Thinking of volunteering?
There are volunteering opportunities to suit everyone, no matter what your age, background, interests or abilities.
If you’d like to get involved, we would love to hear from you!
blackdownhills@devon.gov.uk or 01823 680 681
What is it like to volunteer?
Find out about volunteering in the Blackdown Hills from our volunteers and the people who work with them – read our volunteering blogs.
Looking for volunteers?
Working collectively makes it easier for us all to enjoy and look after the Blackdown Hills AONB. It also serves to strengthen and amplify what we can achieve.
Our volunteer coordinator works to identify opportunities and training for volunteers and to generate interest in volunteering in the Blackdown Hills AONB. The aim is to cultivate lasting links between local groups looking for volunteer support and people looking for volunteering opportunities.
Our volunteer coordinator is shared with the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, working half of each week for the Blackdown Hills AONB.
If you’re looking for volunteers to help you with a project based in either, or both, of the AONB’s, we would love to hear from you – please email blackdownhills@devon.gov.uk
There are community projects across the Blackdown Hills, many of which have benefitted from the involvement of volunteers.
Volunteering events
View our events calendar to see forthcoming volunteering events in the Blackdown Hills AONB.
Volunteering with the Blackdown Hills AONB team
Volunteer at Mount Fancy Farm, Butterfly Conservation Reserve
Marsh Fritillary
Photo: Butterfly Conservation
Mount Fancy Farm, is typical of the Blackdown Hills with a rich mosaic of diverse and important habitats, ranging from unimproved meadows, swamps and flushes to the semi-ancient mixed broadleaf woodland. The dedicated volunteer wardens are looking for volunteers to assist them with a range of practical conservation tasks. To find out more visit: https://fancyvolunteers.weebly.com or contact Volunteer Wardens, Tony or Anna on tonybcwarden@gmail.com
For more information about Butterfly Conservation in Devon and Somerset visit: Devon Branch | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)
Somerset and Bristol Branch | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)
Somerset Nature Connections
This project aims to tackle some of the barriers that prevent people experiencing the health and wellbeing benefits of Somerset’s spectacular natural environment. Somerset Nature Connections will help people to access these natural spaces, with a focus on supporting mental well being and physical activity.
Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the partnership project with the Somerset Wildlife Trust, Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Blackdown Hills AONBs (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) will support local communities and individuals most vulnerable to mental health issues, providing better access to nature spaces to encourage and increase self-management for individuals, and develop a network of skilled volunteers who can support communities for the longer term.
SNC are looking for volunteer specialists to lead sessions in
- carpentry, green woodworking, outdoor art, mindfulness practitioners, horticultural skills, botanists or knowledgeable species enthusiasts and those with skills in ICT/technology
If this sounds like you and you’d like to find out more, please email: volunteering@somersetwildlife.org or snc@somersetwildlife.org
Watch this space for more information on how to get involved or have a look at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s website here.
Photo: Kristen Lambert
Other volunteering opportunities in the Blackdown Hills
Axe Vale and District Conservation Society
Helping to protect the landscape and wildlife of the Axe Vale area, the Axe Vale and District Conservation Society runs a variety of events, walks and volunteering information.
For info call Martin Drake on 01460 220 650 or visit www.axevaleconservation.org.uk
Blackdown Hills repair café
Throw it away no way! Blackdown Hills repair café, run by Blackdown Hills Transition Group, is tackling waste by helping people to repair items rather than throw them away. The repair café team is looking for skilled volunteers who are able to repair household items, including computers, electrical goods, bicycles, hand tools, furniture, soft furnishings and clothing. The repair cafés are held in Hemyock Parish Hall on the fourth Saturday every other month.
Butterfly Conservation
There are a range of opportunities to volunteer with Butterfly Conservation in both in Devon and Somerset. Butterfly Conservation runs butterfly monitoring schemes and practical conservation tasks to help manage their reserves for different butterfly species. They have two reserves in the Blackdown Hills AONB Little Breach and Mount Fancy Farm. As a small conservation charity, they always welcome help, no matter what your previous experience. To find out more you can either call Blackdown Hills’ Community Engagement Ranger on 07879 487660 or get in touch directly with Devon Butterfly Conservation or Somerset Butterfly Conservation.
Coldharbour Mill
Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest woollen mills in the UK, situated in Uffculme, on the western fringes of the AONB.
Whether you’re seven or 77, there are all sorts of volunteering opportunities available. These include working in the garden, site and building maintenance, helping with the Mill’s education programme, office assistance, working with the spinning and weaving equipment and more. Taster sessions and training is provided.
Find out more on 01884 840 960 or info@coldharbourmill.org.uk
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT)
Devon Wildlife Trust has four nature reserves in the Blackdown Hills AONB: Ashculm Turbary, Clayhidon Turbary, Lickham Common and The Rough.
Volunteers help keep these rich wildlife habitats in good condition.
Read about volunteering with Devon Wildlife Trust
01392 279 244
Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre guides
Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre is looking for volunteers to join its team welcoming visitors. You don’t need to be an expert on the history of Dunkeswell as this can be learned! Far more important are good people skills and the ability to provide a warm welcome. They’re looking for people who are happy to work with the existing volunteer team and can help man the Heritage Centre for a day or half-day each week. To find out more call 0777 885 7722.
Honiton Beehive community garden
This community garden is one of the 15 community nature projects supported by the Blackdown Hills Natural Futures project. Once wasteland, the site has been transformed into a delightful mini wildlife haven, next to the Beehive in Honiton. The volunteer team that looks after the garden is looking to develop the it further and would like to welcome new members. To find out more contact Blackdown Hills AONB – blackdownhills@devon.gov.uk
Wildlife garden at the Beehive in Honiton
National Trust
In the Blackdown Hills AONB, the National Trust manages Dumpdon Hill and Combe Wood near Honiton, and Wellington Monument close to Wellington. At Combe Wood the National Trust is looking for people to join its team of volunteers taking part in practical woodland management works such as coppicing. The National Trust is also looking to recruit a dog ranger and people engagement volunteers to encourage good dog owner behaviour and engage with visitors, both at Wellington Monument and Fyne Court in the Quantock Hills AONB.
Neroche Conservation Volunteers (NCV)
Neroche Conservation Volunteers is a friendly, informal group which works on a variety of wildlife sites in the northern Blackdown Hills to improve habitats and access for the public. Formed in 2007, the group has worked on land belonging to the Forestry England, Blackdown Hills Trust, Butterfly Conservation and Somerset Wildlife Trust.
The group meets twice a month to carry out practical tasks. You can book onto a task by checking out NCV’s events calendar and contacting NVC at ncv@nerochewoodlanders.org.
Neroche Woodlanders at Young Wood
Neroche Woodlanders is a social enterprise based at Young Wood, near Staple Fitzpaine. Young Wood is a 100-acre woodland, set within Forestry England’s wider 100-hectare Neroche Forest Estate. Conservation work, forest school, firewood and woodland product creation, and school visits are just some of the things that take place.
Volunteers are needed to help with practical management, construction projects and support for wild learning and family sessions.
For information contact Jenny Archard – jenny@nerochewoodlanders.org or 07541 080 397
RSPB
RSPB is the UKs largest nature conservation charity and is involved in some of the conservation projects taking place in the Blackdown Hills.
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Based in Taunton, Somerset Wildlife Trust manages 72 reserves in Somerset, including 10 in the Blackdown Hills and hosts the Somerset Environmental Records Centre. Volunteering opportunities include practical conservation work, visitor work, surveys, office support and more.
Read about volunteering with Somerset Wildlife Trust or call 01823 652 400.
Somerset Rural Youth Project (SRYP)
Working with young people from across the county on a range of projects, Somerset Rural Youth Project engages and supports young people in rural areas in a range of social, economic, educational and recreational opportunities.
SYRP is looking for volunteers to help support its activities and for local young people to take part in its projects.
Contact Barney Simmons – barneysimmons@sryp.org.uk, 07773 343 335 or 01278 722100
Underway Meade Nature Reserve
Underway Meade, in Combe St Nicholas, is managed as a parish amenity promoting the conservation of wildlife, encouraging enjoyment, recreation and educational activities for the local community. The reserve trustees are looking for volunteers to join their team helping with the maintenance of the site for both the local community and wildlife. Depending on the season, this might include hedgelaying, path creation and maintenance. All welcome. The group usually volunteers for an hour or two on Saturdays but there is also the opportunity to volunteer during the week. Call Blackdown Hills AONB to find out more 01823 680681.
