New Forest Volunteer Fair Guide 2019

NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK VOLUNTEER GUIDE 2019

JOIN THE YEAR OF GREEN ACTION!

Packed full of volunteering opportunities from dozens of organisations in the New Forest. Welcome to the New Forest National Park Volunteer Guide 2019

This guide offers you dozens of ways to get involved with volunteering in the New Forest, to change your life and the lives of others. No matter who you are or where you live, there will be a role perfect for you. All you need is some time and energy, and a passion for the Forest’s history, environment or people.

Volunteering is a great way to meet people, learn new skills and help keep the New Forest special. Helping people in your community, surveying wildlife, meeting visitors and researching the past are just some of the opportunities in this guide.

2019 is a nationwide ‘Year of Green Action’ to mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of National Parks and enshrining public access to the countryside. We hope you will get involved and add your skills and enthusiasm to make a real difference for the New Forest. Thank you for your interest in helping to protect this unique area! Above: Hedgeplanting day at Keyhaven Photos © Catherine Chatters

Our Past, Our Future Habitat and species Working together for the New Forest monitoring Volunteers are helping to survey and monitor wildlife habitats and species across the New Forest. This Take a look at the variety of has included surveying dragonflies, volunteering opportunities damselflies, butterflies, bumblebees, bats and reptile populations across the we are offering with the Our Volunteer New Forest. Volunteers have recorded a Past, Our Future landscape range of species: meadow brown butterflies, partnership scheme... wood crickets, and birds such as the firecrest, Our Past, Our Future is a hawfinch and cuckoo. The surveys take place landscape partnership scheme mainly during the summer. No experience is Discovering part of the for the New Forest supported by needed, and training can be provided. the Heritage Lottery Fund. New Forest that I was The scheme has achieved some Practical conservation not familiar with was excellent outcomes in the Volunteers are helping to restore valuable first three years with positive very satisfying. woodlands, grassland and wetland habitats. benefits for the natural and The work involves clearing scrub and invasive built heritage, people and species, such as rhododendron, to create communities. Through volunteering clearings and rides which helps with the I have met some lovely It has attracted a growing regrowth of native species with benefits for number of enthusiastic wildlife. The work takes place mainly during the and knowledgeable and passionate volunteers, winter. No experience needed, just the desire to people. who have all contributed to work in the outdoors. restoring habitats, surveying and recording archaeological Invasive non-native plants features. They have discovered Volunteers have been removing Himalayan more about our social history balsam from the riverbanks and land bordering FACT and developed an invaluable the Cadnam River, Lymington River and Avon resource of historical New Forest Water. This is helping to restore the waterways photos and documents. Nearly 2,000 which support a wide range of plant and people have invertebrate species. The work is managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and volunteered on takes place during the spring and summer. No OPOF projects in experience necessary. the past three years Practical archaeology Education and outreach Volunteers have been working to Volunteers have assisted rangers and others to discover more about the hidden help raise awareness of the natural and cultural archaeology of the New Forest. This heritage of the New Forest. Volunteers have involves field surveys, geophysical staffed the mobile information unit, assisted with surveys, community excavation work guided walks and talks, helped at wild play events to survey and record a variety of and attended our public-facing events such as the archaeological sites including woodlands, New Forest Show. Opportunities are mainly in the churchyards and villages. There are volunteer summer and training can be provided. opportunities throughout the year and no experience is necessary. Find out more about the projects and get involved. Historic routes research Visit our website for volunteering opportunities and events or contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator for more information. Volunteers have been walking and assessing footpaths across the New Forest to help to identify a number of historic trails. The work has involved researching old maps, surveying Contact route condition and recording features of historic interest. There are still opportunities Richard Austin for volunteers to get involved in collecting Volunteer, Training and further information such as stories and Mentoring Co-ordinator memories related to the selected routes. Rachael Gallagher Project Manager Archival research Volunteers have catalogued, scanned and uploaded thousands of documents including photographs, maps and postcards to the New Forest Knowledge website: www.nfknowledge.org There are still opportunities to join the team of dedicated volunteers at the Christopher Tower New Forest Reference Library based at the New Forest Heritage New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst. Work is based inside and can take place Land Advice Service

Hampshire & all year round. Training can be provided. Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Practical archaeology Education and outreach Volunteers have been working to Volunteers have assisted rangers and others to discover more about the hidden help raise awareness of the natural and cultural archaeology of the New Forest. This heritage of the New Forest. Volunteers have involves field surveys, geophysical staffed the mobile information unit, assisted with surveys, community excavation work guided walks and talks, helped at wild play events to survey and record a variety of and attended our public-facing events such as the archaeological sites including woodlands, New Forest Show. Opportunities are mainly in the churchyards and villages. There are volunteer summer and training can be provided. opportunities throughout the year and no experience is necessary. Find out more about the projects and get involved. Historic routes research Visit our website for volunteering opportunities and events or contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator for more information. Volunteers have been walking and assessing footpaths across the New Forest to help to identify a number of historic trails. The work has involved researching old maps, surveying Contact route condition and recording features of historic interest. There are still opportunities Richard Austin for volunteers to get involved in collecting Volunteer, Training and further information such as stories and Mentoring Co-ordinator memories related to the [email protected] selected routes. 01590 646661 Rachael Gallagher Project Manager Archival research [email protected] Volunteers have catalogued, scanned and 01590 646604 uploaded thousands of documents including www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/landscapepartnership photographs, maps and postcards to the New Forest Knowledge website: www.nfknowledge.org There are still opportunities to join the team of dedicated volunteers at the Christopher Tower New Forest Reference Library based at the New Forest Heritage New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst. Work is based inside and can take place Land Advice Service

Hampshire & all year round. Training can be provided. Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Organisations offering volunteer opportunities

Here is a list of organisations from the 2019 Volunteer Fair which have roles available throughout the year. You can find more information on volunteering in the New Forest on our website: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteering Blackwater Conservation Group Christchurch Council’s Established in 2013, the aims of the Countryside Team group are to facilitate and coordinate The Countryside Team of Christchurch the work of conservation and Council looks after over 20 sites environmental protection along the throughout the borough, ranging from River Blackwater and its tributaries, salt marshes in estuaries to heathlands and thereby benefit the landscape and in old quarries. Our sites and tasks ecology of the Blackwater Valley for vary from week to week, so there is future generations. Volunteers have something for everyone. We have the opportunity to monitor the quality practical conservation volunteering of the river water and assess the health opportunities, as well as Volunteer of the river by catching and counting Warden roles. No previous experience the various species of invertebrates. necessary, just interest and enthusiasm! A considerable amount of time is also spent removing the invasive non- 01202 795684 native plant Himalayan balsam. Any countryside@christchurchandeastdorset. volunteers willing to help with any of gov.uk these tasks will be very welcome. www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk 01794 390558 [email protected] Citizens Advice New Forest www.blackwaterconservationgroup. wordpress.com Citizens Advice New Forest is a local charity, dependent on trained local volunteers. We operate out of five local offices providing a free, confidential Butterﬂ y Conservation and impartial advice and information The New Forest Transect Group service. We listen to people’s concerns organises the recording of butterflies and work with them to address them. at a number of strategic locations in the New Forest from the start of Our volunteers are essential to CANF. April until the end of September each People from different backgrounds are year. Recorders work on a rota basis trained to a high standard to provide and experience is not necessary as the this valued local service. very nature of the activity ensures a good level of ID proficiency is quickly Our advisers can offer advice on a wide achieved. Help is always at hand. range of problems that we may face 02380 840316 at some point in our lives including employment, health, money worries, [email protected] consumer issues and housing. Come and www.hantsiow-butterﬂ ies.org.uk/ join us. We look forward to hearing newforest.php from you. 0300 3309 009 (Advice line) www.newforestcab.org.uk/contact-us www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Left: Volunteer Hannah Makin at the British Museum Community First New Forest The Volunteer Centre, run by Community First New Forest, promotes and supports volunteering. The Centre works with both local people who are looking to volunteer and organisations who are looking for volunteers to help them in their daily work. The Centre operates an online recruitment and advertising portal, as well as running face-to-face drop-in session across the area. It also offers advice, information and training alongside actively promoting the work of organisations in the New Forest. 01425 482773 [email protected] www.cfnf.org.uk

Above: Explore new places around the Countryside Education Trust National Park when you volunteer The Countryside Education Trust’s mission is to connect people to the East Boldre Hedgehog Rescue countryside. We welcome schools and self catering groups all year to our We rescue sick, injured and orphan residential centre, with an emphasis hedgehogs. We rehabilitate them so on hands-on, outdoor learning. that they can be released when they We also have treehouses in ancient recover. We overwinter underweight woodland and teach a wide range of hedgehogs, feeding and housing them environmental activities. We run regular through the winter to be released Owls playgroups, from zero to six in the spring. We cover New Forest, years old and hold a variety of events, Romsey, Southampton, Chandlers Ford, open days and courses throughout the Waterside and surrounding areas. year such as beekeeping, bushcraft We need help with: and birdwatching walks. Volunteers  Daily hutch cleaning & topping are always needed to help in the up food/water with regular weight garden, on the farm, with conservation recording activities, in the office and at open days  Fundraisers/writers to local and events. businesses for support 01590 612401  Driving to collect hedgehogs [email protected] occasionally www.cet.org  Overwintering hedgehogs  Website development. 07595 709617 [email protected] Eling Tide Mill Experience Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre With its Historic Grade II* Listed Tide Ferny Crofts is a 31 acre activity centre Mill, Visitor Centre, Mill Café and owned and run by Hampshire Scouts. We Outdoor spaces, the Eling Tide Mill are open to all scout, guide, school and Experience is a Heritage Site with a youth groups and can provide a range of difference and is looking for experiences from activity days up to week enthusiastic people to be part of our a long residential. Our aim is to help team of volunteers. Whatever your develop young people in an adventurous interest or skill level, we have a number outdoor environment. We can provide a of exciting and unique opportunities if variety of volunteer experiences in areas you would like to give some time as such as assisting with site maintenance, a volunteer. running the tuck shop, developing a gardening team, as well as supporting Roles include volunteer millers, front our activities team on sessions. of house, tour guides, café support, 02380 845092 flour packers, activity support, outdoor learning volunteers and [email protected] events volunteers www.fernycrofts.org.uk 02380 869575 [email protected] Friends of Ballard Water Meadow www.elingtidemillexperience.co.uk We are a proactive voluntary group working under the direction of New Milton Council and Natural England Exbury Gardens to protect and enhance the natural Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway woodland, wildlife and wild ﬂ owers and is a spectacular 200 acre garden set the water meadow. Helping hands are in the New Forest. The gardens offer very welcome; all equipment is supplied. woodland walks and world famous 01425 613436 displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, along with a large collection of rare specimen trees. Our exciting community We have volunteering opportunities project involves coppice available working alongside our restoration, charcoal gardens team. If you enjoy getting your production and a variety of hands dirty and learning new skills and other conservation tasks. would like to contribute to the upkeep Volunteering can be infectious and conservation of this unique garden, and fun. then why not come and join our team? Derek Tippetts 02380 891203 Pondhead Conservation Trust [email protected] www.exbury.co.uk Friends of the New Forest Airﬁ elds in the New Forest and providing (FONFA) valuable support to our Rangers and Keepers. Our museum and education centre provides an education and research  By joining our Two Trees facility for anyone interested in New Conservation Team, you’ll learn about Forest aviation heritage and history. It the management of our forests, contains photographs, pilots’ stories, experience the outdoors in a group aircraft models, dioramas; limited activity, meet like-minded people and edition prints signed by airmen who make a real difference to the area served on the airfields, artefacts, that you’ll be helping to maintain. and detailed information about the So if you enjoy the outdoors, want 12 WWII New Forest airfields, plus a to learn new skills, meet new people section about the WWI East Boldre and want to be part of the Forestry training airfield. Commission team, get involved today! Our outreach programme provides 0300 067 4601 expert speakers about the airfields and associated local aviation and military [email protected] topics to schools and interested groups. www.forestryengland.uk In addition, we hold commemorative events annually at our New Forest Airfields Memorial at Holmsley South (postcode: BH23 8EB).

We welcome volunteers to help with supporting both the Memorial and especially in the Museum, usually on the first and third Sundays of the month from March to October (see website for details and dates). 01245 611668 [email protected] www.fonfasite.wordpress.com

Forestry Commission The Forestry Commission manages the public forest estate in the New Forest. We have two main volunteering opportunities:  Volunteer Rangers play an integral role in helping to conserve wildlife and habitats while enhancing visitor enjoyment. Tasks include leading and Above: Volunteers enjoying some time outdoors helping with events, assisting visitors whilst working on the Working Woodlands project (New Forest National Park Authority) Friends of the New Forest – New Forest Association (NFA) The Friends of the New Forest (NFA) has been the independent voice of the New Forest since 1867, making one of the oldest conservation charities in the world. For over 150 years our guiding purpose has been to protect, conserve and enhance the flora, fauna and heritage of the New Forest, and all that makes it unique. If you are looking for volunteering opportunities we need help with our educational, science and research projects; support for our legal, transport and planning scrutiny work; and some administrative assistance to our committees, marketing and events team. Above: New Forest Heritage Centre volunteer 01425 621023 [email protected] www.newforestassociation.org The Green Island Holiday Trust The Green Island Holiday Trust organises six supported holidays each Friends of Lepe Country Park summer for small groups of adults with disabilities. The holidays are based We promote community involvement at Holton Lee, a well-being discovery and enjoyment of the country park. centre set in beautiful countryside We keep members informed about between Poole and Wareham. Each what is going on at Lepe via a quarterly group shares a week of fun and newsletter and support the park staff friendship centred round a varied by providing volunteers. We also programme of activities exploring the arrange walks, talks and social events site and local area. for the membership. Volunteers are needed to: We are looking for volunteers who  Help with events, litter picking and would like to participate in one of our sensory garden maintenance holiday weeks, either as a residential  Staff the park reception desk volunteer, or by assisting with specific  Carry out wildlife surveys activities. No previous experience is  Support the Friends committee. necessary, just lots of enthusiasm, a sense of humour and the desire to If you would like to become involved share a great holiday. we would love to hear from you. 01202 375006 02380 899108 [email protected] [email protected] www.greenislandholidaytrust.com www.hants.gov.uk/lepe Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. With the invaluable support of volunteers and members we manage over 50 nature reserves. We also work with other organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live.

We have countless volunteer roles all over Hampshire. 01489 774400 Above: Nicola Jackson and Nick Hazlett-Beard [email protected] balsam pulling with Hampshire and Isle of www.HIWWT.org.uk Wight Wildife Trust

Hampshire Search and Rescue Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife (HANTSAR) Trust – New Forest Non-Native Plants Project Hampshire Search and Rescue (HANTSAR) is a voluntary organisation The New Forest Non-Native Plants providing 24/7 cover to assist the police Project is hosted by Hampshire & Isle to search for vulnerable missing persons. of Wight Wildlife Trust and welcomes volunteers to help pull up Himalayan Searches are carried out across balsam which has invaded river banks in Hampshire in both urban and rural the New Forest area. Himalayan balsam areas. We are available any time of day has short roots and is easy to pull up so or night, whatever the weather, but if you enjoy being outside and have a appreciate not everyone can attend bit of time to spare in the summer, every time. We receive professional why not join our friendly volunteer training to the standard required by work parties? the police and other search and rescue agencies. This includes developing skills We are also looking for people to in search techniques, first aid, map survey invasive non-native plants and reading and other competencies. monitor the effectiveness of work undertaken to control them. We welcome enquiries from those 07770 923315 interested in volunteering as either [email protected] operational or support members. www.hiwwt.org.uk 03303 309506 [email protected] www.hantsar.org Hampshire Swifts provide flexible working to suit from as Hampshire Swifts is a conservation little as two hours a month, in addition charity working to reverse the to full support with ongoing training. catastrophic decline of the swift in Hampshire. We protect swift nest sites, You do not have to paint like Picasso review planning applications, work to help at hArt – just a warm smile and with councils and maintain constant lots of enthusiasm are all we ask! pressure on all the county planning 01590 435045 authorities to ensure that swift bricks [email protected] are automatically provisioned in Local www.hart.works Plans. These activities are performed in parallel with events, meetings and publications designed to raise general awareness of the plight of swifts. Hampshire County Council Countryside Service We are always looking for volunteers Hampshire County Council’s to help with these and many other Countryside Service is responsible activities such as leading swift walks, for the management of 80 sites, 71 running our website and developing heritage features, 1,380ha of grassland, links with schools. 1,524ha of woodland, 112ha of heathland, 225ha of wetland, seven 01590 622835 / 07941 349002 country parks and almost 3,000 miles [email protected] of rights of way. We are looking www.hampshireswifts.co.uk for volunteers to help us manage these valuable areas for both public enjoyment andwildlife interest. hArt - Hampshire Art for Recreation 02380 605109 and Therapy [email protected] hArt offers creative ways to support www.hants.gov.uk/volunteering mental health. We work with people of all ages and abilities, either in tailor- made programmes or group drop-in sessions. We can also provide one-to-one Volunteering to pull help. Himalayan Balsam gives me a great day out somewhere in the We know that working with the creative countryside, with the location arts improves health and wellbeing, constantly changing. whether indoors or outdoors, and has enormous benefits for participants and Patsy Baverstock those that volunteer. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust In 2019 hArt has an extensive programme of workshops, creative cafés and outdoor projects and we would welcome volunteers to support group leaders on specific projects. We can Hampshire and Isle of Wight and ongoing outreach support for Air Ambulance young carers and vulnerable children age 5-12. Children come to Honeypot Ordinary People. Extraordinary Care. House, just outside Exbury, every year Supported by you. for a weekend full of fun, taking a break from caring, making friends Through your support, Hampshire and and creating memories to cherish. Isle of Wight Air Ambulance brings an Our Honeypot Playbus also visits them advanced critical care team to people regularly in their local community. in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight when they need it most. Available both Volunteering opportunities include day and night, 365 days a year, the Air supporting the fundraising team at Ambulance critical care team is called events, giving talks about Honeypot, out many times a day to attend to road bucket collections and even dressing up traffic collisions, sporting accidents, as Bumble our mascot! collapses and many other incidents. Highly skilled crews of doctors, 02380 890002 paramedics and pilots can be at the [email protected] scene of an incident within minutes, www.honeypot.org.uk ready to deliver the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department. Hythe Pier Heritage Association We are looking for volunteers to help Hythe Pier Heritage Association is a raise the £15,000 a day needed to help community benefits charity aiming keep Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air to protect and restore the Pier and Ambulance flying. HIOWAA needs Railway. We put on regular events volunteers to help us fundraise by throughout the year, including heritage attending events, managing collection days and music festivals as well as pots, helping us with maintenance of providing stalls at other local events. equipment, supporting our education All these are key to our fundraising programmes or giving our fundraising and awareness raising within the talks. Volunteering for HIOWAA is fun community. and fits around your own life, with no time commitment expected. We are seeking volunteers from all backgrounds who have the 02380 743516 enthusiasm and positive attitude to [email protected] drive our project forward. Specific www.hiowaa.org skills may include marketing, events management, fundraising, general admin to practical skills in carpentry for Honeypot Children’s Charity example. If you are passionate about preserving our heritage, then come and The Honeypot Children’s Charity’s vision join our friendly community group. is for every child to make the most of their once chance at childhood and 02380 986480 we provide residential respite breaks [email protected] www.savehythepier.org.uk Keep Britain Tidy Lyndhurst and Minstead Bellringers Keep Britain Tidy is a national charity Bellringing has its roots in the 17th involved in a number of initiatives century when a change in technology across the UK. The New Forest has been allowed bells to be rung in a set order. involved in the Keep Britain Tidy spring The prime purpose is to ring for Sunday campaigns since 2015. The Great British service but also for weddings and other Spring Clean 2019 runs from 22 March events. We are a social bunch who meet to 23 April. Keep Britain Tidy’s Local on Thursdays (7.30 - 9pm) to practice, Litter Hero Ambassador is looking for followed by a trip to the pub and litter champions, individuals and groups ring for morning service on Sundays. for every town and village in the New Strength is not needed to ring, but Forest. You too can get involved and free movement of limbs and normal make a difference. Come along and coordination are necessary. If you are find out more. interested please contact us and come along to a practice night. 02381 781395 [email protected] 02380 282842 www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/ [email protected] support-our-campaigns/great-british- spring-clean Lyndhurst Community Centre We are looking for Lyndhurst based Lyndhurst & District Community volunteers to get involved in our First Responders events, maintenance and reception. Community First Responders (CFRs) It is imperative that the centre makes are volunteers working for the enough money to be sustainable and ambulance service; we provide 24hr provides this invaluable service for local emergency medical response to the people of Lyndhurst and the local life threatening illnesses and injuries, district. The centre has a hugely diverse pending the arrival of an ambulance. number of clients; from the local community to national organisations. There are opportunities for volunteers The centre is a non-profit charity run to provide emergency medical cover by the Lyndhurst and District in and around Lyndhurst and the Community Association. immediate surrounding areas. We aim to provide a venue for Volunteers can provide cover to suit recreational, cultural and sporting their own circumstances, which may be activities. Make a difference in your as little as one or two hours a week to community and meet new people. whatever the individual can offer. No 02380 282267 medical experience is required as full [email protected] training is provided by South Central www.lyndhurstcomm.org Ambulance Service. 02380 282866 [email protected] www.sca-charity.org.uk Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV) Furzey Gardens: there are opportunities We work locally at various nature in the gardens, gallery and assisting reserves around Milford, including the at events. Pleasure Grounds (woodlands), Studland Common, Studland Meadow, Sturt Minstead Lodge: we have day service Pond, the Community Orchard and Old opportunities, working alongside our Milford Meadow. We have produced our instructors, supporting service users own Milford-on-Sea Biodiversity Action within various workshops (animal care, Plan. We meet on the first Sunday of literacy and numeracy, IT, horticulture). every month and volunteers undertake coppicing, tree thinning, tree and Alternatively, we always need help hedgerow planting, non-native invasive fundraising, assisting at events, and species clearance, scrub removal, glade with general DIY and maintenance. creation, educational walks, footpath 02380 812297 maintenance, boardwalk, bridge [email protected] and pond restoration and wildlife www.minsteadtrust.org.uk monitoring and recording. MCV also manage a Bird Hide at Sturt Pond nature reserve (open every day of the year 9 am till 5 pm or dusk if earlier) and a National Trust Bird Observatory at Keyhaven (open by The National Trust works to restore electronic Key-fob ordered in advance). a healthy, more beautiful, natural environment. In the New Forest we 01590 645825 aim to preserve the mosaic of rare [email protected] heathland habitats and wildlife through www.milfordcv.org a program of conservation work, species data collection and experiences that move, teach and inspire. As a Minstead Trust charity, we rely on the generosity Minstead Trust is based in Minstead of volunteers to continue this work. village in the New Forest and supports Current volunteering opportunities people with learning disabilities across include practical conservation work Hampshire, Wiltshire and Portsmouth. such as gorse/scrub cutting and Each part of Minstead Trust works burning, pine and ragwort pulling, and towards our vision and mission, and our tree planting in Foxbury. During the values are core to who we are. summer we need species surveyors for an array of wildlife including heathland Our vision: adults with learning flora, birds, butterflies and reptiles. disabilities are able to achieve greater Events and community volunteers can independence, lead fulfilled lives and live help us out at a local level with our as full citizens in our society. communications. Help us keep these places special for ever, for everyone. Our mission: to provide training for 01425 650035 adults with learning disabilities to enable [email protected] them to develop new skills, lead fulfilled www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newforest lives and achieve greater independence. some knowledge is always useful. A willingness to learn new skills and the ability to work well with the public is vital for all our volunteering roles. 02380 286153 [email protected] www.newforestcentre.org.uk

New Forest Live at Home At New Forest Live at Home scheme we want to enable older people to maintain their independence and live more Above: Tree maintenance, New Forest Area Conservation Volunteers fulfilled lives.

Through befriending, lunch clubs, assisted New Forest Area Conservation shopping, activity sessions, outings, escorts Volunteers to appointments and much more, MHA’s The main aim of the group is to enhance Live at Home schemes across the UK help the natural environment in and around to tackle loneliness and isolation in people the New Forest by means of practical over 60 – helping them to remain as active conservation work. This work is done members in their local communities. through a varied programme of tasks Activities at New Forest Live at Home which are undertaken by members who scheme include: provide the voluntary workforce. In every  Drum fun in Ringwood case, the tasks are planned to conserve  Singing for wellbeing in Ringwood and improve the countryside around us,  Friendship groups in Totton, Ringwood, maintaining and increasing the variety of Lymington and New Milton wildlife habitats and hopefully people’s  Crafting groups in Totton, Lymington understanding of the countryside. and New Milton 01590 671915  Outings [email protected]  Pub lunches in Ringwood and www.newforestacv.org Lymington  Café club visiting various cafes.

New Forest Heritage Centre We are always keen to hear from kind, Volunteers are an essential component compassionate people who are able to of the New Forest Heritage Centre volunteer some of their time to help us in our aim to offer everyone an deliver and develop our services. understanding of what makes this 01425 476142 area so special. We are looking for [email protected] volunteers to assist in all areas of the www.mha.org.uk/live-home/live-home- Centre. You can support us in a variety near-me/new-forest/ of roles with a variety of activities. Extensive knowledge not essential but New Forest National Park Authority I like to be a volunteer for See content on pages 4-8 New Forest Mencap because it’s good to help, because Mencap helps me. I meet lots New Forest Nightstop of people who are kind and it New Forest Nightstop is the only makes me feel good to know provider of emergency accommodation that I am helping in the New Forest for people aged 16 and over who find themselves homeless. Rachel Our volunteer hosts give safe overnight New Forest Mencap accommodation, protection from danger, a listening ear and security. If you have a spare room and you can offer a bed and a share of your evening meal then this volunteering opportunity New Forest Mencap is flexible to fit in with your home and work life. This is an opportunity to do We are a local charity supporting something practical to support people adults with learning disabilities across who are homeless at the most critical the New Forest. We run three weekly time. All expenses are covered and clubs providing fun social activities training and support is given at all times. such as sport, art, drama and music. Volunteers play a vital part within our 01425 482773 charity in a variety of roles: supporting [email protected] club leaders, community fundraising www.newforestnightstop.org.uk events and working in our charity shop in New Milton. We also run the New Forest Gateway Award, similar to the Oakhaven Hospice Trust and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, but tailored Coates Centre specifically for people with learning disabilities, so people with specific skills Oakhaven Hospice provides specialist are most welcome even if just on an palliative care to patients facing life occasional basis. We are also currently limiting illness and their loved ones. The running healthy cooking classes and Coates Centre is a drop-in centre for we would also like to have a volunteer those whose lives have been impacted drivers. We are looking for a bank by illness. of volunteers to help enrich the lives of vulnerable adults locally. You can We need volunteers to drive patients, make permanent commitments, opt to serve meals, visit patients in their homes, volunteer for a short block of time or support bereaved families, sell tickets, just be on call. stuff envelopes, help visitors, answer phones and much more! Contact us 01425 621893 today to get a full list of available roles [email protected] and information on how to apply. www.newforestmencap.org.uk 01590 646447 [email protected] www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk/ volunteering PEDALL, New Forest Inclusive Cycling the highest award available to a PEDALL provides cycling sessions for voluntary group. people with a disability or who need 07887 811712 some support to cycle in the New Forest [email protected] National Park. We have a range of www.pondheadconservation.org.uk specialist bikes to suit different needs. Our rides are all on off-road traffic- free routes, surrounded by wildlife. We transport the bikes to the start point. Ringwood and Fordingbridge All of our rides are led by experienced Footpath Society (RFFS) staff or volunteers. The RFFS helps keep the footpaths of over 13 parishes in Hampshire. PEDALL needs volunteers who can Each path is walked in a three yearly enthuse and motivate others and rotation and problems are reported to have a real passion for working with Hampshire County Council. Volunteers and engaging people with a disability help in erecting gates, waymarking and or who need support to cycle in an clearance. We also have a weekly walks outdoor environment. programme for members and visitors, and social activities throughout the As a volunteer you will: assist the year. Meetings are held at Greyfriars PEDALL team to deliver high quality, Community Centre, Ringwood. fun, introductory and cycling sessions 01425 656360 around the New Forest; and/or help maintain the various specialist bikes. [email protected] www.rffs.org.uk 01590 646640 [email protected] www.pedall.org.uk Rockbourne Roman Villa Rockbourne Roman Villa is a museum and unique archaeological site near Pondhead Conservation Trust Fordingbridge. It is open to the public We are a community woodland project between April and September, and restoring 200 acres of New Forest managed by Hampshire Cultural Trust. woodland to improve its biodiversity and public enjoyment. Our volunteers The museum has one paid member of benefit from plenty of fresh air, staff and relies on the support of local exercise and friendly company. While volunteers to enable us to open the volunteering with us you will learn museum to the public and make it an about the Forest, its biodiversity and exciting place to visit. conservation. Our woodland is managed on a fully sustainable basis by using the We require volunteers to take a public- timber we cut to produce charcoal that facing role to welcome visitors and is sold locally. We are previous winners help us care for this important aspect of the CPRE Hampshire Countryside of Hampshire’s ancient heritage. You Award (Community & Volunteering) and UK National Parks Volunteer Project of the Year. In 2018 we received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, will welcome visitors to the site and Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat assist with providing customer service, Solent Rescue is an independent lifeboat care and security. There are a number of organisation based at Lepe Country tasks for volunteers, including helping Park in Exbury, Hampshire. The rescue out with events, family activities and organisation was established in 1971, helping to maintain the museum garden initially as a beach rescue unit but and site. We are a small but friendly has since developed into a rescue team and look forward to welcoming unit with both inshore and offshore new volunteers who join us. We offer rescue capabilities. As part of a wider an induction and training for all our framework of independent and RNLI volunteers; over 16s welcome. operated lifeboats on the South 01725 518541 Coast, Solent Rescue helps to monitor laura.bullivant@hampshireculturaltrust. approximately 33 square miles of org.uk the central and western Solent. www.hampshireculture.org.uk/ The Solent is an extremely busy rockbourne-roman-villa recreational and commercial waterway and well-trained lifeboat crews are required to assist the many people that The Royal Society for the Protection can find themselves in difficulties. of Birds (RSPB) We are a conservation charity which We are operational at weekends from carries out international and UK based March until September, bank holidays and work. In the New Forest we have a new 24hrs during the festival of Cowes week. reserve at Franchises Lodge, comprising 07494 124795 386ha of mixed woodland habitats. [email protected] We need volunteers with a whole range of skills to help us establish the www.solent-rescue.org.uk reserve – surveyors to build up baseline data, work parties to carry out practical management, buildings specialists to help SS Shieldhall deliver refurbishment of properties on The SS Shieldhall is a heritage cargo site, people engagement volunteers for passenger ship included in the National events and education, photographers to Historic Fleet and is generally recognised help document any work and wildlife on to be the largest working steamship site. There may be lots of opportunities of her type in Europe. There are for getting involved as the site develops. opportunities to volunteer with the deck 07594 083291 crew or engineering teams based in Southampton, plus assist the marketing, [email protected] educational, catering and retail teams. www.rspb.org.uk Volunteers crew the Shieldhall on her regular cruises into the Solent and beyond and are on board most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Details of volunteer opportunities and 2019 sailing programme are available online. 07919 096555 www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk/volunteering The Stroke Association Warren Copse and Holbury Manor The Stroke Association is the UK’s leading Conservation Group charity dedicated to conquering stroke. The Warren Copse and Holbury Manor We rely on volunteer support to change Conservation Group assists Fawley Parish the lives of people affected by stroke and Council in maintaining and conserving raise awareness of stroke. Holbury Manor and Warren Copse, to give the local community a sense of The Communication Support service, ownership of the local amenity. With the New Forest supports people with guidance of a 20 year Forestry Commission communication difficulties after stroke, Management Plan for Warren Copse and you may have heard of aphasia or a 10 year HLS agreement from Natural dysarthria? Communication Service England for the Manor site, the project volunteers can provide support to is restoring the ancient and semi-natural facilitate communication in groups, or woodland to its former glory to promote one-to-one in a stroke survivor’s home, its flora and fauna. We also work closely or enable people to access activities with the National Park Authority and New and services in their local community. Forest Land Advice Service. Our website outlines the many ways to volunteer with us. 02380 894632 [email protected] 01425 275139 [email protected] www.stroke.org.uk/get-involved/ Woodlander Hoburne Bashley volunteering Woodlander is an award-winning organisation that manages 20 acres of privately owned mixed deciduous Testwood Lakes Sailability woodland, which also includes a small Testwood Lakes Sailability provides mixed coppice area which is being supervised dinghy sailing for people with managed back into rotation. We provide disabilities. A team of volunteers run the woodland education to schools and operation. They start by welcoming the recreational activities to holidaymakers sailors, book them in, make drinks and and for the local community. We maintain help them with the buoyancy aids. The the current woodland habitats and volunteers provide as much assistance increase the level of biodiversity within that is required to safely enable the these woods through our conservation sailor to access the dinghy alongside an programmes. There are five areas of experienced dinghy sailor, which in some conservation: maintaining and improving cases requires the use of a hoist. Other habitats, clearing invasive species, stream volunteers, crew the safety boat, and of clearance to improve sea trout’s journey course prepare the dinghies for sailing to their spawning grounds, coppicing and in the morning and store all away at the improving butterfly biodiversity. end of each sailing day. 01425 612340 [email protected] [email protected] www.testwoodsailability.co.uk Facebook – Woodlander Hoburne Bashley It's wonderful. Not only do you have fresh air, you help your heart, and meet such lovely people. Audrey Clark,

Volunteer for the New Forest National Park Authority, Our Past Our Future project

Contact us ContactNew Forest National us Park Authority NewLymington Forest Town National Hall, Avenue Park Road,Authority ContactLymingtonLymington TownSO41 Hall,9ZG us Avenue Road, Telephone: 01590 646600 NewLymington Forest SO41 National 9ZG Park Authority Above: Efren Cruz and Carlos Cruz [email protected] LymingtonTelephone: Town01590 Hall, 646600 Avenue Road, [email protected] SO41 9ZG

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