LATEST: Our November 24/26 and December 2 volunteer dates are sold out.

Last November 2020 Woodoaks Farm was donated to the SOIL ASSOCIATION by owner Sally Findlay.

A year on WE ARE READY to commence our transition to become a fully organic farm, showcasing a robust and regenerative system, that will support a climate-friendly future, with plenty of biodiversity, PLUS a vibrant and sustainable food and farming hub.

Why not join us on our WOODOAKS' journey in a really practical way, by volunteering for one of our hedge planting days?

The farm has received £20,000 enabling us to restore an initial 2KM of the hedgerows lost over 40 years. Please take a moment to watch the video below to see why replacing these are so important.

Winter is the best planting season for hedges, so we're inviting volunteers to get down and dirty, get feet to land, hands on spades and stuck in to help complete phase I by planting the first 1KM of hedgerows. We are being helped by two amazing organisations who will help advise and guide our volunteers. Hertfordshire County Council Countryside Management team and Chiltern Rangers.

THE HEDGEROWS YOU PLANT WILL HELP TO:

• Protect Wildlife. Hedgerows bustle with life. In fact, 130 of the wildlife species listed as priorities under the government’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) live and thrive in hedgerows including, hedgehogs harvest mice, foraging bats and roosting birds.

• Increase Biodiversity. Hedgerows are filled with all manner of other plants which can help support wildlife too, such as brambles, which produce a sweet nectar that helps sustain bees and butterflies, and berries in autumn which feed birds like song thrushes and yellowhammers.

• Improve & protect the soil. Hedgerows play an important role on farmland, ensuring soils remain healthy and reducing the impacts of drought and flooding. One inch of soil takes over 500 years to form, so protecting it is really important.

• Combat Climate change. There is a growing consensus that hedgerows can make a real contribution to the UK's target of producing net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The diverse range of plant life in hedges can also help combat climate change by storing carbon in their vegetation.

WHAT'S INVOLVED?

Opt to volunteer for ONE session per day or BOTH sessions if you feel up to it.

Full session = From 10-3.30pm

Shorter sessions: 10-12.30pm & 2-3.30pm.

You can volunteer for any number of sessions across the two days.

• Sessions will include manual planting of small plants that will turn in to wonderful hedges.

• We will be working in a public area in fields and along paths.

• No previous experience is necessary. You will be working alongside rangers who will provide all the training and guidance to plant the hedgerows.

• It's manual labour so you should be able to work standing and outside for up to 5 hours over the day with regular breaks OR opt for shorter sessions (ie 10-12.30pm or 2-3.30pm)

• We will provide all tools, but if you do have a favourite spade, fork, trowel – feel free to bring it along

• We can provide gloves but you may also wish to bring your own.

• All work is done at ground level. There is no ladder work.

• Refreshments are available to purchase from the Local Tea Shack or do feel free to bring your own.

• Toilet facilities are available on site.

• Car parking is available onsite but we would really encourage you to walk or cycle to us and enjoy the fresh air en route!

If you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to send an email to rlewis@soilassociation.org