Dartmoor National Park Authority

The Bovey Valley Volunteer Network

Bovey ValleyVolunteer Network Logos

Volunteering in the Countryside

Please see below for an application form for joing the network.

In 2010 the Network has the following volunteer days:

Every Wednesday (10am at Bovey Heath)
Devon Wildlife Trust
Work at sites including Chudleigh Knighton Heath and Little Bradley Ponds.
Contact Jackie Gage – 01392 279244

Summer Tasks (Great Plantation, Bovey Tracey)
Forestry Commission
to include trail maintenance.
Contact Toby Bowen Scott – 07778 666125

Autumn/Winter Tasks(Great Plantation, Bovey Tracey)
to include coppicing. Both tasks held at .
Contact Toby Bowen Scott – 07778 666125

Last Sunday of each month between October and March (10am – 4pm)
Stover Country Park
taking part in various conservation tasks.
Contact Rob Ballard – 01626 835236.

Saturday 6th February (10am- 3pm - Kennick Reservoir )
South West Lakes Trust
– Coppice Management
Contact Neil Reeves – 07739 428175

Sunday 14th March (10am - Yarner Wood Car Park)
Natural England
Preparing Charcoal Demonstration Area.
Contact Albert Knott – 01626 832330

Sunday 13th June (10am - Yarner Wood Car Park)
Natural England
Clearance of path and Bovey Pottery Leat.
Contact Albert Knott – 01626 832330

Tuesday 18th July
National Trust
General Estate maintenance with working holiday group at Parke.
Contact Gus Fergusson – 01626 834748

Saturday  24th July  (10am- 3pm - Trenchford Reservoir)
South West Lakes Trust
Building bird and bat boxes  
Other tasks to include
Dormouse Tubes, floating bird nesting island and some archaeology work.
Contact Neil Reeves – 07739 428175

Wednesday 11th August
National Trust
Work in the Walled Garden at Parke.
Contact Gus Fergusson – 01626 834748

Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent or guardian.

The Bovey Valley Volunteer Network was set up in April 2008 to help identify and encourage prospective countryside volunteers. It is a joint initiative between 9 countryside organisations who own and manage land in the Bovey Basin stretching from Moretonhampstead down to Newton Abbot. The organisations involved are:
Dartmoor National Park Authority,
Natural England,
The Woodland Trust,
The National Trust,
Stover Country Park,
Forestry Commission,
Devon Wildlife Trust,
Teignbridge District Council and
The South West Lakes Trust.

These organisations very often share geographical boundaries and common management approaches, with a wide range of sites and designations, including NNR's SSSI's and LNR's. They are also situated both inside and outside the Dartmoor National Park boundary and between them  have many differing habitats including Lowland Heathland, Rhos pasture and Ancient Woodland. There are also sites with particularly high visitor numbers and intricate path networks presenting different management challenges particularly those of access and information exchange.

With the towns of Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbott and their respective surrounding villages bang in the middle of this cluster of sites, it seemed an ideal place to set up this network.

From the outset it was decided that we would draw up a list of varied tasks collectively, dating from April to December at various locations throughout the Basin. We did this and within them included a small list of what have become known as "cuddly tasks" (by a member who shall remain nameless!). These are tasks where the wardens and rangers involved try to get to the host organisations volunteer day to help with the task, keep in touch and meet any existing and new volunteers.

By joining the Network as a volunteer you will receive regular email updates, and task lists with meeting times and grid references.

A core understanding has always been that there is such a wide range of countryside management tasks offered by these nine organisations, in such a varied collection of habitats where there is such a lot of information to be gained and passed on. Who wouldn't want to be a part of it?!

Contact and Application
Download and print an application form below or for more information please call 01626 831006 or 07711 104542.

Bovey Valley Volunteer Network Application Form  PDF icon (PDF Help 558kb )

Please note that volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent or guardian.

Page updated 2 March 2010