Phone: 01394 445225 | Email: [email protected]

Practical Conservation Tasks

Volunteers helping out in the AONB

Volunteers help the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscapes taff team on conservation projects to increase the biodiversity within the designated landscape and wider project areas.

We hold regular conservation work days throughout the year. All you have to do is register as a volunteer and we will notify you when work days are happening so you can book your place on the task.

The volunteers regularly undertake practical conservation work. If you would like to work outdoors in the beautiful National Landscape, help your local environment and meet some new people, then why not join us!


We sometimes work on projects with community and corporate volunteers, so you may be working alongside such groups. Additional training is offered, for example in first aid, should you be interested.

You work for as long as you wish and at your own pace. Knowledge of landscape, heritage, wildlife and conservation is not needed, you can learn as you go along. All locations will have been risk-assessed beforehand and personal protective equipment is provided to ensure tasks are safe working environments.

Examples of jobs and tasks include:

  • Habitat management and creation
  • Biodiversity projects
  • Tree and hedge planting
  • Removing plastic tubes and guards from trees

These conservation initiatives are vital as they help the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape fulfil its commitment to the Colchester Declaration.

For more information on any of the volunteering opportunities and roles within the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, please contact Countryside Project Officer Neil Lister or Nature Network Officer Alex Moore da Luz.

2023-24 Practical Conservation Volunteering Programme

Tuesday 7th November - Sapling Clearance

Clearing trees from this classic Sandlings heath and stacking and/or burning

Location: Tunstall Common

Tuesday 14th November - Tree Planting/Protection

Maintaining tree compartments; tree nursery maintenance and tree planting

Location: Staverton Park & Thicks SSSI

Tuesday 21st November - Improve a Geological Site

Clearing two faces to expose Chillesford Clay, with sand and gravel above, and crag below

Location: Aldeburgh Brick Pit SSSI

Friday 24th November - Plantation Thinning & Dead Hedging

Work to benefit nightingale, spotted flycatcher and different warblers.

Location: Trimley Marshes

Tuesday 28th November - Grass/Scrub Clearance

Cutting grass/scrub and making habitat piles

Location: Bennett's Copse, Walberswick

Tuesday 5th December - Holly Clearance

Coppicing holly and where possible digging out the smaller trees

Location: Vicarage Grove, Wenhanston

Friday 8th December - Heathland Management

Location: Pin Mill


Tuesday 16th January - Variety of Tasks

Removing bramble/trees from est areas for wildflowers. Dead gorse removal. Scything etc. 

Location: Church Field, Waldringfield

Friday 19th January - Brash clearance

Location: Sizewell Estate, Sizewell

Tuesday 23rd January - Hedge/Tree Planting

Planting edges/trees along a Public Right of Way to provide additional shelter for farmland birds

Location: Brick Kiln Farm, Westleton

Tuesday 30th January - tbc

tbc

Location: Southwold Common

Saturday 3rd February - Hedge Planting

Location: tbc

Tuesday 6th February - Hedge/Tree Planting

Planting hedges/trees along a Public Right of Way to provide additional shelter for farmland birds

Location: Brick Kiln Farm, Westleton

Tuesday 13th February - Sapling Clearance

Clearing trees from this classic Sandlings heath and stacking and/or burning

Location: Tunstall Common

Friday 23rd February - Wader Fencing Erection

Location: Shotley

Tuesday 27th February - Cut & Rake

Cutting long grass, reed, bramble then raking up the cut material and stacking. Aim is to encourage more wildflowers

Location: Beach Car Park Field, Walberswick 

Friday 8th March - Hedge Planting

Location: tbc

Tuesday 12th March - Improve a Geological Site

tbc

Location: tbc

Friday 22nd March - Hedge Planting

Location: tbc

To book your place or find out more information on any of the volunteering opportunities, please contact Countryside Project Officer Neil Lister at [email protected] or Nature Network Officer Alex Moore da Luz at [email protected].