Sedgemoor volunteers in Great Breach Wood, Somerset - Paul Harris/2020VISION
Practical and Outdoors
From coppicing to path maintenance
Our practical conservation volunteer groups carry out essential habitat management tasks for the benefit of local wildlife, and we couldn’t manage our reserves in the way we do without them.
Tasks are dependent on the season, but include coppicing, fencing, drystone walling, grassland management, invasive species management and path maintenance.
You don’t need any experience to join in, as training will be given. You do need suitable outdoor clothing (waterproofs and sturdy shoes), be reasonably physically fit and most importantly enjoy being outside in all weathers!
Somerset Wildlife Trust have practical volunteering groups in several locations across the county, see below to find out more.
East Mendips Conservation Volunteers
Currently recruiting!
The East Mendip Conservation Volunteers meet at Harridge Woods and other East Mendip SWT reserves to take part in practical habitat management such as coppicing and invasive species control.
They meet 10am – 1pm on the first Sunday of the month. The group is led by Adel, Volunteer Reserves Warden of Harridge Wood with the support of staff.
If you would like to join the group, please get in touch to register. Please email volunteering@somersetwildlife.org.
Brue Valley Conservation Volunteers
Unfortunately the Brue Valley group are not open to new recruits at this moment in time. If you are interested in practical volunteering in this region, then please get in touch with the Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers.
West Mendip Conservation Volunteers
Currently recruiting!
The West Mendip Conservation Volunteers are a large, friendly group which meet at 10:30am every other Wednesday to carry out tasks such as dry-stone walling, coppicing and ragwort pulling.
Tasks vary throughout the year; you can see a task programme here. If you would like to join the group, please get in touch to register. Please email volunteering@somersetwildlife.org.
Magnificent Meadows Conservation Volunteers
Currently recruiting!
The Magnificent Meadows group meet at 10:30am on the first Thursday of the month on SWT Mendip reserves. They carry out tasks such as dry-stone walling and ragwort pulling to benefit grassland habitats.
Tasks vary throughout the year; you can see a task programme here. If you would like to join the group, please get in touch to register. Please email volunteering@somersetwildlife.org.
East Poldens Conservation Volunteers
Currently recruiting!
This small, friendly group works with the Reserves Manager, Mark green, on a variety of practical habitat management tasks at nature reserves in South Somerset, such as Green Down and Great Breach Wood. The group meets at 10:20am every Tuesday.
Tasks vary throughout the year; you can see a task programme here. If you would like to join the group, please get in touch to register. Please email volunteering@somersetwildlife.org.
Community-led groups
There are also numerous community-led groups which work on reserves and also support local organisations such as the RSPB and Natural England. Wherever possible, we encourage you to volunteer locally to minimise the impact of travel on the environment.
To see volunteering opportunities and community groups in your local area, check out or Team Wilder map.
If you have any questions about any of our practical conservation groups, please email volunteering@somersetwildlife.org.
