The country parks include many different habitats, each requiring careful management at various times of the year. This work is supported by teams of country park volunteers who play an important role in managing our parks and supporting the country park rangers.
Our country park rangers plan and organise this management programme which includes activities such as coppicing and woodland management, looking after wildflower meadows, surveying wildlife and wetland management.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can help in the management of these special areas, help local wildlife, learn new skills and make new friends.
We do not ask for big commitments from our volunteers. Once registered, you can attend as many or as few sessions as you would like. We provide tools, any necessary equipment and refreshments.
Volunteers just need to bring the following to activity sessions:
- lunch and a cold drink
- suitable outdoor work clothes including wet weather gear
- boots and gloves if you have them
Six volunteer groups work throughout the county on a variety of practical tasks.
Beacon Hill Country Park: This group meets on the second Sunday and third Friday in the month and in addition to working at Beacon Hill, the group sometimes meet at Sheet Hedges Wood, Broombriggs Farm, Windmill Hill and Jubilee Wood.
Watermead Country Park: The Watermead group meets on the first and fourth Thursday every month and undertake a wide variety of tasks including wild flower meadow and reed bed management.
Market Bosworth Country Park: This group meets every Monday (except Bank Holidays) at Market Bosworth Country Park. Occasionally sessions take place at Bosworth Battlefield and Shenton Station.
Western Country Parks: This group meets every Thursday at various sites across North West Leicestershire including Snibston Country Park.
New Lount and Coleorton Wood: The Lount and Coleorton group meet on selected Tuesdays and Saturdays at New Lount Nature Reserve or Coleorton Wood.
Donisthorpe Woodland Park Volunteer Group: The Donisthorpe Volunteers get together every Wednesday to work on our sites within the Heart of the National Forest. These areas include parks such as Donisthorpe Woodland Park, Saltersford Valley, Sarah’s Wood, Oakthorpe Colliery and the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail.
Volunteers can get involved in a whole host of tasks across our sites including hedge laying, tree planting, bird box making and wildlife surveying.
Work can also involve pond/river clearing, creating paths and boardwalks, heathland restoration, reedbed management and more!
You don’t need to be experienced in conservation and natural history – we will teach you all you need to know to be able to help manage these valuable areas. Although many of the sessions involve practical activities you will always have the freedom to take everything at your own pace.
Please register your interest with our team before turning up for your first volunteer session by emailing countryparks@leics.gov.uk.