Practical conservation volunteering activities this spring season 2025
The Lower Mole Partnership has a great selection of practical conservation volunteering sessions to try across north Surrey and into Kingston.
There is something for everyone to get involved in, with different seasonal countryside tasks taking place on numerous, glorious sites across the partnership area.
We recommend trying a scrub clearance or plant pulling task first if you are new to practical conservation work, but 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 just give us a call for a chat before deciding which task 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 (mornings preferred). Our task sessions run from 10am and end by 4pm, 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 call our task team on 01372 371600 (please note this is our new office number from April 2025) or email us: mole.project@surreycc.gov.uk for further information and to let us know in advance when you would like to come and join in.
To gain an insight into our Lower Mole Partnership conservation volunteering task days, please visit our Surrey Countryside Partnerships Facebook page.
Please also see our Surrey Countryside Partnerships' Volunteer Handbook 2024 (PDF).
We look forward to welcoming you along with our fantastic conservation crew very soon.
Spring 2025 volunteer task programme
During May and June 2025 we have the following conservation volunteering task days on offer that are suitable for new volunteers to consider, especially the balsam sessions.
Please kindly note that during April, we unfortunately do not have any task sessions that are suitable for new volunteers to try.
| Scheduled task dates | Countryside site location | Practical conservation volunteering activity |
|---|---|---|
| 6, 7 and 8 May | Norbury Park, Leatherhead |
Deer fencing installation. This site is part of our (Surrey County Council's) Countryside Estate. |
| 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 May | Arbrook Common, Esher | Bridge repairs |
| 27, 28 and 29 May | Norbury Park, Leatherhead |
Chestnut splitting, preparing materials harvested on site for traditional post and rail fencing. This site is part of our (Surrey County Council's) Countryside Estate. |
| 3, 4 and 5 June | Epsom Common: Stamford Green | Path surfacing and repair work |
| 10, 11 and 12 June |
Elmbridge Commons Location(s) to be confirmed | Himalayan balsam pulling |
| 17, 18 and 19 June |
Hogsmill Nature Reserve Location(s) to be confirmed | Himalayan balsam pulling along the Hogsmill, in partnership with the South East Rivers Trust |
| 24, 25 and 26 June | Ashtead Park | Path surfacing work |
Corporate and community groups volunteering offer
We are pleased to welcome corporate and local community/school groups by arrangement, plus students completing their Duke of Edinburgh awards and work experience/voluntary training placements. We are developing some great local corporate partnerships with various companies.
Please kindly note that some of the scheduled dates and locations as above listed may not be available or suitable for group involvement. Please email us at: countrysidepartnershipsteam@surreycc.gov.uk and we can further discuss the best available options for your specific group size together, subject to preferred location and time of year, and to explain the booking arrangements for groups.
We have a separate Surrey Countryside Partnerships corporate volunteering brochure which fully explains our corporate offer, including our financial contribution rates for groups of five or more attendees, which you will receive when you make a group enquiry.
The autumn and winter seasons are the best time to join in as a group, especially for larger numbers, as we run lots of scrub clearing sessions and can sometimes offer bespoke separate team volunteering days at this time of year as well. Scrub clearance is the ideal countryside volunteering activity for staff team challenges.
Please note that during April and May we have no suitable task sessions on offer for groups and are now booked up for June. We are currently taking bookings for July onwards for team countryside volunteering days, subject to group size.
We look forward to hearing from you and to developing many more great corporate partnerships with local companies and with those from neighbouring counties and London as well.
How you could support us from your sofa instead!
If you are unable to join in with our practical conservation tasks but would like to show your support from indoors for our local countryside management work, then please do kindly consider becoming a member of our charity partner the Lower Mole Countryside Trust (LMCT).
This independent, registered charitable trust is run by a small group of dedicated volunteers and they raise funds through memberships and fundraising initiatives, principally in partnership with the Lower Mole Partnership staff. LMCT also provides small grants to other local countryside voluntary groups to support their targeted conservation work, for biodiversity, access and environmental education. Full information on LMCT's charity work and details on how to join can be found on the Lower Mole Countryside Trust website or please call the Lower Mole Partnership office on 01372 371600.
LMCT is currently looking for a new volunteer to join them as a trustee to help with marketing, communications and attendance at occasional public events. If you have a few hours to spare each week and would like to help with promoting their great work, then they would love to hear from you. Please email the Chairman Rodney Shaw with a short description of your background and experience and to find out more: lowermoletrust@outlook.com.
LMCT is always very pleased to welcome one-off or legacy donations, so if you would like to consider this to support the management of your lovely local North Surrey countryside (rather than or as well as becoming a member - your choice) so it can continue to be enjoyed and accessed by future generations, please do contact the trustees to further discuss. Many thanks for your support.
