Volunteering in parks and open spaces
We work closely with community groups which help look after our public open spaces including parks, nature reserves and woodlands.
Volunteering is for everyone. It allows you to meet new people, learn new skills and improve your wellbeing. Volunteers often find it fun and rewarding.
For updates on our community spaces you can sign up to our e-newsletter.
The Hive
The Hive is our community spaces network. It is a group that supports residents who volunteer to care for our public open spaces.
We collect feedback and data on the number of hours volunteers work, where they work and any regular concerns.
Find a group
There are many local community groups with volunteering opportunities. You can view the different groups by area below.
To start a new community group, you can contact us using the details on this page.
If you cannot expand the sections below, try refreshing your browser.
All areas of South Gloucestershire
The Conservation Volunteers
The Conservation Volunteers work on a variety of sites in South Gloucestershire offering practical workdays.
Website: The Conservation Volunteers
Phone: 0117 929 1624
Bitton
Avon Valley Railway
Avon Valley Railway support all aspects of running steam railway. This includes maintenance to railways and some conservation work.
Website: Avon Valley Railway
Phone: 0117 932 5538
Email: info@avonvalleyrailway.org
Bradley Stoke
Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group
The Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group are based in the Nature Reserve in Bradley Stoke. They support practical conservation.
Website: Three Brooks
Phone: 07497 006676
Email: info@three-brooks.info
Bridgeyate
Friends of Barnabas Field
Friends of Barnabas Field are based in Bridgeyate. They deal with meadow conservation.
Friends of Bridgeyate Wildlife Corridor
Friends of Bridgeyate Wildlife Corridor are based in Bridgeyate. They work on the practical conservation such as construction and maintenance of habitat for educational purposes.
Email: alex@du-pre.freeserve.co.uk
Bromley Heath
Friends of Bromley Heath Playing Fields
Friends of Bromley Heath Playing Fields are based in Bromley Heath. They are active in fundraising, conservation and improving amenities.
Email: bromleyheathpark@aol.com
Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom Group
This group have transformed the high street and other areas of Downend with extensive flower displays.
Facebook: Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom Group
Cadbury Heath
MOATivation
MOATivation are based in Barrs Court, Cadbury Heath. They manage and conserve the historic moat.
Email: barrscourtmoat@gmail.com
Chipping Sodbury
Avon Wildlife Trust: Southwold Group
Avon Wildlife Trust has a local group based in Yate and Chipping Sodbury. Their activities include practical workdays to manage and conserve nature and wildlife locally as well as events and talks.
Website: Avon Wildlife Trust
Friends of Lilliput Park
Friends of Lilliput Park are based in Chipping Sodbury. They deal with the planning and management of the park’s nature conservation interest.
Email: richard.aston@southglos.gov.uk
Friends of Ridge Woods
Friends of Ridge Woods are based in Yate and Chipping Sodbury. They plan the woodland management and offer practical workdays and events.
Website: Ridge Wood
Email: info@ridge-wood.org.uk
St John’s Park Conservation Group
St John’s Park Conservation Group are based in Chipping Sodbury. They are interested in the practical management of the park for conservation, interest and events.
Coalpit Heath
Friends of Ram Hill Colliery
Friends of Ram Hill Colliery are based in Coalpit Heath. They are active in conserving this nationally important coal mine and they open it for events and group visits.
Cromhall
Cromhall Play Well Association
Cromhall Play Well Association is based in Cromhall and help to manage the play facilities for the benefit of local children.
Downend
Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom Group
This group has transformed the high street and other areas of Downend with extensive flower displays.
Facebook: Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom Group
Friends of Leap Valley
Based in Downend, they offer conservation work.
Email: marylewis@blueyonder.co.uk
Friends of Lincombe Barn Park and Woods
Friends of Lincombe Barn Park and Woods are based in Downend. They support fundraising, conservation work, planning the future of the park and woods and driving forward improvement projects.
Email: dianepaddon1@gmail.com
Hallen
Hallen Residents Association
Hallen Residents Association are based in Hallen. They support fundraising and planning.
Hanham
Friends of Avon Valley Woodlands
Friends of Avon Valley Woodlands are based in Hanham. The group helps look after the Avon Valley Woodlands Local Nature Reserve. They run practical workdays and hold events throughout the year.
Email: avwoodlands@gmail.com
Friends of Hanham Hall Park
Friends of Hanham Hall Park are based in Hanham. They support the preservation and conservation of the park as a tranquil local haven. They also promote habitat for leisure and educational purposes.
Email: friendsofhanhamhallpark@hotmail.com
Friends of Hanham Mount
Friends of Hanham Mount are based in Hanham. They support the preservation and promotion of historic structure.
Email: john.goddard@southglos.gov.uk
Hanham Wheels Park Management Group
Hanham Wheels Park Management Group are based in Hanham. They help with the skate and BMX park, fundraising and work related to building new facilities.
Email: mikeopenshaw1941@googlemail.com
Friends of Magpie Bottom
Friends of Magpie Bottom are based in Hanham. They support with practical conservation work and fundraising.
Email: r_c2012@hotmail.co.uk
Kingswood
Friends of Kingswood Park
Friends of Kingswood Park are based in Kingswood. They support all events in the park such as fundraising, planning the park’s future and some practical work may be possible.
Email: friendsofkingswoodpark@gmail.com
Tree Life Centre (TCV)
The Tree Life Centre is based in Kingswood. They manage the tree and wildflower nursery at Grimsbury Farm and provide opportunities for volunteering. They also offer practical conservation work and qualifications.
Website: Tree Life Centre
Email: b.hall@btcv.org.uk
Friends of Cock Road Ridge
Friends of Cock Road Ridge are based in Woodstock and Cock Road. They hold practical conservation activities on meadows, pond, community orchard, trees.
Email: axtons2ghm@aol.com
Longwell Green
Berenda Drive Residents Group
Berenda Drive Residents Group are based in Longwell Green. They support with management and conservation.
Longwell Green Community Centre
Longwell Green Community Centre is based in Longwell Green. They manage the community centre and its sports facilities.
Phone: 0117 9323722
Mangotsfield
Friends of Springfield Park
Friends of Springfield Park are based in Mangotsfield. They raise funds to improve the play facilities, discourage anti-social behaviour and protect wildlife.
Olveston and Tockington
Olveston and Tockington Countryside Group
Friends of Olveston and Tockington Countryside Group is based in Olveston and Tockington. They hold practical conservation workdays and events.
Patchway
Friends of Charlton Common
Friends of Charlton Common help to protect, preserve and promote the common. They work to improve facilities and signage and hold activities for residents.
Phone: 01179 503719
Email: mikemurch@sky.com
Patchway Conservation Group
Patchway Conservation Group is based in Patchway. The group manages areas of conservation importance in Patchway by holding practical workdays and events.
Pilning and Severn Beach
Pilning and Severn Beach Local History Group
Pilning and Severn Beach Local History Group is based in Severn Beach and Pilning and is interested in local history and the interpretation and promotion of historic sites.
Staple Hill
Friends of Page Park
Friends of Page Park are based in Staple Hill. They are active in planning the park’s future and raising funds for improvement projects in the park. There is also gardening group.
Email: lornamarie27@hotmail.co.uk
Soundwell
Friends of Soundwell Playing Fields
Friends of Soundwell Playing Fields are based in Soundwell. They raise funds towards conservation projects and improving amenities in the park.
Stoke Gifford
Splatts Abbey Wood Conservation Group
Splatts Abbey Wood Conservation Group is based in Stoke Gifford. The group holds practical workdays and events to help conserve the woodland.
Email: splattsabw@gmail.com
Thornbury
Friends of Filnore Woods
Friends of Filnore Woods are based in Thornbury. They help to plan and manage the site and hold practical conservation workdays.
Email: filnorefriends@gmail.com
Thornbury in Bloom
Thornbury in Bloom is based in Thornbury. The group aims to stimulate and promote interest in improving the environment through trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping.
Facebook: Thornbury in Bloom
Tytherington
Tytherington Countryside Group
Tytherington Countryside Group is based in Tytherington manage green spaces and common land for nature and conservation.
Warmley and Siston
Friends of Kingswood Heritage Museum and Warmley Gardens
Friends of Kingswood Heritage Museum and Warmley Gardens are based in Warmley. Volunteers can help with fundraising for the museum and gardens and help to provide visitors with a great experience.
Website: Kingswood Museum
Phone: 0117 9605664
Email: kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com
Friends of Warmley Golf Course
Friends of Warmley Golf Course help to improve facilities on the golf course for all the different user groups such as walkers, golfers, dog walkers and wildlife lovers.
Email: slthomas@blueyonder.co.uk
Friends of Warmley War Memorial Park
Friends of Warmley War Memorial Park help to raise funds for improvement projects in the park and to plan for the park’s future.
Email: sistonpc@hotmail.co.uk
Warmley and Siston Community Gardens
Warmley and Siston Community Gardens group helps to preserve, develop and enhance open spaces in Warmley as valuable, historic, recreational, sustainable and educational assets.
Volunteers can get involved in events and fundraising for the Warmley Signal Box, built in 1918 on the old Bath and Mangotsfield railway line.
Email: jacquie.stephens@yahoo.co.uk
Friends of Siston Commons
Friends of Siston Commons work to preserve and enhance all the common land in the Parish of Siston.
Wick
Friends of Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve
Friends of Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve support the planning and management of the local nature reserve and provide practical workdays and events.
Website: Friends of Wick Golden Valley
Wickwar
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust are based in Yate and Wickwar. They support the management of Lower Woods including weekly practical workdays and events.
Website: Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Phone: 01452 389968
Wickwar Playing Fields Association
Wickwar Playing Fields Association is based in Wickwar. They manage the playing fields for recreation and raise funds towards improving facilities on-site.
Email: johnfbroad@btinternet.com
Willsbridge
Friends of Willsbridge Mill
Friends of Willsbridge Mill are based in Willsbridge. They manage the local nature reserve, providing practical workdays and events.
Willsbridge Mill Community Refresh
Willsbridge Mill Refresh is based at Willsbridge Mill. They are working to regenerate the grade II listed mill and barn buildings for community use.
There is a community café and the group run local community events. They also manage the adjacent land to increase the biodiversity of the area and encourage people to access and enjoy this open space.
Email: mail@wmcr.org.uk
Winterbourne
Winterbourne Countryside Group
Winterbourne Countryside Group deals with the management of local nature reserves, workdays and events.
Yate
Avon Wildlife Trust: Southwold Group
Avon Wildlife Trust has a local group based in Yate and Chipping Sodbury. Their activities include practical workdays to manage and conserve nature and wildlife locally as well as events and talks.
Website: Avon Wildlife Trust
Friends of Brinsham Park and Lake
Friends of Brinsham Park and Lake support fundraising, planning the park’s future and improvement projects in the park.
Email: keith.parry@crawco.co.uk
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Based in Yate and Wickwar, they support the management of Lower Woods including weekly practical workdays and events.
Website: Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Phone: 01452 389968
Friends of Ridge Woods
Friends of Ridge Woods support planning future management and also offer practical workdays and events.
Website: Friends of Ridge Wood
Email: info@ridge-wood.org.uk
Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Conservation Group
Wapley Bushes Local Nature Reserve Conservation Group support the management of the local nature reserve, practical workdays, planning works and events.
Website: Wapley Bushes Conservation Group
Friends of Yate Common
Friends of Yate Common support the practical conservation and help planning the future management of the common.
Website: Friends of Yate Common
Training
We offer free training courses for volunteers. These include:
- First Aid
- project leadership including risk assessments and safe use of hand tools
- water safety course for those working near or in water
- operating and maintenance of brushcutters and strimmers
- operating rechargeable electric power tools
- working at height for those installing and maintaining bird boxes
- conservation and ecology
Site specific courses may be available for your group such as coppicing, scything and orchard skills.
You can email greenspace.volunteering@southglos.gov.uk for more information.
Plan a volunteering event
You can plan a volunteering event for your group.
Email communityspaces@southglos.gov.uk to let us know the information below or to get permission.
Events that need permission from us
Events that need permission from us include:
- picnics
- group activities
- trail markers
- interactive walks (for example, foraging and wild art)
- large events with over 30 people
Permission from us must be requested at least 3 weeks before the event in held.
We recommend letting us know earlier to make sure the details are agreed before you advertise the event.
Guided walks and wildlife surveys
You do not need permission to plan a guided walk or wildlife survey that is for observation only but you must tell us 3 weeks before the event is planned.
Make sure you tell us about the number of people expected to attend, the location of the walk or survey and the planned route.
Insurance
Events organised for the public other than guided walks and surveys require public liability insurance. This should be held by the group or by an external activity leader if they are leading an event.
Friends group event
If a friends group invites the public to join them in a regular low risk activity notification or permission is not needed.
For these events, members of public need to fill in a volunteer information form which should be kept with other volunteer details.
Waste collection
If your event or activity will generate waste that will need collection, you must email waste.management@southglos.gov.uk.
We will provide you with coloured bags and let you know where bags need to be left for collection.