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Surrey Hills Conservation Volunteers(affliated to British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)Registered Charity No:261009 |
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*** New Spring/Summer programme available***
protect and actively conserve the countryside and wildlife?
find out more about the local countryside?
discover beauty spots away from the general public?
For further information please view our current programme or use the contact us button.
New volunteer? Click here for a checklist
The activities above show the Group in-action (or should that be inaction!). The right pictures show some very wet and messy pond clearance work, the left images show how to make a pathway more accessible - by building a boardwalk/bridge. This work is typical of the activities we perform during the Spring/Summer months. Photos were taken at Sayers Croft, Surrey. March/August 2006
Surrey
Hills Conservation Volunteers have been established for
over 25 years, working in the local area, volunteering their time
with practical conservation work
We are affiliated to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers,
a registered charity, involved in promoting practical conservation
work.
Every other Sunday, SHCV can be found working for various organisations such as the Surrey Ranger Service, the National Trust, local District councils or Wildlife Trusts. The group has an excellent health and safety record. Read Heath and Safety Policy
We mostly work on rural sites around North Surrey, primarily in the Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford areas.The work we do is very varied and is dependant on the season. During the Winter months most of our work is woodland management, e.g. coppicing (an ancient technique which encourages wood regrowth and regenerates the woodland flowers such as bluebells), hedge laying and general scrub clearance.
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For links to other conservation bodies click here
In the Summer months, we get more involved with construction work; mending fences, building stiles and installing gates. Helping the regeneration of ponds during the summer provides a good opportunity to get very muddy!!
(Surprising fact - for example chalk grassland on the North Downs is a more threatened environment than the rain forest in terms of area remaining, and it's on our doorstep!)
Work is at the individual's own pace, with plenty of refreshment breaks and time to have a chat. Tools appropriate to the task are provided and instruction into their safe use is given - no previous experience is necessary.
The local Rangers often like to give a talk on the importance of the site and impart some of their knowledge of the countryside. Guided walks are given - often to places where the general public seldom venture
Many of the sites have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and/or National Nature Reserves, so the conservation work is very important to maintain these very rare and threatened ecosystems.