Practical Conservation Tasks
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].