Surrey Hills Conservation Volunteers

(affliated to British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)

Registered Charity No:261009

Autumn/Winter 2008 programme now available!

New Risk Assessment

Do you want to....

protect and actively conserve the countryside and wildlife?

find out more about the local countryside?

discover beauty spots away from the general public?

really make a difference?

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! - Afterall it was a very hot and sunny day). Here we are replacing an existing gate with a new kissing gate, and repairing the steps and guide rail. This work is typical of the activities we perform during the Summer months. Photos were taken at Norbury Park, Surrey.

Surrey Hills Conservation Volunteers have been established for over 20 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.

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.