A row of young oak saplings at the Binton tree nursery with A group of out of focus volunteers background
Volunteer

Give your time and make a difference

The Heart of England Forest is helping to reverse centuries of woodland decline by creating and conserving a huge broadleaf forest, a place of enduring natural beauty, protected and secured for generations to come.

The Forest is more than just trees; it is home to an incredible array of habitats, including new tree planting, mature and ancient woodland, grassland, heathland, farmland, and wetland, that enable animals, plants, and people to thrive.

Our amazing volunteers help us with all aspects of creating and managing the Forest:

  • Forestry and biodiversity – help to create and manage our woodlands across the Forest, as well as improve and maintain habitat for our wildlife.
     
  • Horticultural and gardening – volunteer in our tree nurseries, helping to grow future generations of Forest trees from seed, or help to maintain our beautiful Garden of Heroes and Villains.
     
  • People and learning – support our work to maintain the Forest for our visitors and to connect people with nature via our events and education programmes.

The significance and scale of our work cannot be underestimated; The Heart of England Forest is already the largest new native woodland in the country. Our work has never been more needed, and it would not be possible without our volunteers. 

Volunteers, helping put in wetland plants at Netherstead
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What’s hot this season:
Surveys! Grasslands, ladybirds and butterflies.

Why volunteer with us?

If you are passionate about the environment, an advocate for combating climate change, or want to learn new skills and meet new people, then volunteering in the Forest is for you!

Volunteer with us and:

  • Meet like-minded people
  • Gain new skills 
  • Enhance your physical and mental wellbeing
  • Get free training 
  • Do as many or as little hours as you can give
  • Receive volunteer updates, news and events

We pride ourselves on the flexibility of our regular practical volunteering sessions. You can volunteer as much or as little as you would like, giving you the best opportunity to fit volunteering into your daily life.

Regular activities take place most weeks from Monday to Saturday, and we run both morning and afternoon sessions, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. 

Find out more about volunteering with us and get all your volunteering questions answered at our online webinar on Wednesday 10th April at 6.30pm.
Get information about volunteer activities and how to sign up for sessions.

Where do volunteering activities take place?

The Forest stretches up the Warwickshire / Worcestershire border, from the present-day borders of Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden, across the ancient Forest of Feckenham, and down to the edge of the Vale of Evesham – the north Cotswolds to south Birmingham. 

Volunteering activities takes place in four areas of the Forest – Spernal, Dorsington, The Lenches and Honeybourne. 

Overview map of the locations of the areas of the Forest in Warwickshire and Worcestershire

"I really enjoy my time volunteering with the Heart of England Forest. As a paramedic, I work shifts - I love that I can just book onto sessions at times that work for me"
Kim, volunteer
Kim a new volunteer at Netherstead putting in plug plants on the water's edge
“I started volunteering as I wanted to help be part of the solution, tackling climate change and addressing habitat loss. The staff and other volunteers have always been so positive, welcoming, and supportive. No matter the activity (and weather conditions) it is always fun, everyone mucks in and there is a real sense of people coming together to make a difference. I can't recommend volunteering with the Forest enough!”
Leon, volunteer
Male volunteer Leon standing in the Forest holding on to a thin tree trunk. He is smiling at the camera and there are green leaves in the foreground.

Meet the team

Our volunteering programme is run by Jonathan, our Volunteer Manager, supported by Kelsey, our Volunteer Assistant, and our Volunteer Leaders. They all lead and support groups of volunteers in activities across the Forest.

Click here to meet our wonderful volunteer team

Get information about volunteer activities and how to sign up for sessions.
Volunteer removing tree guards from the Forest.
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