THE Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is appealing for volunteers in the New Year for roles such as scrub clearance, coppicing, woodland management and Himalayan balsam pulling.
Volunteering includes a whole range of activities that not only help to protect and improve the Blackdown Hills, but make you feel good too. It’s a great way to develop your skills, knowledge and experience, and make a few friends.
You can volunteer regularly, or just once in a while. Opportunities exist to suit a wide range of interests from more physical activities such as coppicing and scrub clearance to the less physical, such as environmental and site survey work. Some of this can even be done at home.
Blackdown Hills Countryside Volunteering is part of the ‘Force for Nature’ initiative encouraging more volunteering in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Blackdown Hills Sustainable Development Fund. The project is led by the Blackdown Hills Trust and coordinated by the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership and the Forestry Commission.
To get started, go to www.blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk/volunteering or call 01823-680681.