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Practical Workdays: South

cliffs at Beachy Head (image: Graham Hobster / pixabay)

Spend a day or more helping to manage an area, conserve a species, improve habitats; learn the necessary skills 'on the job' and help make a difference. All events are for one day unless otherwise specified. Also have a look at the Volunteer Opportunities or Voluntary Organisations pages.

  

Organisations offering practical work days in the South of England: this area covers Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Isle of Wight.

   

Please remember to contact only the organisation or person specified and please mention that you saw the advert with CJS.

Belhus Woods Country Park

is over 300 acres in South Essex with a variety of habitats. Practical volunteer workdays run Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wildlife survey role also available. Learn new skills and make a difference. Parking and hot drinks provided. Please contact us for more information.

tom.heenan@essex.gov.uk

www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/belhus-woods-country-park

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)

As well as being a great way to meet people, learn new skills and gain experience that could help you start a career in conservation, volunteering with the BBOWT will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping protect and enhance your local environment, benefitting wildlife and connecting people with nature.

www.bbowt.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

Brighton Permaculture Trust

We are a Sussex Green Charity focusing on Permaculture Education and have weekly opportunities to help out in orchards/our Permaculture plot, courses and with courses and events. For more information please check out our list of current opportunities here:

brightonpermaculture.org.uk/current-volunteer-opportunities/

Cotswold Voluntary Wardens

Join a group with over 50 years experience of access and conservation work in the Cotswolds. There are opportunities to suit a variety of interests from dry stone walling and installing gates to leading a guided walk, patrolling parish paths or working with schools.

For further details go to 

www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/looking-after/volunteering/

Earth Trust

Earth Trust is guardian of 500 hectares of woodland, farmland, wildflower meadows and wetlands in Oxfordshire. We use these amazing places to engage, inspire and demonstrate nature-based solutions to climate, biodiversity and public health crises. Volunteers are invaluable to our community. Find a role that suits you: 

web@earthtrust.org.uk

earthtrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

Earth Trust

is an environmental learning charity based in South Oxfordshire. We have volunteering opportunities in: • Land Management • Environmental Education • Communications • Database management • Fundraising • Admin and Office work and Events. Interested? Email

volunteering@earthtrust.org.uk

www.earthtrust.org.uk/

ecoACTIVE

is an environmental education charity based in London, working with schools and community groups to help people reduce their impact on the environment. If you’re interested in a career in environmental education, or just want to support our sustainability work in the community, why not volunteer with us? 

hello@ecoactive.org.uk

www.ecoactive.org.uk/

Essex Wildlife Trust

is the County's leading conservation organisation. We have 87 nature reserves and 11 visitor centres and need help from volunteers on most of these sites. We have opportunities to help with work days, educational activities, visitor outreach and surveys across Essex.

volunteering@essexwt.org.uk

www.essexwt.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

Explore Essex

Many of our parks and places are looking for people like you. From specific roles such as helping in our visitor centres to more general maintenance, we have a wide variety of volunteering roles to suit you.

Please email with the name of the site you are interested in

explore.essex@essex.gov.uk

www.explore-essex.com/support-us

Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve

Activities include invasive species control, coppicing, live and dead hedging, path/steps, glade management, wildlife surveys. Work parties held 2nd Saturday of each month,11.00am to 3.00pm. Meet at Beadnell Road entrance – wear old clothes and sturdy boots. Bring refreshments & gardening gloves (but gloves can be provided). All tools provided.

garthorne.reserve@gmail.com

garthorneroadnaturereserve.com

Friends of Northaw Great Wood

Activities include coppicing, shrub clearance, path/glade management, wildlife surveys. Work parties held every Friday and 1st Sunday each month, 9.30am to 12.30pm. Meet in the car park – wear old clothes and sturdy boots. Bring refreshments & gardening gloves (but gloves can be provided). All tools provided.

secretary@fongw.org.uk

www.fongw.org.uk

Gatton Park

is a beautiful 'Capability' Brown parkland in Reigate, Surrey. Gatton Trust Volunteers help with all aspects of running the estate from practical work to helping in the office. Get involved and contribute to restoration work, outdoor education or our exciting programme of events. Email or visit the website

volunteering@gatton-park.org.uk

gattonpark.co.uk

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

If you're looking to get involved with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and contribute towards nature's recovery, volunteering could be for you! Whatever your motivations - to meet new people, share your expertise or to help protect the future of wildlife - we'll work with you to find the right volunteer opportunities to fit you.

www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

If you want a hands-on experience where you can make a real difference to the wildlife in your area, we have various volunteer roles that you can get involved with. No matter what it is about nature that inspires or intrigues you, we’re sure we've got something for you!

www.hiwwt.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities

Hampshire Conservation Volunteers

We work at weekends on a wide variety of sites. Spring and summer are for construction of paths, boardwalks, gates and fences, while autumn may include some pond maintenance. Winter tasks include coppicing, hedgelaying and scrub-bashing, usually with a roaring bonfire.

www.hcv.org.uk

Hampshire Countryside Service

The Central Countryside Sites Team are looking for volunteers to take part in work days and/or placements throughout the year on a regular weekly basis. You will be supporting the site rangers to help manage a variety of sites and habitats throughout Hampshire between Stockbridge and Petersfield.

centralcountrysidesites@hants.gov.uk

www.hants.gov.uk/jobs/volunteering/volunteeringopportunities/ranger

Hazel Hill Wood

Gain experience in practical woodland management and site maintenance tasks plus wildlife surveys at Hazel Hill Wood, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Tasks include scything and raking to manage paths, rides and glades, restocking firewood and hedgelaying.

charley@hazelhill.org.uk

hazelhill.org.uk/volunteer/

Kent Wildlife Trust

is the leading conservation charity for the county of Kent. We engage with landowners and communities so we can all work together to protect wildlife. Volunteers help us by working on our nature reserves, engaging visitors and conducting surveys for wildlife.

volunteering@kentwildlife.org.uk

www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering

Lampton Greenspace

At Lampton we steward nature reserves throughout the London Borough of Hounslow, this includes all maintenance and conservation work to enhance the areas for wildlife. Please email us of you would like to get involved with volunteering, we host regular volunteering groups as well as pre-booked work experience.

countryside@hounslow.gov.uk

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

is a statutory body responsible for managing and developing the 26-mile-long, 10,000-acre linear regional park which serves London, Hertfordshire and Essex. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has a fantastic band of volunteers who get involved in countryside management activities throughout the park’s open spaces.

volunteers@leevalleypark.org.uk

www.visitleevalley.org.uk/volunteers/

London Wildlife Trust

has 36 nature reserves across London and a range of volunteering roles in practical conservation and engaging people with nature. We couldn't do our work without our fantastic volunteers. Please contact volunteering@wildlondon.org.uk for more info.

New Forest National Park Authority

We are seeking volunteers to help us champion and care for the New Forest and are especially interested in people from diverse backgrounds. We offer travel expenses, training and a short induction for all volunteers taking part in our programme. We also have more causal volunteering opportunities through our New Forest Ambassadors scheme. For more information about our volunteering opportunities visit our website or contact us at

volunteering@newforestnpa.gov.uk

River Thame Conservation Trust

We’re an environmental charity dedicated to improving the River Thame Catchment for wildlife and we’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help out with a range of activities including: water quality sampling, plant & wildlife surveys, and habitat improvement and invasive species control work parties. Register to volunteer at: http://bttr.im/czq8j

enquiries@riverthame.org

riverthame.org

Surrey Countryside Partnerships -

Our Downlands, Lower Mole and Surrey Heathland Partnerships offer a wide range of practical seasonal conservation volunteering opportunities throughout the year across north, northeast and west Surrey, Croydon, Kingston and Sutton.

Find out more and view the latest task info online or email the team:

countrysidepartnershipsteam@surreycc.gov.uk

www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreycountrysidepartnerships

Surrey Wildlife Trust

The Wildlife Trusts is a movement that believes we need nature and it needs us. Across the UK, volunteers work together to create a wilder future for people and nature. Whether you can spare a few hours or a full day, becoming a volunteer can make a huge difference for nature and people.

www.surreywildlifetrust.org/support-us/volunteer

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Volunteering is a chance to make a positive contribution to your local area, learning new skills, making new friends and sharing or increasing your knowledge of nature conservation. There are plenty of opportunities available, from practical conservation, working with children, supporting events or offering your specific skills to make a difference.

sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

The Wildlife For All Trust

is a pioneering environmental charity with reserves in the UK and Africa. We have a unique, deeper approach to conservation which consistently produces positive results. We train our staff to be the best they can be. If you want to make a difference, contact us via

wildlifeforall@hotmail.com

www.wildlifeforall.org

Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital

Volunteer as a wildlife Rescuer; Ambulance driver; baby mammal Fosterer; or on-site Husbandry with Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital. For driving roles you need your own transport, be 21+, reasonably fit and willing to catch/transport wildlife (full training/equipment provided). Fosterers need to be available throughout the day. See website for full requirements.

www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/volunteer/

Waverley Borough Council

We run practical countryside volunteer sessions in south-west Surrey. Our friendly volunteer groups help us to clear scrub, remove invasive species, plant trees, and install fencing and benches. We can also offer work experience placements and the opportunity to carry out wildlife surveys.

parksandcountryside@waverley.gov.uk

www.waverley.gov.uk/Services/Parks-leisure-and-things-to-do/Parks-countryside-and-green-spaces/Countryside-volunteering

West Wickham Commons

Activities include hedgelaying, coppicing and conservation tasks at Spring Park and West Wickham Common, two nature-rich open spaces on the edge of Croydon and Bromley. Volunteer workdays 10am-3pm on the last Friday of each month either at Spring Park or West Wickham Common. Hot drinks and all equipment provided.

Kieran.waugh@cityoflondon.gov.uk

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/the-west-wickham-commons/volunteer-with-the-west-wickham-commons

White Cliffs Countryside Partnership

Join our volunteers to help manage chalk grassland, wetland and shingle habitats from Dover Districts to Romney Marsh and the award winning Samphire Hoe. We have daily volunteer tasks throughout the year, but also volunteer positions doing livestock lookering, site rangers, office volunteers, wildlife surveys and event helpers. Contact: 

wccp@dover.gov.uk

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Volunteers have been at the heart of WWT since it was founded in 1962. Its success is built on the dedication, skills and energy of our wonderful volunteers. We have a range of opportunities available for any budding volunteer who can help us make a difference to people and wildlife in Wiltshire.

volunteering.wiltshirewildlife.org

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