Nature reserve conservation tasks
Blakehill, Cricklade
Fourth Sunday of each month, and also the following Tuesday, regardless of which month it falls in, 10am-4pm. Please note that there will be a task in May, but you are advised to phone the Reserve Warden to confirm if the task will go ahead in August.
Blakehill was once a military base and is now one of the UK’s largest grassland restoration projects.
Meet at the car park, access from B4040 Cricklade to Malmesbury Road. For more information contact Reserve Warden Trevor Stinton on (01793) 750028
Conigre Mead, Melksham
Third Saturday of each month, 10am-12.30pm (no task in August or December).
Open grassy meadow alongside the River Avon. Tasks vary from planting to hedgelaying and scrub clearance.
Reserve entrance can be reached from the Riverside Walk, between Sainsbury’s and the River Avon. Grid ref: ST901637. Refreshments provided.
For more information contact Reserve Wardens Ian and Gill Cardy on (01225) 703859 or David and Caroline Williams on (01225) 706967.
Green Lane Wood, near Trowbridge
First Sunday of each month, 10am-4pm.
Tasks group meets from October to April. Superb woodland being managed by the traditional woodland management practice of coppicing.
Near Trowbridge, off A350 Melksham to Westbury road. From Melksham reserve entrance is 0.3 miles after Hilperton/Steeple Ashton crossroads. Car park appears as small break in woodland on right at grid reference ST886577. Beware road is very fast.
For more information contact Reserve Warden Peter Lindsey on (01225) 785142.
Jones’s Mill, Pewsey
Fourth Saturday of each month, 10am-12.30pm (no task in August or December).
Rare fenland nature reserve. Tasks vary from ride clearance and vegetation removal to boardwalk construction.
Take Burbage road from Pewsey. Turn left down Dursden Lane, just before white cottage. Park in small lay-by, just over railway bridge. Grid ref: SU169612.
For more information contact Jane Brown on (01672) 569241.
Langford Lakes, Steeple Langford
Second Saturday and fourth Wednesday of each month, 10am–1pm (no task August or December).
Three lakes and a half-mile stretch of the River Wylye. Tasks include looking after footpaths and facilities as well as managing habitats such as the lake shores.
Take turning to the Langfords off the A36 (Salisbury to Warminster road). In Steeple Langford turn into Duck Street (signed to Hanging Langford). Reserve entrance is on the left, once you have crossed over the river. Grid ref: SU037370. Reserve is close to Wiltshire Cycleway. Steeple Langford bus stop is 500m from the Reserve.
For more information contact Woodlands and Wetlands Reserves Manager Chris Riley on (01722) 792011.
Lower Moor Farm
First Sunday of each month, 11am-4pm
On the first Sunday of every month volunteers gather at the visitor centre at Lower Moor Farm. There are a wide variety of practical tasks that can be undertaken on the surrounding nature reserves, by people of all ages and abilities. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear old clothes and stout shoes, and bring a packed lunch.
From Oaksey go in the direction of Somerford Keynes, cross the railway line and follow an S-bend. Immediately after the S-bend the entrance is on the right. From Cricklade on the A419, turn left onto the B4696 towards Somerford Keynes. Continue straight over crossroads until you see the entrance on your left. There is parking at the visitor centre.
For more information contact Reserves Officer Neil Pullen on (01793) 814768
Morgan’s Hill
First Saturday of each month, 10am-1pm (no task in May).
Practical conservation and monitoring and recording on lovely chalk grassland.
Meet at far end of Smallgrain picnic site car park, grid ref SU020671. Go north from Devizes along A361 towards Swindon/Marlborough. Take first turning towards Calne on brow of hill. After one mile, turn right into Smallgrain picnic site, just past golf course.
For more information on the task and to check the weather status before each event, contact Reserve Warden Tony Coultiss at the Trust on (01380) 725670, at home on (01380) 725071, mobile (07773) 643350 or email tony@coultiss.com.
Oysters Coppice, Semley
First Sunday of each month, 11am-3pm. May 11 (task dates can change in May and December).
Valuable woodland reserve being restored through the traditional management of the coppice cycle.
Four miles northeast of Shaftesbury. From A30 turn right into Donhead St Mary. In village go past church and head for Semley. After one mile turn right, just before house with post box in wall. Parking on verge at Gutch Common. Kissing gates to reserve. Grid ref: ST896258.
For more information contact Reserve Wardens Andrew and Debbie Carter on (01747) 871311.
Smallbrook Meadows, Warminster
Second Tuesday of every month, 10am-3pm.
The emphasis is on annual maintenance and repair of damage such as scrub clearance and coppicing dead hedging, fence repairs and clearing waterways.
Meet in the car park on Smallbrook Road, leave town centre on Salisbury Road. Turn right into Smallbrook Road. Straight on at junction (cross Gypsy Lane) and go down steep hill. Entrance to the Reserve car park on left at bottom of steep hill, at grid reference ST 883 441. Alternatively walk through Pleasure Gardens towards the reserve.
For more information contact either Clive Thomas on (01985) 216586 or John Walpole on (01985) 217358.
Vincients Wood
Second Saturday of each month, 10am-12.30pm, from October to March.
Lovely woodland Nature Reserve on the edge of Chippenham. Tasks involve coppicing and hedgelaying to restore traditional management practices.
From Hungerdown Road in Chippenham turn west at mini-roundabout (next to garage) into Frogwell. Third left into Moss Mead. Bear right and follow road to dead end. Walk between bollards, across stream and grass strip. Reserve entrance through kissing gates. Grid ref: SU899733.
For more information contact the Reserve Warden Tony Brazier on (01249) 460466 or 07977 582599.
Wiltshire Wildlife Conservation Volunteers (WWCV)
WWCV carry out practical conservation work on Nature Reserves throughout the county, both for the Trust and other organisations. For more information contact Richard Aisbitt on (01793) 694680 or email richardaisbitt@yahoo.co.uk
