DCV is all volunteer

New volunteers are trained and supervised by experienced members

Established in 1972 to carry out practical conservation work across the county, DCV do not own any sites but work on land owned by other organisations such as National Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust or local authorities.

A programme of volunteering is planned quarterly and information given in the newsletter and website.

Also... DCV has an active collaboration with Association Orchis, a French conservation group. Exchange visits are made occasionally.

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DWT has a professional staff supported by many volunteers, who work on many sites including the maritime reserve at Kimmeridge Bay. DWT welcomes student and group volunteers, and has an active programme for young volunteers.

Volunteers are trained and supervised by DWT staff and experienced volunteers

Part of the national network of county naturalist trusts, DWT has more than 40 sites in its ownership or management including woodland, meadows, heathland and coast. Sites are managed for wildlife and landscape conservation, and for public benefit.

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Natural England is an independent public body whose purpose is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings.  We work with people such as farmers, planners, scientists, and the general public on a range of schemes and initiatives.  The aim is to create a better natural environment that covers all urban, country and coastal landscapes, along with  the animals, plants and other organisms that live there.

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Purbeck – Rachel Rodman, Volunteer Officer, Purbeck, 01929 452306, rachel.rodman@nationaltrust.org.uk

A national organisation which owns a number of important properties in Dorset including Hardy’s Cottage, Max Gate, Cloud’s Hill, Corfe Castle, Kingston Lacy and large areas of countryside and coast.

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DCC has a team of professional managers, rangers and Rights of Way staff + increasing number of regular and occasional volunteers.

Volunteers are trained and supervised by DCC professional staff.

Dorset County Council own many countryside sites of landscape and wildlife value open to the public for recreation. The county has over 3,000 miles of public footpaths and bridleways, and several marked trails. DCC is committed to the maintenance and sustainable use of the countryside. There are many opportunities for volunteers to work alongside the professional staff.

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The Dorset AONB covers more than 40% of the county including coast and inland countryside. The land is owned by numerous private and public owners who collaborate with the AONB team to conserve and enhance the landscape and wildlife value of the area. Public access and enjoyment of the area is supported. The AONB includes are large number of important archaeological sites.

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Jurassic Coast has a team of professional managers and specialists. New opportunities for volunteers are being created.

Volunteers are trained and supervised by members of staff.

The Jurassic Coast of East Devon and Dorset is an area of world landscape value recognised by UNESCO. It includes many designated sites of geological and wildlife interest. The Jurassic Coast team works with land owners, farmers, local authorities, local people and visitors to conserve the values of the area, deal with potential conflicts in land use and enhance visitor/user experience.

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The park has a small professional staff along with a regular team of volunteers.

Volunteers are trained and supervised by the professional staff and experienced volunteers.

Durlston Country Park is located on a stretch of coast around Durlston Head, near Swanage. The park includes 280 acres of sea cliffs, areas of grassland and scrub of great conservation value. It is managed by Dorset County Council countryside service to combine habitat conservation with improving public access and understanding. There is a popular visitor centre in the park. The park has received a substantial grant for the restoration of facilities which will further improve visitor services.

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The park is managed by a professional team, new roles for volunteers are being developed.

Volunteers are trained and supervised by park staff.

Moors Valley is an area of over 1,000 acres of woodland and heathland owned and jointly managed by East Dorset District Council and Forestry Commission for recreation and conservation. The park provides facilities for walking, cycling, fishing, etc. There is a children’s playground and catering facilities.

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RSPB has a small staff supported by many volunteers.

Volunteers receive training and supervision from staff and experienced volunteers.

RSPB is a national organisation which owns/manages two major sites in Dorset: the Arne reserve near Wareham and Radipole in Weymouth.

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The Dorset branch of Butterfly Conservation manages four reserves; Alners Gorse near Hazelbury Bryan, Lankham Bottom near Cattistock, Broadcroft Quarry and Perryfields Reserve on Portland. The reserves are managed to provide habit for butterflies, some of which are nationally rare. Almost all work on the reserves is done by volunteers.

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This nature reserve covers the world famous Chesil Bank and The Fleet lagoon which are renown for their wildlife, especially migratory birds. The purpose of the reserve is to protect and maintain these unique resources whilst supporting traditional commercial activities, visitor services and recreation.

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Trees for Dorset has three main aims: 1/ planting and caring for trees and encouraging the planting and caring for trees in the UK, 2/ fostering an appreciation of trees and their amenity and ecological value, and 3/ advancing education for the public benefit in trees and their habitat.

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The Manager, Monkton Wyld Court, Charmouth, Bridport, DT6 6DQ

Tel: 01297 560342, info@monktonwyldcourt.org

Monkton Wyld occupies a former rectory in a hamlet near Lyme Regis on the Dorset-Devon border and is a centre dedicated to hosting educational courses, conferences and gatherings for families and groups.

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The Magdalen Project is an environmental education centre located on a 132 acre organic farm in beautiful countryside on the Somerset/Dorset border near Chard. Here a diverse range of managed and natural habitats provide the basis for a wide range of courses, workshops and eco-adventures, encouraging both children and adults to learn new skills, enjoy new experiences and, we hope, develop a deeper understanding of the countryside and a more sustainable approach to life. We offer school visits, care farming and corporate training to adult day courses and civil marriage ceremonies.

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Keith Harris, Rylands Farm, Boyshill, Holnest, Sherborne DT9 5PS
Tel: 01963 210703 or/ info@futureroots.net

Future Roots is a social enterprise providing activities that bring people and the countryside together. We are based at Rylands Farm near Sherborne and provide opportunities on and off site for children, young people and families to experience farming, countryside and other activities.

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We have a small staff supported by a team of volunteers.

Volunteers are encouraged to learn gardening/conservation skills or working with our service users.

Emma Browning, Volunteering Coordinator,  East Holton,  Holton, Poole   BH16 6JN
Tel: 01202 625562 

volunteering@holtonlee.co.uk

Holton Lee provides opportunities for disabled people to flourish through access to the arts, the environment and wellbeing initiatives. We have gardens, grounds and an area of heathland.

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The aim of DA21 is to promote sustainable development and the prudent use of natural resources, and to advance education and research about sustainable development and the protection of the environment.
We do this by raising public awareness and understanding of sustainability, through support or initiate projects which demonstrate sustainability, and by influencing decision makers to take sustainability into account throughout their decision making.

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Projects receive secretarial support from DA21, otherwise all tasks are done by volunteers.

New volunteers are supported by experienced volunteers.

The Transition Town movement aims to help towns and their surrounding villages to work together in tackling the biggest challenges of our times: climate change and peak oil. This means finding ways of helping our communities become more resilient to a changing environment and less dependent on ever declining fossil fuels.
In Dorchester, we are doing this through projects around local food, transport and energy. Activities include development of a community farm, a community orchard, a local food co-operative, a Gardenshare Scheme, community renewable energy projects, waste and sustainable transport projects.

Transition Town Dorchester leases land for the community to use for food production at two sites in Dorchester. These are the Parkway Farm Community Garden at Poundbury (behind Weymouth College Construction Centre) and the Community Orchard adjacent the railway bridge at Monmouth Road.

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EuCAN is a Community Interest Company (CIC) working in the UK and other countries of Europe to involve more people and communities in the conservation management of their local environment, by providing training and practical experience for young graduates, potential volunteers and therapeutic groups, in nature conservation and in sustainable land management and food production enterprises.

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