VOLUNTEERING AT MOOR TREES
We aim to inspire our volunteers to share in our vision for a nature rich Dartmoor and enable them to make a meaningful contribution towards realising it. We will welcome everyone equally into the Moor Trees community and respect everyone we work with. Moor Trees will be understanding of limitations on people’s time and ability by offering flexible and accommodating volunteering opportunities. We will value and recognise the contributions volunteers have made and support them to learn and develop while supporting the charity to achieve its aims.
Our Moor Trees staff and volunteers are an exceptionally helpful, friendly bunch who take pride in what they do, and who value the unique contribution each volunteer makes.
Below is an overview of what volunteering tasks to expect throughout the year, and if you would like to become a volunteer, what to do next.
If you have any further questions about volunteering at Moor Trees, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we look forward to hearing from you! If you do decide to come and volunteer, please remember to fill out your Volunteer Registration Form before you arrive.
WHY VOLUNTEER AT MOOR TREES
Volunteers are an essential part of Moor Trees. They are at the core of what we do and achieve. Without their help, our work would not be possible. We were founded by volunteers in 1999. Today, around 250 volunteers make a huge contribution to our work each year, some volunteering once and some, every week. Volunteers are very much at the heart of what we do.
Since 2000, Moor Trees charity has planted over 165,000 trees and currently provides the opportunity to volunteers each year to reconnect to nature and enhance their wellbeing. At the heart of our mission lies a powerful purpose: connecting communities, improving biodiversity, and combating climate change – the most urgent challenges of our time.
Volunteering at Moor Trees is an opportunity to:
Learn new skills (including tree planting, identifying and collecting seeds, looking after saplings, woodland management, and much more)
Help to achieve our aims of seeing an increase in tree cover on Dartmoor
Make a positive impact on the environment and biodiversity
Spend time with a welcoming, friendly community of volunteers and make social connections
Improve mental and physical wellbeing by being outdoors and taking part in suitable activities
Improve local biodiversity and increase benefits for wildlife on Dartmoor
Create resilient native woodlands
Keep fit and healthy
Stay active both physically and mentally
Get away from your desk and enjoy nature
Volunteers take part in all aspects of our environmental work, including:
Collecting seed from mature native woodlands and caring for the seedlings as they grow
Developing our tree nurseries by creating new planting beds and tending the young trees
Planting trees to create natural woodland on and around Dartmoor
Help to manage recent planting sites and monitor developing woodland and biodiversity
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AT MOOR TREES?
We welcome volunteers of any age or ability. If you want to know whether it is right for you please get in touch or come along to find out. We run some open days through the year where you can find out more about our volunteering opportunities.
There is a wide range of tasks at our nurseries, that are suitable for anyone. The terrain and conditions of our planting, collecting and monitoring sites is variable, so please get in touch if you have any concerns.
Our volunteers come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and the work they do is tailored to their unique skills, interests and circumstances.
No previous experience is needed. We will explain all tasks and teach you how to do them. If you are under 18, we ask that you are accompanied by an adult.
You can give as much or as little time as you like, occasionally or regularly.
You can volunteer as:
• an individual, to suit your own free time, as little as one occasional afternoon or every week
• part of a corporate team-building day
To find out more download our Volunteering Information Pack and Volunteering Policy.
Are you doing your Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE)? If so, perhaps you’d like to commit some volunteering hours to Moor Trees. We have had several DofE participants over the last few years and would be delighted to sign off your hours.
SEASONAL TASKS
January – March
Always a busy way to start the year with our tree planting season in full swing. Each winter we have various sites around Dartmoor that we plant, helping to create, restore and connect native broadleaved woodland.
There’s always loads to do in our tree nurseries at this time of year too as we prepared thousands of trees ready for their new woodland homes. Volunteers help on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with tasks including lifting trees, preparing orders and planting out seedlings.
April - July
Our biodiversity monitoring takes place on woodland we have planted over the last 25 years. Using Citizen Science our volunteers assess the health of the woodlands and signs of habitat change in the flora and fauna.
Our growing trees in the nursery will come into leaf. All the seeds we have collected in the Autumn will be germinating and needing to be carefully pricked out into their own cells, ready to grow up over the summer. Plus there’s the regular weeding and watering that needs to be done and any seasonal work on the infrastructure at our nurseries, including our barn, poly tunnels, irrigation systems, raised beds and all other structural features.
August - October
During Seed Gathering season we visit a range of ancient woodlands and other woodland sites on Dartmoor to gather seeds, nuts and fruits. Every Sunday volunteers will join in picking and gathering berries and seeds. These are then processed and stored back at the tree nurseries or sown straight into the ground.
In the nurseries, we complete our annual stock take in the summer.
November - December
We will start planting once the trees are dormant in mid-November. Every Thursday and Sunday, weather permitting, we are out and about creating and connecting woodland habitats across Dartmoor and the surrounding area.
In the nurseries we will be busy processing seed that has been collected and starting to lift the trees, ready for planting.
VOLUNTEERING SESSIONS
We have two large Community Trees Nurseries - one based at Broadley Farm, Diptford, near South Brent and the other close to Hunter’s Moon on Barracks Lane in Dartington. There are hot drink making facilities and shelter as well as a compost loo and limited parking in or close to the sites. Our Sunday Sessions take place in a range of locations across Dartmoor and the surrounding areas such as the woodland sites we have created or ancient woodlands.
TUESDAYS
The sessions run from 10:30am to 4:00pm with a lunch break at 1:00pm, you are welcome to spend the whole day or as much time as you can give.
Broadley Nursery, Diptford near South Brent
Please book online via our Eventbrite page or contact Holly on 07939 953289 by Monday 4pm to book a place and for general enquiries.
You can also send enquiries, but not book a place, by email to volunteering@moortrees.org
WEDNESDAYS
The sessions run from 10:30am to 4:00pm with a lunch break at 1:00pm, you are welcome to spend the whole day or as much time as you can give.
Dartington Nursery, Dartington, near Totnes
Please book online via our Eventbrite page or contact Holly on 07939 953289 by Tuesday 4pm to book a place and for general enquiries.
You can also send enquiries, but not book a place, by email to volunteering@moortrees.org
SUNDAYS
We work from 11.00am to 4.30pm and visit different sites each week.
Please book online via our Eventbrite page or contact 01364 649277 to book a place and for general enquiries.
You can also send enquiries, but not book a place, by email to volunteering@moortrees.org
WHAT TO BRING
Things you should consider bringing with you:
• Warm clothing (layers are best as planting trees can be hot work)
• An extra fleece to put on at lunchtime
• Waterproof outer clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy (we wear a cheap kagoule and old waterproof trousers)
• Warm hat
• Wellies or strong outdoor boots
• Gardening gloves (optional – can be supplied)
• A packed lunch, hot and cold drinks, other refreshments
• Water bottle
• A large plastic bag to put muddy waterproofs/footwear in at the end of day
Hot water, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.
We have a large selection of spades, mallets etc. so no need to bring any tools. Just yourself!
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