Conservation Volunteering
Thursday sessions, every fortnight, starting autumn 2024
Volunteer with conservation projects on the farm, helping to restore and create habitats for biodiversity. Spend time outdoors, get some exercise, meet people whilst make a difference for wildlife.
At Deepdale Farm, we’re changing the way we farm. We have taken 60% of our land out of production to manage it for wildlife, and we’re restoring and improving habitats across the farm. We’re farming alongside nature, growing organic crops while providing food and habitat for birds, invertebrates and other wildlife.
Join us to do a range of work around the farm, including hedgerow restoration and woodland management. Sessions will run every fortnight on Thursdays, 9.30-12.30 with a well-deserved tea break of course!
All abilities and levels of experience are welcome. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, we’ll show you, but if you’ve done this kind of thing before, we can really use your skills! If you’re interested, please email us to join our mailing list so we can keep you up to date with session details. There is no need to commit long term, but we hope to have relatively regular attendees to compliment our core crew of experienced volunteers.
So far this autumn we’ve created a dead hedge at the boundary of our wood, transplanted 3 beech trees to replace 3 veteran trees with a tree preservation order, which were unfortunately lost to disease. We’ve also thinned a belt of trees, removed hundreds of old plastic tree guards from within our woodland, and weeded and mulched sections of hedge planting.
Hedge planting weekend – Fri 28th February to Sun 2nd March
If you don’t live close enough to join our Thursday sessions, maybe you’d like a whole weekend of conservation work? Join Deepdale Rooms and Camping on Friday 28th February to Sunday 2nd March.
A few months ago we received planning permission for an extension to the campsite, A field known as Parsons Bush had been used as a summer overflow campsite and for Deepdale Festival. However, now it’s permanent, it’s time to treat it to some hedges and other planting to soften the field and increase biodiversity.
Breakfast and dinner will be provided in return for working with the Deepdale crew to plant a number of hedges on Saturday and Sunday. The existing campsite hedges were planted on similar weekends about seven years ago, and each time volunteer planters stay there is immense satisfaction in seeing how well they have established.
What to wear and bring for volunteering days
We will provide more specific details for each volunteering opportunity. But generally, you’ll need to come dressed for a variety of weather conditions and manual work. This means practical shoes, thick socks, layers and waterproofs. Don’t wear anything you might regret getting dirty or damaged.
Most importantly, come ready to work as part of a team, with a sense of humour. This work is fun, but sometimes the weather can be challenging.
We will provide for volunteering days:
- training in any jobs you need to do
- all tools and equipment you might need
- supervision by first aid trained staff – we want you to be safe
- hot drinks and biscuits
More opportunities to volunteer with conservation projects
We have a wide range of conservation projects around the farm. Volunteer groups enable us to get jobs done, that would take us months with just our small team. Team work really does make a difference. To keep up to date with nature conservation volunteering opportunities, join our mailing list or follow us on social media.
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