Volunteering - York Nature Reserves - 20th March

Location

• Thu 20 Mar 2025, 9:45am-3:00pm

2 positions available

The tasks will vary according to the time of the year and weather. The main season for volunteering is October - February where the main tasks include cutting back scrub, trimming saplings and cutting and raking up grass cuttings.

The bird breeding season (March - Sept) prevents us from disturbing bushes, trees and scrub, so we are limited in what we can offer during the warmer months. The main activities include clearing invasive species, clearing paths and fixing fencing.

Anyone can undertake practical conservation tasks. They generally are as strenuous as light gardening activities.  However, fencing may be a bit more challenging.

Please let us know if you have any limitations we need to be aware of.

We have changed our landscape through reducing the numbers of large herbivores and predators. We therefore undertake practical conservation tasks to mimic natural processes and increase biodiversity at these sites.

Please wear old clothing, you don’t mind getting muddy. Long sleeves and hard-wearing trousers are essential to reduce the likelihood of scratches, stings and bites. Be prepared for all weather e.g. bring a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers if you have them. Please also wear wellies or waterproof boots as it is a bit muddy in areas and bring along a pair of gardening gloves if you have any.

We will need to double check availability with our Reserves Team to confirm the date, and also the York reserve. We will try and fit around your preferences, i.e. if you would prefer Moorlands, but we cannot guarantee your first choice reserve. 

There are four possible sites you can volunteer at:

Askham Bog - On the south side of York this reserve is a remarkable survivor of the ancient fenlands of Yorkshire. It was purchased in 1946 by the famous sweet manufacturers Francis Terry and Arnold Rowntree and the Yorkshire Naturalists' (now Wildlife) Trust was formed to receive it as a gift. The site has been managed ever since to restore it to the haven for wildlife it once was.

Strensall Common - This fabulous large heathland lying close to York is filled with the pink heads and grey green leaves of cross-leaved heath intermingled with the purple spikes and green foliage of ling heather. The Common is home to a host of insects including a nationally important population of dark-bordered beauty moth. 

Moorlands Nature Reserve - Mr Edward Grosvenor Tew bought Moorlands House and estate in 1909 and planted many of the rhododendrons and azaleas. The estate was then acquired by the Retreat in York for use as a hospital in 1940, before selling 17 acres to become Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's second nature reserve in 1955. Management of the site aims to both preserve the special character of the garden and to encourage native wildlife within the nature reserve. 

Cali Heath - This is an area of grassy heath – a habitat rare in Yorkshire. Parts of the site support rough grassland which is valuable for a huge number of insects. There are small areas of oak woodland in the drier parts of the site, with alders and willow fringing the ditches and in some of the wetter spots rushes and yellow flag iris grow.

There is only one Reserves Officer who manages all of these sites. You are welcome to select a preference, but if there is nothing to do at the site then we may ask you to volunteer at one of the other sites where there is work needed. 

Once you have selected a reserve then we will send you the details of the day which include directions, parking and public transport options.

There are no facilities, drinking water or food available at these sites, so you will need to bring a packed lunch and water with you.

Askham - There are accessible toilets at Askham Bar Park and Ride, a five minute drive or 15 minute walk on a designated pedestrian/cycle track. Tesco is also a 15 minute walk away from the site.

Strensall Common - There are local shops and pubs in Strensall village about two miles away. The nearest public toilets are at Monks Cross and Clifton Moor shopping centres about five miles away.

Moorlands Nature Reserve - The nearest toilets are at Haxby Shopping Centre two miles away. Pubs, cafes and shops are also in Haxby. 

Cali Heath - There is a small cafe 200m away in direction of Hull. More facilities including public toilets are 3.5 miles away in Pocklington.   

Please contact us if you have specific needs and we will let you know if we can accommodate you.

If you have any medical conditions that may affect you on the day please let the leader know when you arrive on site and make sure you have any medication that you may need