Get outdoors
The practical conservation work groups carry out essential habitat management tasks for the benefit of local wildlife. Tasks are usually dependent on the season, but most include coppicing, scrub clearance and fencing or walling in the winter and grassland management, some surveying and path maintenance during spring and summer.
You don’t need any experience to join in as training will be given, however you do need suitable clothing, to be reasonably physically fit and enjoy being outside in all weathers! Groups operate all over Somerset on SWT reserves, but some also support other organisations such as the RSPB and Natural England.
Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers help with coppicing hazel in Great Breach Wood, Somerset - Paul Harris/2020VISION
Practical conservation work groups
Below is a list of groups that are run by, or work closely with the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The timetables published below are subject to change.
If you would like to take part in one the groups below, please get in touch with the group directly before you begin volunteering. As a new volunteer you will be asked to complete a registration form, including your emergency contact details
Mendip Hills conservation volunteers
Contact: Chris Billinghurst, please call 01761 221579
Area: Mendip Hills, SWT reserves
When: Every other Wednesday
East Mendip conservation volunteers
Contact: Adel Avery, please call 01749 840240 or 07870 271588 or email adel@nettlebridge.com
Area: Shepton Mallet and area, SWT reserves
When: 1st Sunday of the month
Magnificent Meadows conservation volunteers
Contact: volunteering@somersetwildlife.org or call 01823 652416.
Area: Mendip Hills, SWT reserves
When: First Thursday of the month
Programme: April 2020 - September 2020
East Poldens conservation volunteers
Contact: Mark Green, please call 01823 461870 or email mark.green@somersetwildlife.org
Area: SWT Reserves near Somerton and Langport.
When: Alternative Tuesdays
Sedgemoor conservation volunteers
Contact: Anne & Norman Lees, please call 01278 641521
Area: Somerset Levels and Moors
When: Every other Sunday
Visit their website for more details and to see the programme of work.
Peat Moors conservation volunteers
Contact: Adam Kasik
Area: Somerset Levels, SWT reserves
When: Thursdays
This group is currently full and not looking for any more volunteers at this time. Why not try one of our other groups?
Taunton Green Spaces volunteers
Contact: Olivia Dullaghan, please email Olivia.dullaghan@somersetwildlife.org
Area: Taunton
When: One Thursday a month
Lisieux Way community garden volunteers
Contact: Olivia Dullaghan, please email Olivia.dullaghan@somersetwildlife.org
Area: Taunton
When: One Thursday a month.
You’re doing something for nature, something that serves a purpose: protecting the land and the animals and people. You can come back here and look at the wall and say "I took part in that - I helped build it"
Other local conservation groups
Friends of Longrun Meadow
Contact: Philippa by emailing philippalausen@gmail.com.
When: Currently Thursdays, 10am at the Willow Cathedral
Area: Taunton, but all are welcome
Visit their website for details.
Visit their Facebook page to see what the group has been up to.
Shapwick Heath Green Team (Natural England)
Contact: Simon Clarke, please call 01458 860120 or email simon.clarke@naturalengland.org.uk
When: Thursdays and some Sundays in winter
Area: Shapwick Heath (Somerset Levels)
Butterfly Conservation Large Blue action group
Contact: Rachel Jones, please call 01929 406018 or email rjones@butterfly-conservation.org
Area: East Poldens
When: Please contact for more information
Swain's Lane Nature Reserve volunteers
Contact: John Morton, please call 01823 661996
Area: Wellington
When: ad hoc group managing and supporting this nature reserve
Exmoor Natural History Society work group
Contact: Carol, please call 01643 707624 or email carol.enhs@talktalk.net or Ruth, please call 01643 863124 or email ruthehyett@gmail.com
Area: Exmoor
Visit their website for more details
Neroche conservation volunteers
Contact: Peter Maben, please call 01823 433708 or email ncv@nerochewoodlanders.org
Area: Northern Blackdown Hills
When: 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesday of every month carrying out conservation tasks in the Blackdown Hills.
Visit their website for more details and to see the programme of work.
Taunton mid-week conservation volunteers
Contact: Linda Everton, please call 01823 662232 or Annette Kurton, please call 07759675693
Area: Taunton Deane and West Somerset
When: Alternate Thursdays
EuCAN Somerset Conservation Volunteers
Contact: Nigel Spring 07981.776767 , email nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk When: Tuesdays. The EuCAN Somerset Volunteers are part of the EuCAN Community Interest Company which also runs the Dorset Mid-week Volunteers based in south Dorset, and works with partners in many countries of Europe.
Website link: http://www.eucan.org.uk/uk/somerset/somerset-eucan-volunteers/