Outdoor Volunteers
BTCV
The charity was set up in 1959, and has a successful history of environmental conservation volunteering throughout the UK and around the world.
BTCV’s “Inspirinf People, Improving Places” is an exciting new project enabling local people to reconnect with their landscape across the Weald Forest Ridge.
Just 30 miles from London the Weald Forest Ridge runs west to east, in an almost unbroken line, from Horsham to Tunbridge Wells. It is the highest ridge of one of England’s finest landscapes, the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a protected medieval landscape of rolling hills, small irregular fields, abundant woods and hedges, scattered farmsteads and sunken lanes. Home for rare habitats and wildlife the area needs careful management to retain and enhance its rich and varies heritage.
Along the length of the Ridge are the remnants of four ancient, medieval forests. Once the playground of Kings, they are now accessible countryside sites for local residents and visitors to the Weald Forest Ridge. Referred to as the Four Maidens of the Weald in the monumental 1611 Polyolbion poem, they include the breezy, treeless heights of Ashdown Forest – internationally renowned for its rare heathland and home of Winnie the Pooh; St Leonard’s Forest - where the carpets of lily of the valley are said to mark the dropped blood of St Leonard after his fights with the area’s dragon; and the intimate but less famous forests of Waterdown (Broadwater) and Worth (Tilgate). These remnants cover 40% of the Forest Ridge and contain a significant amount of the Nation’s ancient woodland.
Recognising the importance of the Weald Forest Ridge BTCV’s 3-year project aims to engage four new BTCV community groups, one for each of the ancient forests. By recruiting Ridge residents and volunteers from the neighbouring towns this program will focus on reconnecting people within the Weald Forest Ridge landscape in its widest sense. Skills creation and practical conservation activities will help volunteers to care for their area.
Covering an area of 328km BTCV will be delivering projects across the Weald; from heathland, to wooded gill and from pond to ancient woodland they will be carrying out traditional conservation management and as a BTCV volunteer you will receive the training and support that you need. All you need is enthusiasm, clothes for the outdoors and bring a packed lunch they will supply the rest!
Longer term the Weald Forest Ridge project aims for each of the four Ridge community groups to be self-sustaining therefore, key volunteers will be encouraged to participate in accredited NVQ based training to learn more about traditional land management skills.
Our practical conservation team will meet weekly, tackling a range of tasks across a wide variety of sites and habitats. You might be coppicing one week, clearing a pond the next, or taking part in flora and fauna surveys. Whatever your activity you will be working alongside like-minded people committed to making a tangible difference to the Weald forest Ridge.
Please email us at volunteers@tpp.co.uk if you are interested in finding out more about this position quoting reference SH036.
