Practical Volunteering

Conservation Work Parties

Join a conservation work party and help to manage our
nature reserves across the County.

• Mainly winter activities
• A few sites host volunteer work parties throughout the year.
• All sessions are lead by experienced volunteers or Reserve Wardens
• All tools provided for you.

Undertake active management tasks such as:

• Path creation
• Scrub clearance
• Hedgelaying
• Path clearance
• Small pine removal.
   

The emphasis is for everyone to enjoy their time, in a safe environment, whilst carrying out work that will directly enhance the conservation aspects of the site.

• Most work parties run from 10am until 3pm.
• Ring the organiser beforehand to check.
• Details of each event are in the DWT events guide or in the latest issue of Volunteering Update.

Have a look at our current Work Party dates on the Events Guide page. We welcome new volunteers, phone or email us and come along!


 North Dorset volunteers:  Meet one Sunday every month at 10am on Fontmell Down.  Much of the work
  will involve keeping the downland clear of invasive scrub. For details and to confirm the meeting point, 
  contact the Warden, Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
 North Dorset Midweekers:  Steve Oliver also leads a work party on the last Wednesday of the month, rotating through the North Dorset Reserves.  Feel free to give him a call or email at for details of where he will be each month.

Urban Wildlife Volunteers: Meet every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill. A mix of practical tasks and survey work, there will be something to meet everybody’s needs.  For details of each task contact Andy Fale on 07970552673 or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.




Brownsea: Meet on alternate Sundays throughout the year, clearing rhododendron as part of the long term management plan for the Island.  For details of boat timings etc. contact Richard Proctor on 01202 693039 or 07718 511432.

South Dorset and Isle of Purbeck:  Meet on the first Sunday of the month from September onwards.  Tasks generally involve scrub clearance and coppicing work on a wide range of the South Dorset reserves.  Please note:  This group is not currently active.  We intend to commence again shortly.

East Dorset:  Meets on the first Sunday of the month at 10 am, at the Ramsdown car park.  Tasks mainly involve work on Sopley Common, and on Troublefield if conditions permit. Tasks include scrub clearance, pine and sycamore control, path clearance etc.  For further details please contact Jon Crewe  on 07989 777757.
 

West Dorset:  Meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am, at the Clift Farm Reserve Centre, Kingcombe.  Tasks will be varied and will involve working on Kingcombe (Tuesdays) and Powerstock Reserve (Thursdays) with the Wardens. For further details please contact Ian Geddes on 07970847347.
 

Pastures New: Meets on alternate thursdays throughout the year.  Based in West Dorset, the group works with local landowners and farmers to restore and enhance wildlife rich grassland. Contact Catherine Mason on 01300 321329 or  for details.