Practical conservation volunteering activities this autumn season 2023
We are very pleased to be introducing a new regular countryside volunteering task programme for our Surrey Heathland Partnership from October 2023, with some great conservation task sessions to try on beautiful rare heathland sites in the Guildford and Woking areas.
During the autumn season we are running the task sessions on Wednesdays and one Saturday task at the start of each month, with a view to adding further scheduled weekday task sessions from January 2024.
The new Surrey Heathland Partnership volunteer task programme is a great addition to the established weekly volunteer task programmes already on offer with the Downlands Partnership and Lower Mole Partnership.
Our autumn and winter heathland scrub clearance sessions are ideal to try if you are new to practical conservation work. The majority of our tasks are suitable for all ages (over 16s unless accompanied by an adult please) and abilities, as you can work at your own pace and you will be shown exactly what to do. You do need to be fairly fit and enjoy getting out and about in the great outdoors.
How to get involved and find out more
If you have any questions or concerns, please do contact us before deciding which session would be best for you to start with. There is no fixed commitment with our conservation volunteering crew, you can join in on task days as often as you like, for full or half days. Our task sessions run from 10am and end by 3pm, subject to weather, with lunch and tea breaks.
Exercising whilst socialising in the great outdoors with friendly, like-minded people has recognised widespread health and well-being benefits and of course, supports the maintenance and restoration of the beautiful local countryside and its rare habitats too.
Please email heathlandproject@surreycc.gov.uk for further information, any advice and to let us know in advance when you would like to come and join in.
Please also see our Surrey Countryside Partnerships Health and Safety Information for Volunteers (PDF).
We are keen to build up a great new local Surrey Heathland Partnership conservation crew, so please do come and join in and give it a try, the more the merrier. We look forward to welcoming you along very soon.
Autumn 2023 volunteer task programme
During October to December 2023 we have the following conservation volunteering task days on offer that are suitable for new volunteers to consider.
| Scheduled task dates | Countryside site location | Practical conservation volunteering activity |
|---|---|---|
| Weds 4 October and Weds 1 November | The Gardens, Pirbright, Guildford | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Sat 7 October, Sat 2 December and Weds 13 December | Sheets Heath, Brookwood, Woking | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 11 October, Weds 18 October and Weds 22 November | Pirbright Common, Guildford | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 25 October | Prey Heath, Woking | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Sat 4 November and Weds 29 November | Bullswater Common, Pirbright, Guildford | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 8 November | Smarts Heath East, Woking | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 15 November | Chapel Lane, Pirbright, Guildford | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 6 December | Smarts Heath West, Woking | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
| Weds 20 December | Brookwood Heath, Pirbright. Woking section | Scrub clearance to manage the heathland |
Corporate and community groups volunteering offer
We are pleased to welcome corporate and local community/school groups by arrangement. Please get in touch and we can further discuss the best available options for your specific group size together and to explain the booking arrangements for groups.
The autumn and winter seasons are the best months to join in as a group, especially for larger numbers, as we are running lots of scheduled scrub clearing sessions. We can offer bespoke separate team volunteering sessions as well, usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Scrub clearance is the ideal countryside volunteering activity for staff team challenges.
We have a separate Surrey Countryside Partnerships corporate employee volunteering brochure which fully explains our corporate offer, which you will receive when you make a group enquiry.
Please email us to find out more: countrysidepartnershipsteam@surreycc.gov.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you and to developing new corporate partnerships with local companies and with those from neighbouring counties and London as well.
Files available to download
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Surrey Countryside Partnerships health and safety information for volunteers (PDF)
Health and safety information for practical conservation volunteering with the Surrey Countryside Partnerships
