- Would you like to help with the management of our wildlife reserves?
- Do you need to gain conservation experience to complement your college course?
- Would you like to learn wildlife identifications skills or take part in surveys?
- Or would like to have some fun at the weekends?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then find out more about our work parties below or you may prefer to visit our youth volunteering page if you're under 25.
Get in touch with us…
For more information contact the Volunteering Development Manager
tel 01489 774400 email feedback@hwt.org.uk
Practical conservation workparties
Help us to manage our wildlife reserves by joining one of the Trust’s volunteer teams. The teams carry out practical work to conserve habitats, monitor species and maintain access for visitors. No previous experience is necessary and all training and tools are provided. You will learn more about wildlife, gain new skills, meet like-minded people and benefit from the exercise, fresh air and scenery.
Volunteering is a great way to help your local environment, meet new people, learn about a career in conservation, learn new skills, accumulate volunteer hours for Trident and Duke of Edinburgh award schemes, or simply to give something back to your local community.
You will need a packed lunch if you intend working all day,as well as stout shoes,Wellingtons or boots. You are welcome to join us for all or part of the day;except for the Area Wildlife Teams, when a whole day commitment is preferable. Children under 16 and dogs are not usually allowed.
Beechcroft Team, work every Monday and Thursday on wildlife reserves in the Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke areas. Meet at 9 am at the Trust’s head office, Beechcroft House (just 200m uphill of Botley train station) to catch the minibus, which usually returns on both days by 4.30pm. Please contact Jamie Marsh on 01489 774429 for further details. See below for dates and more details.
Lower Test Team, work every Wednesday and Friday on wildlife reserves in the New Forest, Romsey and Winchester area. Please meet at 9am at the Lower Test Barn behind the Salmon Leap Pub, Testwood Lane, Totton (Map ref. SU 361 140). Please contact Simon King, West Team Estate Worker, on 023 8066 7919 or 07884 493715 for further details. See below for dates, locations, and more details.
Wildlife Reserve Volunteer Teams
Bartley Heath, North Warnborough Greens and Greywell Moors (Map ref. SU 720 513). A local group meets up on the last Sunday of the month from 10am-1.30pm. Come along and join our enthusiastic band of volunteers to help with a wide range of tasks from scrub clearance to raking hay. Give us a call and find out what’s in store. Please contact Tim Ransom, the task organiser, on 01256 764541 for further details of where the work party is taking place. Leaflets of summer and winter work party dates, along with more details are available from the Northern Reserves Team on 01256 381190.
Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood. Come along and help out in a range of practical tasks around the reserve and centre. Two work parties meet regularly: 1. Meeting on the first Sunday of every month from 10am-3pm. Please bring lunch if working all day, or come for just a couple of hours. 2. Meeting every Thursday from 10am-12noon. Meet and park at the Blashford Lakes Centre, Ellingham Drove, near Ringwood (Map ref. SU 151 079). Sorry, no dogs or children under the age of 16. For further details, please contact Bob Chapman, Reserves Officer, on 01425 476303 or e-mail robertc@hwt.org.uk.
Chappetts Copse and Shutt’s Copse, West Meon. Help with conservation work is always welcomed at both wildlife reserves by our small and friendly group of volunteers. Please bring your own work gloves. We meet at either Chappetts Copse, West Meon (Map ref. SU 653 234) or Shutt’s Copse (Map ref. SU 638 262). There are no regular work parties between the 1st April and about the 18th September as it is the growing season in the woodlands. For more information and to confirm the next work party’s location and date, please contact Richard Hedley on 023 9255 2869. Work will not take place in high winds and/or continuous heavy rain.
Coulters Dean, near Buriton. Join a friendly group and help clear scrub off this beautiful reserve. There is no need to commit to every week, just turn up on the day. Please bring a drink for mid-morning and a pair of gardening gloves if you have them (spare pairs available). Work parties meet each Thursday 10am-12.30pm during the winter months. Please park near the forestry ride entrance without blocking access to the forest (Map ref. SU 749 193). For further details, please contact Di Mitchell on 01730 266064.
East Hampshire Grazing Project. Eagle-eyed volunteers needed to help us keep an eye on our growing herds of livestock grazing across the area. Do you walk, cycle or horseride regularly in the area? If so you could join our valuable team of ‘lookers’ and ‘fence fixers’ who act as the eyes and ears on the ground to keep track of the health and wellbeing of livestock grazing our important heathlands. Full training is given to new recruits and all equipment is provided. Sites in and around Liphook, Longmoor, Greatham and Selborne including Longmoor Camp, Weavers Down Bog and Noar Hill. Please contact Elliott Fairs, Grazing Project & Reserves Officer, for further details or to get involved on 01256 381190 or email elliottf@hwt.org.uk.
Emer Bog, near North Baddesley (Map ref. SU 395 214). A few more volunteers are required for this long established friendly group – no regular commitment needed. Try conservation work on bog and heathland, which centres on scrub clearance. No experience needed, tools provided, wellies or heavy footwear vital, bonfire guaranteed. Stay as long as you like but bring a packed lunch if it’s the full day. Why not come and help keep this quite wild place in the best condition? Work parties are held on the second Sunday of the month from September through to March, starting at 10am. Parking arrangements have changed so contact Geoff Rapley on 01794 518471 (weekdays) or 01794 516408 (evenings and weekends) for exact details of where to meet.
Farlington Marshes between Portsmouth and Havant (Map ref. SU 685 045). Help us manage one of the best bird watching sites on the South Coast. We meet every Tuesday from 10am–4pm to carry out practical work on the marshes. Tasks for this season will include installing gates and benches, weed control, path clearing and fence repairs. No previous experience is necessary. For further details, please contact Mike Allen on 01489 774439 or email michaela@hwt.org.uk.
Fleet (and around) Reserves Team. Would you like to lend a hand? Then why not join this friendly group and help us extend our regular volunteer team in the area? Regular work parties meet on the third Sunday of every month from 10.30am until about 3pm. We can offer a wide range of practical conservation tasks (including scrub clearance, cutting meadows, fencing, path and bridge building and livestock checking) on sites in Fleet, Cove, Church Crookham and Ewshot. For further details, please contact Laura Fairs, Grazing Project & Reserves Officer on 01256 381190 or email lauraf@hwt.org.uk.
Flexford, Chandlers Ford. The last of this winter’s work parties was on April 20th and the first of next winter’s (2008/2009) will take place on Sept 21st. Tasks include scrub clearance, tree felling, fence and bridge repairs and path and step maintenance. Meet at 10am opposite the Scout Hut at the top of Ramalley Lane, off Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford (Map ref. SU 428 215). For further details, please contact Theo Jarman on 01794 514825.
Noar Hill, near Selborne (Map ref. SU 737 324). This friendly group welcomes new members to help with scrub control work, fencing and more on this excellent chalk grassland site. Work parties meet regularly on the second Sunday of the month from 10am-2pm. Please ensure you call during the week leading up to the volunteer day to enable us to cater for the numbers expected. We’re also looking for bright sparks to help move the fence on a monthly basis. It only takes 1 day a month but keeps the grazing running smoothly. Full training will be given. For further details, please contact Elliott Fairs on 01256 381190 or elliottf@hwt.org.uk.
North Hampshire Grazing Project. Eagle-eyed volunteers needed to help us keep an eye on our growing herds of livestock grazing across the area. Do you walk, cycle or horseride regularly in the area? If so you could join our valuable team of ‘lookers’ and ‘fence fixers’ who act as the eyes and ears on the ground to keep track of the health and wellbeing of livestock grazing our important heathlands. Full training is given to new recruits and all equipment is provided. Sites in Fleet, Cove, Church Crookham, Upper Hale, Ewshot, and Aldershot including Ancells Farm, Foxlease Meadows, Whitehouse Meadow, Pondtail, Velmead Common, Caesar’s Camp and Long Valley. Please contact Laura Fairs, Grazing Project & Reserves Officer, for further details or to get involved on 01256 381190 or email lauraf@hwt.org.uk.
St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester. Work parties start at 10am and will take place on the following Sundays: May 11 and July 13. Join Reserves Officer Mark Langford and other volunteers carrying out management tasks on the reserve. This could be anything from scrub clearance and felling to fencing. The day normally finishes around 4pm. Please meet and park at the Garnier Road car park (Map ref. SU 484 281). Additional parking is available at the St Catherine’s Park and Ride car park. For further details, please contact Mark on 07831 692963. Wear appropriate outdoor footwear and clothing. Bring along food and drink for the lunch break.
Swanwick Lakes, near Bursledon. The team meets every Monday at 9.30am all year round. We carry out a range of practical tasks around the Wildlife Reserve and centre. Newcomers are always welcome and tea, coffee and biscuits are supplied. There’s no need to commit to every week, just come along on the day and meet at the Swanwick Lakes Centre, Swanwick Lakes Wildlife Reserve, off Sopwith Way (Map ref. SU 505 098), where parking is available. All you need are bundles of enthusiasm, a packed lunch and suitable clothing and footwear. For further details, please contact the Centre on 01489 570240.
Winnall Moors, Winchester. Work parties meet at 10am on the following Wednesdays and Sundays: May 21, May 25, July 23 and July 27. Join Reserves Officer Mark Langford and other volunteers carrying out practical conservation work around the reserve. Please meet at Winnall Moors Wildlife Reserve (Map ref. SU 486 297). Parking is available at the Durngate Pay and Display car park. For further details, please contact Mark on 07831 692963. Wear appropriate outdoor footwear and clothing. Bring along food and drink for break and lunch time. No dogs please.
Area Wildlife Team tasks
Beechcroft Area Team Programme
May, 2008
Mon 5th - BANK HOLIDAY
Thurs 8th - Noar Hill, near Selborne. Fencing Yew Trees
Mon 12th - Milton Locks, near Portsmouth. BIG CLEAN UP
Thurs 15th - Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth. Access Work
Mon 19th - Noar Hill, near Selborne. Brushcutting
Thurs 22nd - Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth. Ragwort Pulling
Mon 26th - BANK HOLIDAY
Thurs 29th - Winnall Moors, near Winchester. Footpath Mowing
June, 2008
Mon 2nd - North Warnborough Greens, near Hook. Ragwort pulling
Thurs 5th - Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth. Clearing Paths
Mon 9th - Noar Hill, near Selborne. Brushcutting
Thurs 12th - St Catherines Hill, near Winchester. Ragwort Pulling
Mon 16th - St Catherines Hill, near Winchester. Ragwort Pulling
Thurs 19th - Great Salterns, near Portsmouth. Path Clearance
Mon 23rd - Northeast Region & Northern Grazing Project Sites * Sign Erecting
Thurs 26th - Farlington Marshes, near Portsmouth. Access Works
Mon 30th - Winnall Moors, near Winchester. Footpath Mowing
Meet at Beechcroft 09.00hrs. We aim to be back for about 16.30hrs
For sites marked * there is a pick up from St. Catherines park and ride (Winchester) at 09.30 hrs (let me know in advance).
For further details please contact Assistant Reserves Officer Jamie Marsh on 01489 774429 or 07917 616697 or by email jamiem@hwt.org.uk
Contacts
Jamie Marsh: mobile – 07919 616697
Beechcroft reception: 01489 774400
Laura Fairs: mobile – 07833 387319
Mike Allen: mobile – 07917 616696
Mark Langford: mobile – 07831 692963
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Lower Test Area Team Programme
May, 2008
Fri 2nd Lower Test, near Totton. Replacing Fencing (Horses)
Wed 7th Lower Test, near Totton. Replacing Fencing (Horses)
Fri 9th Upper Flexford, near Eastleigh. Replacing Fencing (Charlcote)
Wed 14th Upper Flexford, near Eastleigh. Replacing Fencing (Charlcote)
Fri 16th Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood. TBC
Wed 21st Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood. TBC
Fri 23rd Emer/Baddesley, near North Baddesley. Stile Construction/Fencing
Wed 28th Roydon Woods, near Brockenhurst. TBC
Fri 30th Roydon Woods, near Brockenhurst. TBC
June, 2008
Wed 4th Emer/Baddesley, near North Baddesley. Boardwalk Removal
Fri 6th Emer/Baddesley, near North Baddesley. Boardwalk Removal
Wed 11th Lower Test, near Totton. Bridge Replacement
Fri 13th Lower Test, near Totton. Bridge Replacement
Wed 18th Roydon Woods, near Brockenhurst. TBC
Fri 20th Upper Flexford, near Eastleigh. TBC
Wed 25th Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood. TBC
Fri 27th Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood. TBC
For further details please contact the West Team Estate Worker Simon King
office: 02380 667919
mobile: 07970 564526
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