and enhancing knowledge. l Pictured above are some of the funding partners and supporting organisations.