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Volunteering in the Countryside

Waverley's countryside rangers lead practical conservation tasks across the borough, all year round, with the help of our dedicated volunteers. Together, they are involved in the management of many of Waverley's fantastic open spaces. 

Last year volunteers gave us an incredible 2,738 days of their time - a remarkable achievement which is greatly appreciated by our staff and site users.

Why volunteer?

  • Help improve your local wildlife habitats and make a real difference to the animals and plants that live there.
  • Meet new people interested in looking after the countryside.
  • Conservation volunteering is a great way of keeping fit, getting fresh air and relieving stress.

All tools, protective equipment and supervision are provided by the countryside rangers. They will also explain how to use hand tools safely and give the reasons for the work being carried out.  Most importantly, they will provide tea and coffee (please bring your own lunch).

Who can become a volunteer?

Everyone is welcome to come along and help us with our conservation tasks, but  under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.

No experience is needed, just plenty of enthusiasm and some elbow grease.

New volunteers are always welcome. 

Please do not attend any of our volunteer sessions if you have symptoms of COVID-19. This includes the symptoms of cough, fever, and loss of taste and smell, but also more generic cold-like symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, and headache. We will provide hand sanitiser which we encourage you to use during our volunteer sessions.

What to expect

Spring and summer

Tasks include:

  •     removing invasive plants by hand such as ragwort, himalayan balsam and bracken
  •     improving paths
  •     creating steps
  •     installing seats for visitors
  •     litter-picking
  •     hay-making

Autumn and winter

Tasks include:

  •     hedge-laying 
  •     coppicing (cutting down poles of hazel and chestnut to regenerate woodland)
  •     pulling out stray Scots pine sapling
  •     removing gorse and birch on heathland
  •     planting trees
  •     clearing ponds of excess vegetation

Register as a volunteer

Before becoming an Waverley Countryside Volunteer, you will need to register as a volunteer

Register as a volunteer

More information

To find out more, please contact the Parks and Countryside team, email parks&countryside@waverley.gov.uk or call 01483 523394.

Check out the Waverley countryside locations for more information on our activities and when they take place.

Volunteer sessions normally take place every Wednesday morning from 9am to 12:30pm to assist in the management in this historic deer park. Meet at 9am at the locations below, parking can be found at the main car park on Folly Hill (GU9 0AU). Sessions led by Nick.

Dates and tasks are subject to change – please check with site noticeboards or the ranger beforehand by calling 01252 717047.

Meeting point map

The map available via the link below will help you find the meeting points each week.

Farnham Park map

Tasks and dates 2025

Wednesday 19 February 2025

Scrub and small tree clearance: Clearing scrub and small trees to open up views, remove those trees which have been damaged by squirrels, and give the better trees more space. 

Meet at the eastern path/south-east of Oast House meadow (G10, w3w:///donor.shrimp.incomes) 

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Path cutting back: Widening a path by cutting back encroaching vegetation. 

Meet at Bishop’s Paddock (L1, w3w:///post.lawyer.ratio) 

Wednesday 5 March 

Vegetation clearance, tree thinning and ride expansion: Clearing vegetation and thinning trees to enhance an open sunny ride. 

Meet at Raspberry Field (M6, ///newer.ninders.faster) 

Wednesday 12 March 

Pond creation and vegetation clearance: Clearing vegetation to prepare for a new pond. 

Meet at Thorney Lea (M5, ///organs.ghosts.cool) 

Wednesday 19 March 

Hedge and track maintenance: We will clear vegetation to prevent it overgrowing a recently laid hedge, and also carry out maintenance to the adjacent track.  

Meet at the Rangers House car park (H1, ///inflict.barrel.void) 

Wednesday 26 March 

Pond creation and vegetation clearance: Clearing vegetation to prepare for a new pond. 

Meet at Oast House meadow west (I9, ///flips.merely.uptown) 

Wednesday 2 April 

Vegetation clearance and path maintenance: Cutting back vegetation from path edges. 

Meet at Henry Cotton Hedge east (H2, ///grower.atlas.repeats) 

Wednesday 9 April 

Vegetation clearance and path maintenance: Cutting back vegetation from path edges. 

Meet at the Hoghatch Vale north (M3, ///escapes.wired.dorm) 

Wednesday 16 April 

Bracken control: Pulling and crushing bracken to prevent it spreading at the expense of grasses and wildflowers.  

Meet at Raspberry Field (N6, ///nerd.steroids.thinking) 

Wednesday 23 April 

Bracken control and vegetation clearance: Clearing vegetation and pulling out bracken to preserve the open grassland. 

Meet at Whitebottom east (D8, ///empty.rift.forced) 

Wednesday 30 April 

Bracken control and vegetation clearance: Clearing vegetation and pulling out bracken to maintain an open sunny glade. 

Meet at Rupert’s Glade (K8, ///succeed.outboard.buyers) 

Wednesday 7 May 

Vegetation clearance, tree thinning and ride expansion: Clearing vegetation and thinning trees to enhance an open sunny ride. 

Meet at the entrance to Farnham Park Drive (N5, ///villager.hang.honest) 

Wednesday 14 May 

Erecting tree protection fencing and vegetation clearance: Putting protective fencing around young trees prevent them being damaged by deer and clearing surrounding vegetation. 

Meet at Oast House meadow (J10, ///turns.misty.code) 

Wednesday 21 May 

Bracken control and path maintenance: Pulling up bracken and improving paths 

Meet at Oast House meadow (L9, ///shuffles.agreed.caller) 

Wednesday 28 May 

Invasive species removal and path maintenance: Pulling up invasive Himalayan balsam and improving paths. 

Meet at Halfway Glade (L8, ///successor.oval.mothering) 

Wednesday 4 June: 

Invasive species removal and path maintenance: Pulling up invasive Himalayan balsam and improving paths. 

Meet at Sidney’s Glade (F10, ///bunch.hobby.moving) 

Wednesday 11 June 

Invasive species removal and path maintenance: Pulling up invasive Himalayan balsam and improving paths. 

Meet at Friend’s Pond (G4, ///held.tight.radiates)  

Wednesday 18 June 

Invasive species control and path maintenance: Searching for and pulling out invasive Himalayan balsam and maintaining paths. 

Meet at Yoyo Pond (G9, ///method.coherent.panel) 

Wednesday 25 June 

Invasive species removal and path maintenance: Pulling up invasive Himalayan balsam and improving paths. 

Meet at Motorway Bridge (K5, ///rods.giant.cashiers) 

Wednesday 2 July 

Path maintenance and vegetation clearance: Cutting back vegetation from path edges. 

Meet at the entrance from Bear Lane (A1, ///bloom.meanwhile.losses) 

Wednesday 9 July 

Invasive species control and path maintenance: Removing invasive species and improving the condition of paths. 

Meet at the entrance from St James Avenue (B8, ///grace.gifts.spices) 

Wednesday 16 July 

Invasive species and bracken removal: Pulling and crushing bracken and other invasive species to favour less aggressive grasses and wildflowers. 

Meet at Raspberry Field (N6, ///nerd.steroids.thinking) 

Wednesday 23 July 

Invasive species and bracken removal: Pulling and crushing bracken and other invasive species to favour less aggressive grasses and wildflowers. 

Meet at Whitebottom east (D8, ///empty.rift.forced) 

Wednesday 30 July 

Invasive species control and path maintenance: Searching for and removing invasive species and maintaining paths. 

Meet at the eastern path near Sidney’s Glade (F10, ///cake.full.bells) 

Wednesday 6 August 

Invasive species and bracken control and path maintenance: Pulling out invasive Himalayan balsam and bracken to prevent these taking over at the expense of less aggressive native grasses and wildflowers. 

Meet at Double Bridge (M3, ///coffee.signs.healers) 

Wednesday 13 August 

Vegetation clearance and path maintenance: Clearing encroaching vegetation from paths. 

Meet at Yoyo Pond (G9, ///method.coherent.panel) 

Wednesday 20 August 

Clearing vegetation and a general tidy up: Clearing vegetation and improving the look of the parkland next to the Castle. 

Meet at Castle Ridge south (B1, ///subway.limes.notifying) 

Wednesday 27 August 

Hedge maintenance: Preparing a hedge for laying in the coming winter. 

Meet at Friend’s meadow north (H2, ///grower.atlas.repeats) 

Volunteer sessions normally take place every Wednesday from 10am-3pm, except for the second Wednesday of the month when we instead work at Mare Hill Common. Meet at 10am at the Frensham Great Pond Car Park off Bacon Lane, GU10 2QB, unless otherwise specified in the listing. Sessions led by Darren.

Tasks and dates 2025  

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Scrub clearance: We will be continuing the annual scrub clearance on the common; we will be working on the Flashes where the ground can become quite wet in the winter months (wellies may be advised!). 

Meet at the Axe Pond at 10:15 w3w:///bead.arch.inserted, before heading off to the work site (TBC)  

Wednesday 5 March 

Wildlife surveying: This will be the start of a new monthly bird survey, focussing on the Flashes and culminating in a nighttime nightjar survey in June and July.  

Up with the birds, please meet at Axe Pond (///positions.major.placidly, SU 8668 4011) at 9am before heading off around the Flashes.  

Wednesday 19 March 

Toad pond maintenance: We will be refreshing the areas around the natterjack toad pond ready for the upcoming season. 

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre (GU10 2QB) before heading off to the ponds.  

Wednesday 26 March 

Path maintenance: We will be cutting back encroaching vegetation from rights of way around the site. We will be out and about on foot, so please bring comfortable boots! 

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB.  

Wednesday 2 April 

Wildlife surveying: We will be continuing with the bird survey on the Flashes before looking at various other wildlife groups such as reptiles and butterflies.  

Up with the birds, please meet at Axe Pond (///positions.major.placidly, SU 8668 4011) at 9am before heading off around the Flashes.  

Wednesday 16 April 

Spring cleaning: In preparation for the upcoming summer season, we will be ticking jobs off the spring-cleaning list; from uncovering the entrance track to digging in bollards in the car park, there are always jobs to be done! 

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around site. 

Wednesday 23 April 

Sand habitat management: We will be maintaining and creating sandy traces in the heath for our sand lizard population. 

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around site. 

Wednesday 30 April 

Post and rail fencing: We will be replacing sections of post and rail fencing around the conservation areas at the Great Pond. These areas provide a refuge for wildlife in the busier areas of the common.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around site. 

Wednesday 7 May 

Wildlife surveying: We will be continuing with the bird survey on the Flashes before looking at various other groups such as reptiles and butterflies.  

Up with the birds, please meet at Axe Pond (///positions.major.placidly, SU 8668 4011) at 9am before heading off around the Flashes.  

Wednesday 21 May 

Post and rail fencing: We will be replacing sections of post and rail fencing around the conservation areas at the Great Pond. These areas provide a refuge for wildlife in the busier areas of the common.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around site. 

Wednesday 28 May 

Bracken control: We will continue with our bracken control experiments, splitting into two groups, one pulling and one bruising the bracken to assess which method works best to control this invasive fern.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

Wednesday 4 June 

Wildlife surveying: We will be continuing with the bird survey on the Flashes before looking at various other groups such as reptiles and butterflies.  

Up with the birds, please meet at Axe Pond (///positions.major.placidly, SU 8668 4011) at 9am before heading off around the Flashes.  

Wednesday 18 June 

Bracken control: Continuing with our bracken control experiments, we will split into two groups, one pulling and one bruising the bracken to assess which method works best to control this invasive fern.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

Wednesday 25 June 

Litter picking: We will spend some time litter picking the wider site; we will aim to get away from the Great Pond to other less frequently picked spots around the Common.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

Wednesday 2 July 

Wildlife surveying: We will be continuing with the bird survey on the Flashes before looking at various other groups such as reptiles and butterflies.  

Up with the birds, please meet at Axe Pond (///positions.major.placidly, SU 8668 4011) at 9am before heading off around the Flashes.  

Wednesday 16 July 

Bracken control: Continuing with our bracken control experiments, we will split into two groups, one pulling and one bruising the bracken to assess which method works best to control this invasive fern.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

Wednesday 23 July 

Litter picking: Today we will spend some time litter picking the wider site; we will aim to get away from the Great Pond to other less frequently picked spots around the Common.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

Wednesday 30 July 

Bracken control: Continuing with our bracken control experiments, wee will split into two groups, one pulling and one bruising the bracken to assess which method works best to control this invasive fern.  

Meet at the Great Pond visitor centre, GU10 2QB, before heading off around the site. 

August 

Due to the high visitor pressure typically experienced at Frensham during the summer school holidays, there will be no formal volunteer sessions here in August. We always welcome volunteer litter pickers during this time - speak to the Ranger to find out more! 

We are running a couple of weekend sessions on these historic water meadows in the heart of Godalming. Meet 10am at the entrance gate to Overgone Meadow, off Bridge Road, ///jets.lazy.among, SU 9735 4417. Sessions led by Lucie. 

Tasks: 

Saturday 14 June 

Himalayan balsam control: We will be pulling up the non-native invasive Himalayan balsam to stop it spreading at the expense of native plants. 

Saturday 12 July 

Himalayan balsam control: We will be pulling up the non-native invasive Himalayan balsam to stop it spreading at the expense of native plants. 

 

All tasks are 10am – 3pm unless otherwise stated, though there is no requirement to stay all day. Meet at the small car park off Roke Lane, Witley, GU8 5NZ (SU 936 399) w3w///once.convinced.ruled. Tools are provided, as is tea and coffee.

Tasks and dates 2025 

Wednesday 19 February 2025 - Please note change of date

Scrub clearance: Our final day of clearing scrub and small trees from the heathland before the bird breeding season starts, and the heathland wildlife begins to take advantage of our good work.

Wednesday 12 March 

Turkey oak removal: We will be cutting and clearing young Turley oak to prevent this invasive species from spreading and out-competing native trees and plants.  

Wednesday 9 April 

Sand strip maintenance and widening: We will restore bare sandy strips which are used by the rare sand lizard for egg laying, as well as a number of specialist burrowing invertebrates. Once finished, we will spend the afternoon carrying out general site maintenance such as path repairs and clearing vegetation from around benches. 

Wednesday 14 May 

Bird and invertebrate survey: We will have an early start and spend the first couple of hours carrying out a survey of the many bird species which can be found on Mare Hill, including a number of heathland specialists. After a short break we will then be joined by a local invertebrate expert who will help us seek out and learn about some of the more inconspicuous and unusual insect life of Mare Hill. 

Please note an earlier start time - meet at 7:45am for an 8:00am start. 

Wednesday 11 June 

Bracken pulling: We will continue with our trial of non-herbicide methods of bracken control. We will re-visit the area of bracken we tackled last summer, and pull or trample any fronds which have re-grown. The objective of our efforts is to prevent the bracken from spreading at the expense of the valuable heathland vegetation. 

Wednesday 9 July 

Pond clearance and bracken pulling: Assuming that water levels are low enough, we will take the opportunity to clear accumulated winter debris from the water retention ponds at the bottom of the site. Once finished, we will continue with the bracken pulling started last month. 

Wednesday 13 August 

Pond clearance and reptile survey: We have a new small retention pond in the north-east of the site, so will start the day clearing silt and winter debris from this, and litter picking the surrounding area. If the weather is suitable, we will then carry out a reptile survey of the site. If this does not prove possible, we will spend the afternoon doing some general site maintenance such as cleaning signs, replacing broken posts and cutting back overhanging vegetation from paths. 

 

Volunteer sessions take place on the second and last Wednesday of every month, from 10am to 3pm. Sessions led by Lucie. 


Tasks and dates 2025 

Friday 26 February 2025

Scrub clearance: Removing Scots pine, birch and gorse to maintain the heathland in a suitable condition for the specialised wildlife found here. 

Meet at 10am at the Blackheath Lane car park, GU4 8RB, or at the work location w3w:///scoop.richly.angel. 

Wednesday 12 March 

Path clearance: We will be clearing back encroaching vegetation from the main paths. 

Meet 10am at the work site, ///risking.paces.movements, TQ 0350 4644. Nearest car park Blackheath Lane, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 26 March 

Bridleway clearance: We will be clearing back encroaching vegetation from bridleways.  

Meet at 10am at the work site, ///respond.mailer.blemishes, TQ 0362 4574. Nearest car park Littleford Lane, ///performed,libraries.lilac, TQ 0349 4570. 

Wednesday 9 April 

Sand scrape re-instatement: We will reinstate sand scrapes on the common, through removing the top layer of vegetation and loosening the sand to allow sand lizards and invertebrates to make their burrows. 

Meet at 10am at the work site, ///fuss.fire.restores, TQ 0308 4598. Nearest car park Littleford Lane, ///performed,libraries.lilac, TQ 0349 4570. 

Wednesday 23 April (please note change of date) 

Bare ground creation: We will create a new strip of bare ground through removing the top layer of vegetation and loosening the sand. This will allow sand lizards and invertebrates to make their burrows. 

Meet 10am at the work site (///uplifting.gracing.tangent, TQ 0402 4619). Nearest car park Blackheath Lane, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 14 May 

Reptile survey: We will walk the reptile survey transect to record the rare reptiles present on the common. This will be weather dependent.  

Meet 10am at Blackheath Lane car park (///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 28 May 

Bracken control: We will be pulling and bruising bracken to prevent its spread. 

Meet 10am at the work site ///fried.elect.weds, TQ 0363 4635. Nearest car park Blackheath Lane, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 11 June 

Bracken control: We will be pulling and bruising bracken to prevent its spread. 

Meet 10am at the work site; ///harder.scarecrow.threaded, TQ 0313 4634. Nearest car park Blackheath Lane, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 25 June 

Fence repairs: We will be repairing the Blackheath Lane car park fence in sections. 

Meet 10am at the Blackheath Lane car park, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 9 July 

Fence repairs: We will be repairing the Blackheath Lane car park fence in sections. 

Meet 10am at the Blackheath Lane car park, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 23 July (please note change of date) 

Fence repairs: We will be repairing the Blackheath Lane car park fence in sections. 

Meet 10am at the Blackheath Lane car park, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 13 August 

Fence repairs: We will be repairing the Blackheath Lane car park fence in sections. 

Meet 10am at the Blackheath Lane car park, ///sharpness.donates.workroom, TQ 0365 4620. 

Wednesday 27 August: No task today 

Volunteer sessions take place in this much-valued urban greenspace on the first and third Tuesday of the month between 10am to 1pm. Sessions led by Lucie. 

Upcoming tasks and dates 2025

Tuesday 18 February 2025

Scrub clearance: Working up the eastern side of the woodland, we will clear holly, bramble and other scrub to open up space for woodland flowers. 

Meet 10am at the entrance to Slip of Wood, GU6 7BE 

Tuesday 4 March 

Hedge planting: Planting a native hedgerow to compliment the community orchard 

Meet at 10am at the end of Rydelands by the community orchard (GU6 7DD) 

Tuesday 18 March 

Hedge planting: Planting a native hedgerow to compliment the community orchard 

Meet at 10am at the end of Rydelands by the community orchard (GU6 7DD) 

Tuesday 1 April 

Hedge planting: Planting a native hedgerow to compliment the community orchard 

Meet at 10am at the end of Rydelands by the community orchard (GU6 7DD) 

Tuesday 15 April 

Hedge planting: Planting a native hedgerow to compliment the community orchard. We will then remove weeds from around the orchard trees and add more woodchip. 

Meet at 10am at the end of Rydelands by the community orchard (GU6 7DD) 

Tuesday 6 May 

Path maintenance and bird survey: We will cut back vegetation encroaching onto the path through Slip of Wood. We will conduct a bird survey to identify species using the habitat across the estate. 

Meet 10am at the entrance to Slip of Wood, GU6 7BE. 

Tuesday 3 June 

Path maintenance: We will be spreading additional woodchip on the path around the pond, and cutting back any encroaching vegetation. 

Meet at 10am by the pond at Kiln Copse (GU6 7BW) 

Tuesday 1 July 

Wildflower and Butterfly surveying: We will try to identify the various plant species within the wildflower meadows, as well as recording any butterflies we encounter.  

Meet at 10am at end of Rydelands by the largest flower meadow (GU6 7DD) 

There will be no volunteering sessions at Summerlands in August 

 

Tasks and dates 2025

Sunday 19 January 2025

Holly clearance: We will be clearing stands of dense holly to encourage other trees to germinate and increase the diversity of habitats for wildlife. 

Meet 10am at the corner of Clifton Close, off Boundstone Road, Farnham, GU10 4TP, SU 832 437, wsw///economics.looks.slouched. 

Session led by Vicky.

 

Tasks and dates 2025

No tasks currently

Tasks and dates 2025

No tasks currently.

Tasks and dates 2025

No current tasks

Meet at 10am at the pond along Tennyson’s Ridge, off the five ways junction between Scotland Lane and Haste Hill, Haslemere, GU27 3SY, w3w///early.straddled.gains, SU 911 320. 

Session led by Vicky.

Tasks and dates 

Sunday 23 February 2025 - please note change of date 

Cherry laurel clearance: We will be cutting back invasive cherry laurel to prevent it encroaching at the expense of native woodland plants. 

Meet 10am at the car park off the northern side of the Elstead Road, GY8 6AY, SU 935 446, w3w:///prepares.prospered.neon 

Session led by Vicky