Volunteering

We’re reliant on support from volunteers to do all the things we want to! We tend to use the following approaches:

Ad hoc help

Typically a few hours on a weekend day. It’s organised via a WhatsApp group. When we need some help, Ayesha will put a message out on the group with details of the activity, timing etc. Activities can range from helping in the woodland, sheep or chicken moves, assisting with planting, working in the polytunnel, hard labour wheelbarrowing material around etc.

Please contact us if you’d like to be added to the WhatsApp group.

Volunteering events

Typically full day activities that need larger groups of people. They’ll be planned a few weeks in advance and we’ll have instructions / demonstrations on the day. For all-day sessions we’ll also provide lunch and refreshments. You can see some examples of past events below.

Note that for practical reasons we may need to limit numbers. Some events will be child-friendly, some will be for adults only.

Please contact us if you’re interested in helping out and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

Hosting sessions for organisations

We also host sessions for organisations such as Scout groups. For this type of session, we’ll identify the work / tasks we need help with, and discuss the approach / timing with the organisation / group leaders.

On the day, the session is led and managed by the organisation / group leaders. We’ll be on hand to provide help with specific tasks, and organise refreshments, fire pit etc.

Please get in touch if you’re part of an organisation that would be interested in this.

Why volunteer?

Well, apart from working with some lovely people you can:

…acquire new skills
…get some fresh air
…get muddy
…get some exercise (without having to endure the gym!)
…have some fun along the way!

More about us

Examples of past events

Here are some examples of previous organised volunteering events.

Orchard planting - February 2026

Planting another 30 fruit trees to extend the orchard we created in 2025. Last year, we had to endure temperatures -5 degrees. This year it was persistent rain which in comparison is a lot worse!

We had teams to manage and distribute the trees to ensure they were planted in the right hole. There was the audit team to ensure everything was done to the correct standard, and there were 4 planting teams!

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and the mudbath to diligently plant the trees with care and good humour…. It really was hard work and rewarded with, snacks and tea followed by hot lunch and hot dessert thanks to the catering team!

Thanks too to the Chilterns National Landscape Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) team. The grant they provided to subsidise the cost made this possible for us to achieve with our limited budget – and created the opportunity to get our volunteers involved with the countryside!

Watch on Instagram.

New hedgerow planting - Jan-Mar 2026

We planted 168m of brand new hedgerow along the field boundary. At 6 whips per metre to be compliant with the government BN11 spec, that’s over 1,000 saplings!

As well as creating the boundary, this also creates a valuable wildlife corridor between Bowley Wood and the existing hedgerow alongside the public footpath.

In time, this will act as a valuable wildlife corridor between the adjacent woods and an existing mature hedge

Thanks to John Shaw from the @chilternrangers for organising a crew from the local school to plant around 20 metres (120 plants). Credit to the young crew who braved the miserable, relentless rain and the mud bath to complete the task!

Thanks also to the Wycombe scout groups for providing additional volunteer teams.

Watch on Instagram.

Orchard planting - January 2025

In 2024 we secured partial funding to plant a new mixed fruit orchard. There was a lot of planning involved in choosing the varieties, designing the layout, mapping this on to the field, getting all the orders in – but finally we were ready for planting…

On a crisp, cold (-5 deg C!) January morning our volunteer crew of around 20 friends, family, neighbours, and community members assembled, full of enthusiasm! After a demonstration, teams were formed, roles assigned, and quality control clipboards distributed!

Tasks included:

tree selection and distribution
tree stake ramming
compost mixing
driving in rebar supports for the cactus guards
planting and strapping to the stakes
backfilling the soil / compost mix and firming in
labelling
Wheelbarrowing and mulching woodchip
catering
quality control!

We had tea, coffee, snacks and a fire pit to keep us going and with all the help we actually completed this ahead of schedule!

Watch on Instagram.

Cactus tree guards building - December 2025

We use cactus tree guards to protect newly planted trees from hungry deer and sheep. If they manage to strip the bark, the tree dies and has to be replaced. So it’s important to protect it until it’s mature enough to have a tough enough bark to resist nibbles.

Cactus tree guards arrive as flat sheet of galvanised steel mesh. The catch is that they’re also covered in spikes that deter the grazers. They need to be carefully shaped / rolled into cylinders and secured with releasable cable ties. Strong gloves are a prerequisite!

Watch on Instagram.