Bracknell Conservation Volunteers

Volunteering with us

We work at a wonderful range of local sites including:
Ambarrow Court * Bill Hill * Cabbage Hill * Caesar’s Camp * Englemere Pond * Frost Folly * Garth Meadows * Horseshoe Lake * Wildmoor Heath * Jocks & Tinkers Copse * Larks Hill * Lily Hill Park * Longhill Park * Peacock Meadows * Popes Meadow * Savernake Park * South Hill Park * Westmorland Park

The Site Directions page lists all the sites we have worked at and gives directions to those sites should you wish to join us.

The group performs a wide variety of practical tasks such as:

- vegetation clearance (removal of invasive holly, laurel and bramble) and heathland management (removal of invasive birch and pine) to increase biodiversity

- footpath improvements and boardwalk construction to improve access

- coppicing and hedge laying

- creation of wildlife habitats such as stag beetle loggeries and ponds

We often have a bonfire to dispose of excess vegetation.

The Task List page summarises the recent and future tasks with a short description of the weekly activity. Our Newsletters provide even more information.

If you need to know the formal stuff, here is our constitution!

If you would like to join us on a Tuesday task, please contact us first to arrange an induction.

PLEASE NOTE:

-We are only set up to work with adults, so under-18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

-We can only accommodate a couple of new people at a time, so we suggest corporate teams try the Green and Active Project or contact the Bracknell Forest Rangers

What to bring: Hot drink, Picnic lunch, old clothes, sturdy footwear, work gloves and waterproofs.

What BCV provide:

- Biscuits.

- Leather work gloves.

- Tools: pruning saws, loppers, spades, forks, bow saws, etc. We do not use any power tools.

Please note that there is usually no access to toilet facilities.

What to expect on a typical day: We meet on-site at 9:30am to discuss the tasks for the day, and review any risks. Tea break is at 11am, lunch is at 1pm and we aim to finish by 3pm. Please do work at your own pace. You may be as active and involved as you wish, or take a more gentle and relaxed approach. You do not need to stay for the whole day.

Health and Safety: Working on rough terrain and using tools does pose some risks. We do have trained First Aiders on site. The group has 3rd party liability insurance through our membership affiliation with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

How we are organised:

The group manages itself within the parameters set by the site ranger on the day. Members of the group are elected to specific roles at our AGM

- Secretary

- Treasurer

- Task Co-Ordinator

- Tools Co-Ordinator

- Task Leader

- Group Photographer

- Clothing Co-Ordinator

- Webmaster