Practical Conservation Tasks
Volunteers help the Dedham Vale National Landscape staff team on conservation projects to improve habitats for wildlife within the National Landscape and wider project areas in the Stour Valley.
We hold regular conservation work days throughout the year. All you have to do is register as a volunteer and we will notify you when work days are happening so you can book your place on the task.
If you would like to work outdoors in the beautiful Dedham Vale, help your local environment and meet some new people, then why not join us!
We sometimes work on projects with community and corporate volunteers, so you may be working alongside such groups. Additional training is offered, for example in first aid, should you be interested.
You work for as long as you wish and at your own pace. Knowledge of landscape, heritage, wildlife and conservation is not needed, you can learn as you go along. All locations will have been risk-assessed beforehand and personal protective equipment is provided to ensure tasks are safe working environments.
Examples of jobs and tasks include:
- Habitat management and creation
- Wildlife projects
- Tree and hedge planting
- Removing plastic tubes and guards from trees
These conservation initiatives are vital as they help the Dedham Vale National Landscape fulfil our commitment to improving wildlife in the National Landscape.
For more information on any of the volunteering opportunities and roles within the National Landscape, please contact Countryside Project Officer Emma Black or Nature Network Officer Alex Moore da Luz.
2025 Practical Conservation Volunteering Programme
Wednesday 3rd September - Meadow Management
A cut & rake at this Local Nature Reserve will ensure wildflowers such as greater knapweed, scabious and agrimony flourish next year
Location: Harpers Hill, Nayland
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 10th September - Green Lane Management
Cutting and removing the grass will help wildflowers like uncommon sulphur / strawberry clover thrive at this County Wildlife Site
Location: Buntry Lane, Kedington
Task Leader: Emma Black
Friday 12th September - Stag Beetle Stumpery Building
Location: Stratford Hall Farm
Task Leader: Alex Moore da Luz
Wednesday 24th September - Meadow Management
A cut and rake of this community meadow site will ensure a wonderful display of wildflowers next year
Location: Coes Meadow, Bulmer
Task Leader: Emma Black
Friday 26th September - Tree Aftercare
Location: Chelsworth
Task Leader: Alex Moore da Luz
Wednesday 1st October - Churchyard Grassland Management
Help the community manage its churchyard grassland areas to support local wildlife.
Location: Polstead
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 8th October - Meadow Creation
Help local wildlife group create another wildflower strip in their meadow area.
Location: Steeple Bumpstead
Task Leader: Emma Black
Friday 10th October - Tree Aftercare
Location: Chelsworth
Task Leader: Alex Moore da Luz
Wednesday 15th October - Pond Management
Help cut back overgrown vegetation to let light into the pond area.
Location: Clare Common
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 22nd October - Willow Coppicing
Coppice willow to let light into the mere to encourage wetland plants to grow.
Location: Cornard Mere
Task Leader: Emma Black
Friday 24th October - Hay Raking
Location: Assington Mill
Task Leader: Alex Moore da Luz
Wednesday 29th October - Grassland/hedge Management
Rake up cut meadow grass & prune hedge at this quiet community site.
Location: Langham
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 12th November - Scrub Clearance/ Rake
This annual task will ensure the wildflowers thrive on this lovely meadow.
Location: Sturmer
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 19th November - Dead Hedging
Create a dead hedge with cut hazel & coppice alder to let light in /create dead wood habitat.
Location: Rookery Meadow
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 26th November - Dead Hedging/ Tree Planting
Help this local group reroute a riverside footpath with a dead hedge and plant trees to replace the dead elm.
Location: Kedington
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 3rd December - Hedge Planting
Help plant a hedge at this historic church to create a natural boundary to a new area of churchyard.
Location: Kedington
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 10th December - Woodland Planting
Planting trees at this site will be good for nature and community, as it will reduce the noise from the busy A12.
Location: Stratford St Mary
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 17th December - Coppicing/ Dead Hedging
Coppicing and dead hedging will create a diverse habitat structure for nightingales and dormice.
Location: Assington Mill
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 7th January - Coppicing
Coppicing will allow more light into the woodland which will create a more scrubby habitat for wildlife.
Location: Peter's Vale, Twinstead
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 14th January - Woodland Planting
Help create a new woodland habitat to increase woodland cover in the area.
Location: Dedham
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 21st January - Coppicing/ Hedge Trimming
Coppice hazel & trim back hedge to create bushier growth for wildlife.
Location: Tiger Hill, Assington
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 28th January - Coppicing/ Dead Hedging
Coppicing and dead hedging will create a diverse habitat structure for wildlife such as nightingale and dormice.
Location: Assington Mill
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 4th February - Coppicing
Coppice hazel to encourage more undergrowth to grow at this community site.
Location: Clare
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 18th February - Coppicing
Coppice hazel stools to let light in and encourage more undergrowth for wildlife.
Location: Henny
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 25th February - Pollarding at Black Poplar Nursery
Pollard parent trees and take cuttings for new black poplar saplings.
Location: Alphamstone
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 4th March - Tree Guard Removal
Remove plastic tree tubes from hedges to encourage more bottom growth.
Location: Higham
Task Leader: Emma Black
Wednesday 18th March - Hedge Aftercare/ Gapping up
Doing some tree aftercare on a recently planted hedge will ensure it thrives.
Location: Alphamstone
Task Leader: Emma Black
For more information on any of the volunteering opportunities and roles within the National Landscape, please contact Countryside Project Officer Emma Black or Nature Network Officer Alex Moore da Luz.