Volunteer impact on the Wilder Horsham District project 2026

Louisa Jones

Wilder Horsham District Project Support Officer 

It's Volunteers Week!

Our committed volunteers have travelled to a whopping 30 work parties on privately owned land throughout Horsham District this year. That’s 1,534 hours and £30,680 contributed in kind to strengthening our local Nature Recovery Network.

Together, we’ve mattocked Rhododendron out of woodland and regenerating heath, knocked back scrub for endangered butterflies, protected it with dead hedges in other places birds and invertebrates, gapped up hedgerows with the Weald to Waves project and took part in a hedgelaying relay with other local community groups and the National Trust. Creating and connecting this mosaic of habitats is what our project is all about, and volunteer help is absolutely vital – so a huge, heartfelt thank you!

It’s been a pleasure to have seasoned conservation volunteers working alongside the new: students, career changers and those simply looking for a new way to give back to their community. The fact that many of you have signed up to even more – a new programme of wildlife surveying – is a testament to your enthusiasm and willingness to keep learning from nature and one another.

People sometimes question why Wilder Horsham District carries out volunteer work on privately owned land, whose owners are often (not always) much wealthier than the average local resident. To restore 30% of UK nature by 2030, we have to reach out beyond nature reserves and influence farmers, householders, businesses and community groups. Work parties are a great engagement tool, often the first step in a long-lasting relationship with a landowner that can deliver real change – both in environmental management and mindset.