We are lucky in Oxfordshire to have a wonderful group of hard-working, passionate, and knowledgeable individuals employed by a variety of organisations (charities, local government, DEFRA bodies, protected landscapes, businesses, farmers, landowners), in addition to numerous volunteer community groups and individuals, all contributing towards nature’s recovery.
Our Directory allows you to search and explore groups and organisations across the County so that you can get the support you need to take action for nature, or join one of the groups or organisations and help them.
https://www.oss.org.uk/
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/otmoor-reserve/
We require volunteer help in the areas of habitat management and reserve maintenance. All tasks are vital for conservation of the site for and retaining good access to and around the reserve. Working as part of the reserve team you will have the opportunity to learn about the reserve and develop and build up new skills. This is an excellent chance to make a genuine contribution to wildlife conservation. Enthusiasm and an interest in conservation are essential. A variety of skills are needed from habitat maintenance and the estate management. A good level of fitness is essential. You need an up-to-date tetanus injection and to enjoy working in a team member. Minimum commitment: one day per week (work parties Tues, Weds, Thurs).
www.outdoorclassroomday.org.uk/about/
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day. On two days of action each year, teachers take children outdoors to play and learn. All year round, the Outdoor Classroom Day community campaigns for more time outdoors every day.
www.oxgrow.org
OxGrow is a friendly community garden open to all. We run gardening sessions in Central Oxford, just off Abingdon Road, every Sunday from 1pm-5pm and Wednesday evening from 5pm during summer. When we meet we will garden together, share a cup of tea and cake, learn about growing and take home fresh fruit and veg. You can come for as long or as little as you like. When you first arrive we'll give you a tour of the garden and you can join in to do some gardening with other volunteers. For more information visit our website, email us or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@OxGrow).
https://www.oxtrees.uk/
www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum's mission is to use its living collections to communicate to the widest possible audience how our future depends on plants. Following decades without investment in physical infrastructure, new glasshouses are central to the delivery of this mission. They will be a hub from which to communicate this message at all levels, from schoolchildren to the public, through the immersive experience of a tropical ecosystem in the centre of Oxford.
www.brookes.ac.uk
Oxford Brookes University has over 150 years of history. We started out as a small School of Art in borrowed teaching rooms and have grown into one of the UK's top modern universities with a local, national and international reputation for teaching and research excellence.
www.ocv.org.uk
Oxford Conservation Volunteers is a voluntary organisation that carries out practical work conserving the wildlife and traditional landscape of the Oxford area.
OCV organises work parties every Sunday (and some Saturdays) undertaking a wide variety of nature conservation work ranging from hedge laying to fence building, tree planting, and conserving chalk grassland habitats by scrub clearance. We provide all the tools and training and no previous experience is needed. Just remember to bring a packed lunch and wear old clothes and stout footwear. Under-18s are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian. You don't have to tell us that you're coming - either meet us at one of the minibus pickup points in Oxford: 1) Outside the Lamb and Flag Pub on St. Giles at 9.20am 2) Outside Tesco on Cowley Road at 9.30am or 3) meet us at the task site itself if you prefer. We're normally back in Oxford before 5.30pm.
www.facebook.com/parksoxford
Join out Thursday group to carry out practical land management tasks across all the Oxford City Council sites. Our regular volunteering group is a great way to gain practical conservation experience, meet new people, get fit and spend time in the great outdoors. All levels of experience are welcome. work is varied and all training and safety equipment is provided. Updates are sent out each Tuesday/ Wednesday to those on our mailing list but for more information contact Julian.
www.oos.org.uk/news.php
The Oxford Ornithological Society welcomes all who have an interest in birds and birdwatching in Oxfordshire, whether young or old, expert or novice. Activities are designed to cater for a range of interests and levels of experience. We have indoor meetings, Field outings and supports the collation and maintenance of a computer database of bird sightings in the County
Conservation Organisation
www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk
We look after Oxford’s built areas and its green setting, so that buildings can live on and Oxford’s rural setting is there for all to enjoy. Our mission is simple but significant, to ensure that we are conserving the best of Oxford’s past and help create a positive future for our great City. We are lucky enough to care for acres of land in Oxford’s rural setting and world famous view, opening it up for everyone to enjoy. We conserve buildings from cottage to castle, our offices in the saved C17th cottages in St Ebbe’s, Shakespeare’s Painted Room, the restoration of Oxford Castle, and railway in Swingbridge
check out our volunteering opportuinities on our website https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/content/volunteer
www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/pgcert-in-ecological-survey-techniques
We inspire people locally, nationally and globally by extending access to Oxford’s world-class teaching and resources through flexible and inclusive opportunities for study and research. Our vision: To be a global centre of excellence for lifelong learning. Courses will be underpinned by the best teaching, research and support for learning to meet the needs of diverse, ambitious and intellectually curious students. Staff and students will work together within and beyond Oxford to foster a vibrant learning community attentive to the importance of promoting sustainability and social justice.
www.ouwg.org.uk
Oxford Urban Wildlife Group (OUWG) was established by a group of community wildlife enthusiasts in 1988 with a vision to maintain and conserve wildlife in Oxford, and to help local people discover the city’s wildlife and wild places. We have been fulfilling our mission over the past 30 years by creating and managing Boundary Brook Nature Reserve, a three-acre wildlife haven in the heart of East Oxford featuring mixed woodland, pond, butterfly glades, and a demonstration wildlife garden.
Check out our Events page for latest volunteering work parties https://www.ouwg.org.uk/events/
www.OxonBadgerGroup.org.uk
landowners or professionals concerning badgers. their setts and habitats.
We welcome new members who share our love of badgers. We are always pleased to answer any queries from the public'Please report any badger sightings (live or dead) here: https://www.oxonbadgergroup.org.uk/report/
http://www.oxfordshirebats.org/
We are a group of volunteers who share a passion for bats. The group is a registered charity and proud partner of the Bat Conservation Trust. Our goal is to foster the recording and conservation of bats within Oxfordshire and the wider UK. To that end we aim to increase the appreciation and understanding of all aspects of bats within our community and beyond
You can send your bast sightings to us by emailing them to info@oxfordshirebats.org.
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
www.oxeb.org.uk
Oxfordshire Environment Board (OxEB) was founded in 2018 as an alliance of environmental organisations. We're working in partnership to ensure a strong and united voice exists for Oxfordshire's natural environment.
www.anhso-ofg.org.uk/
www.oxfordshiregeologytrust.org.uk/
We protect locally important sites by surveying them, and if necessary designating them as Local Geology Sites (formerly known as RIGS- Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites), which can then be protected through the planning process. OGT has designated over 50 sites within the county. The only way that sites will be protected is if people believe that they are worth protecting. The only way that sites will be protected is if people believe that they are worth protecting. OGT runs projects and events to help the public understand and appreciate the significance of Oxfordshire’s geology.
Oxfordshire Geology Trust is run by volunteers. We are always in need of enthusiastic volunteers, be they professional geologists or someone simply interested in their local environment and landscape. You could be involved with a wide range of activities, from surveying sites, to helping run events and activities, or leading guided walks. For more information about how you could be involved, please contact us.Membership is free, so do come along and join in. https://www.oxfordshiregeologytrust.org.uk/contact/
www.oxonmammals.org/
https://www.forum-synergies.eu/bdf_fiche-experience-124_fr.html
The Oxfordshire Woodfuel Programme aims to promote the production and sustainable use of woodfuel in Oxfordshire
hanna.jenkins@thameswater.co.uk
The work will mainly consist of raking vegetation, clearing gravel islands and willow/alder coppicing. For more information or book a place please contact Janna Jenkins- Pinkhill Nature Reserve Warden Farmoor Fishery Office.
www.rspb.org.uk
We’re now the largest nature conservation charity in the country, consistently delivering successful conservation, forging powerful new partnerships with other organisations and inspiring others to stand up and give nature the home it deserves. Our birds and wildlife are increasingly vulnerable in a rapidly-changing world. Together, we can create bigger, better, more joined-up spaces to save our wildlife, and our shared home.
You can volunteer for us in hundreds of ways. Explore these pages to find an opportunity which suits you. We look forward to helping you bring your fundraising ideas to life and we're able to give you all the help and support you need. https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering-fundraising/
https://beta.ramblers.org.uk/
We are the Ramblers. We open the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking. And we step up to protect the places we all love to wander. Since 1935, we’ve been doing everything we can to make sure everyone everywhere can enjoy nature on foot. We lead the way, and the walks, for a community of over 100,000 walkers. And we help thousands more every year find their feet out in the open to boost their wellbeing naturally. The Ramblers is a charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces and to preserving and improving hundreds of thousands of miles of well-loved paths, tracks and trails across England, Scotland, and Wales. We're committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers.
Campaign with us: As a supporter of the Ramblers, you can be a champion of walking. Together, we’ve already achieved so much: the creation of National Parks and long-distance footpaths such as the Pennine Way; open access to over a million hectares of English and Welsh countryside and mountains; unhindered access to open countryside in Scotland and the creation of the England and Wales Coast Paths. Let’s see what else we can achieve!
www.restore.org.uk
Restore is an Oxfordshire charity that supports people with mental health problems to recover, develop and secure paid work or volunteering. People work in supportive teams doing gardening, woodwork, crafts, running our shops and cafes and selling the products we grow and make.
www.riverthame.org
A grassroots charity that operates in Oxfordshire/ Buckinghamshire Working for a river catchment with healthy fresh waters and wildlife, valued and enjoyed by local people
Our dedicated and passionate volunteers are key to achieving our mission. We need your help to monitor our rivers and deliver important habitat projects. Volunteering with us is a great way to get outdoors, meet new people, and connect with your local rivers and streams. Interested in getting involved? All our volunteer activities are coordinated through our online system.
www.ssmjchurchyard.org.uk
Jubilee Wildlife Space
Contact Ruth Ashcroft ruth-ashcroft@ntlworld.com or 01865 248344. Volunteers are invited to help maintain the churchyard as a wildlife conservation area. There"''s a variety of tasks: weeding out the invasive plants; strimming specific areas while protecting habitats and food for wildlife; occasional planting and pruning; surveying and keeping records of the plants, birds and butterfliesand bees. Come for entire sessions or just the occasional hour. Tools are provided.Work sessions are currently Wednesday mornings 10am - 12pm
www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/
What is a STEM Ambassador? Anyone with industry experience or professional knowledge of STEM subjects can become a STEM Ambassador. These volunteers work with young people in schools and in the community to inspire the next generation to follow a STEM pathway. Becoming a STEM Ambassador brings a lot of personal benefits and also has a positive impact on the lives of young people. About the STEM Ambassadors programme We have 25,000 STEM Ambassadors from 7,000 employers providing a vital connection between employers and young people. The programme has been transformational in inspiring young people from all backgrounds to explore STEM and consider the diverse range of careers in STEM, research and innovation. From support with workshops, enrichment days, STEM Clubs, mentoring and careers talks for young people there are lots of exciting ways that teachers and communities working with young people can bring STEM Ambassadors into their sessions to bring STEM subjects to life.
No web site available
'We manage 2 miles of the Salt Way on the south side of Banbury and carry out tree planting, coppicing, scything, plug planting etc to improve the conservation value of the Way and its accessibility. We were constituted in 2017.
www.scienceoxford.com
Inspiring young people about STEM Science Oxford’s education and engagement programmes have been developed to inspire young people about STEM. We show that science can be cool, can lead to an amazing career and can change lives. Annually we reach over 20,000 pupils in primary and secondary schools, support 250 teachers through CPD training and inspire 10,000 people through our public engagement programme. We run the Science Oxford Centre in Headington – the UK’s first indoor-outdoor hands-on education centre for early years and primary-aged children. It is open to schools during the week and every Saturday for families to enjoy.
www.sheepdrove.com
Enjoy food - enjoy life with Eversfiled organic farm
www.shotoverpreservation.uk/
www.shotover-wildlife.org.uk
Shotover Hill and Brasenose Wood: including coppicing, heathland work, species recovery programme and restoration of marshes. Evidence-based conservation led by Shotover Wildlife ecologists
Meet second Sunday of the month 9.30-2pm. Tools and gloves provided. Please bring drink; and lunch if staying into the afternoon. Contact Ivan Wright to be added to email circular for notification of the meeting place and task.
sonningcommon.tcv.org.uk
Green Gyms help people become physically and mentally healthier by taking part in practical nature conservation activities to improve their local environment. Everyone is welcome to join
Everyone is welcome to join including under 16s accompanied by a guardian. For more information see the website http://www.tcv.org.uk/greengym/how-green-gym-works. Full information and map references on website. We provide tools, training and refreshments. Please wear old clothes and sturdy shoes or boots (trainers not advisable). Please ensure that your tetanus inoculation is up to date.
Various conservation projects in the village. Newly formed. Contact dpea4cs@aol.com for further info
www.southoxon.gov.uk
South and Vale District Council
http://www.faringdon.org/st-giles-church.html
The old churchyard is closed now and is managed as a wildlife area. In 1997 the St Giles Churchyard Conservation scheme received an award from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust in conjunction with the Diocese of Oxford. Here grow naturally, over one hundred species from the rare wild cherry, as well as the more common field scabious and quaking grass
lizmoore3@btinternet.com
Maintenance & conservation work on SMF nature reserve. Meet in St Mary's Church car park at the end of Church Street first Saturday of month except January and some summer months so please phone beforehand to confirm. Tools and gloves provided wear wellies or boots. 10.00-12.00
www.stonehillgardens.co.uk
Based between Abingdon and Drayton, Stonehill Community Garden is open to all every Wednesday 10-4. Check our website or Facebook page for details of recent and upcoming activities or just come along. www.facebook.cm/StonehillCommunityGarden/'
www.se-ed.org.uk
Putting sustainability at the heart of learning, learning at the heart of sustainability, and sustainability at the heart of everything. SEEd works for change – supporting change makers, changing places and changing systems. We train teachers to become change makers, train secondary students to become young change makers, and can help your school become sustainable. We advise governments on sustainability education, partner with UNESCO and Co-Chair Our Shared World. Together, with you, we can turn that reach and expertise into impact and support.
www.sustainable-blewbury.org.uk/
Sustainable Blewbury (SB) is concerned with climate change and related environmental issues, such as biodiversity, as well as protecting our lovely and unique village and its surroundings. We must end our dependence on fossil fuels because of the increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We need to explore ways in which we as a village can adapt to a low carbon and more sustainable way of living, while maintaining a good quality of life. SB places the highest priority on raising awareness of climate change and communicating urgently how it affects all our lives.
https://sustainablewantage.org.uk/
Sustainable Wantage is a Community Action Group, part of a network of over 80 similar CAGs across Oxfordshire, focused on activities that protect and enhance our natural environment and strengthen our local community. We are run by volunteers interested in actions that have a positive impact and increase our resourcefulness and resilience as a community.
www.sustrans.org.uk
We work to ensure that the benefits of walking and cycling are enjoyed by everyone
www.bbowt.org.uk/explore/discover-and-learn/sutton-courtenay-oxon
BBOWT's Sutton Courtney Evironmental Education Research Centre
www.sylva.org.uk/forestschools
SYLVA is an integrated learning and assessment platform that automates all tedious processes in education so that you and your students can focus on what really matters–teaching and learning.
www.sylva.org.uk
A woodland conservation charity - "nurturing a wood culture, growing a future." Promoting stewardship and woodland management
We welcome the support of anyone who would like to help us in a voluntary capacity.If you would like to discuss volunteering with Sylva, please contact us.
www.tverc.org
The Oxfordshire and Berkshire ecological information hub. TVERC collect, analyse and share geodiversity and biodiversity information in Berkshire and Oxfordshire to help people make sound decisions about how to develop and manage land sustainably and where to direct wildlife conservation work.
We occasionally have opportunities for volunteers to help us to collect and manage environmental data, either in the field or in the office. Follow us on social media to be the first to know when we are looking for volunteer. If you are interested please email us at tverc@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
www.thameswater.co.uk
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is a large private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in most of Greater London, Luton, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, north Wiltshire, far west Kent, and some other parts of England
The Barn Owl Project is dedicated to the preservation of the barn owl in West Oxfordshire. They can survey, install and monitor barn owl nest boxes throughout the area. Supported by the Oxfordshire Ornithological Society: www.oos.org.uk
www.tcv.org.uk
Connecting people and green spaces to deliver lasting outcomes for both. Join thousands of people and communities across the UK connecting to nature on their doorsteps and contributing to its protection.
There are hundreds of ways for you to join in with TCV. Get fit, help look after green spaces, meet people and have fun - all at the same time!