At KSCP we rely on the generous help of volunteers to carry out many of our conservation projects.

We have several regular volunteer groups at KSCP. Our Ashford and Canterbury groups are weekly all year round , on Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively. We also have a Tuesday group at Larkey Valley Wood, near Chartham, which runs through Autumn and Winter.

With our teams of volunteers, we are able to help landowners and local communities carry out conservation projects of all kinds throughout the partnership area. These range from working in and alongside rivers or meadow management in the summer, to scrub clearance and tree planting in the winter. In fact, much of our work would not be possible without the many voluntary hours local people put in, so we need your help!

But I’ve never done anything like this before…

New volunteers are always welcome. No experience is necessary as training will be given on the day by the group leader, and other volunteers are there to guide you. You’ll be doing physical work so you’ll need to be reasonably fit and healthy. We work outside in most weathers so you’ll also need to be OK with getting wet and muddy sometimes! Otherwise, all you need to be a Conservation Volunteer is enthusiasm and the desire to try something new.

There is no obligation for you to come every week, we appreciate everyone lives busy lives and we are always grateful for your efforts.

We have some information about the benefits of volunteering and two past volunteers describe what volunteering is like here.

If you’re still not sure if it’s right for you, please get in contact, we’re happy to talk through any issues you might have in accessing volunteering.

What kind of work do we do?

During the year we get to do all sorts of work, in all sorts of locations – both urban and rural. A lot of the sites are along the route of the river Great Stour. This flows through Ashford, along the Stour Valley to Canterbury, then on to the sea at Sandwich, but we also branch out into the fields and woodlands around Ashford and Canterbury, and up on the North Downs.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s much more to conservation than tree planting! The work is very varied. You may be involved in creating school nature areas, putting up boxes for barn owls or learning traditional skills such as hedge laying. You will have the chance to meet people and work in some beautiful, secluded spots. Here are some examples:

Spring/Summer
Creating wildlife areas
Working in Rivers
Putting up bird and bat boxes
Footpath maintenance
Installing benches, stiles, steps and fencing etc.
Mowing wildflowermeadows

Autumn/Winter
Clearing ponds
Coppicing woodland
Hedge laying
Tree planting
Scrub clearance

How can I get involved?

If this sounds like something you would like to get involved with, firstly decide which volunteer group suits you best. The Larkey Valley group meet on Tuesdays, the Ashford volunteers on Wednesdays, and the Canterbury volunteers meet every Thursday. Or you could try out more than one!

Once you know which group you would like to join, contact us to let us know. Also take a look at information for volunteers – what to bring, what to wear and what you can expect from volunteering with us.

Ashford Conservation Volunteers

Canterbury Conservation Volunteers

Warden Volunteers

 

Riverfly Volunteers