Asking if you can be a mini-mammoth may seem like a strange question but on our beautiful heathland reserves, nestled between Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport, this is exactly what we need.

Heathland is a large open habitat that is characterised by its sandy soil and low-growing shrubs like gorse, broom and heather. Historically, heathland was maintained by large herbivores, such as bison, woolly mammoths and giant elephants, that controlled any pioneering tree species like oak and silver birch that would eventually dominate the landscape. But, sadly, we don’t have any woolly mammoths roaming around Worcestershire anymore! So, to maintain our heathlands we now need to recreate the actions of these missing large herbivores. Now, as much as I like the idea of the staff team dressing up in mammoth costumes and charging about the heathland, this isn’t quite what we mean…or so I have been told (disappointing, I know).

If you're new to this volunteering game, you might want to know about what a work party day actually looks like before putting up your hand and being counted...  

• Once you’re on our volunteer list, you'll get an email from the work party leader who will let you know the meeting place and plan for the day. They'll send you a map with the meeting place and detailed information but you don’t need to worry if you don’t know where this is, we'll help you find it. 

• You can park nearby; we recommend Blackstone Picnic site car park, which is a five-ten minute walk from most of our work parties here. Enjoy the fresh air as you walk to the nature reserve to be at the relevant meeting place for 10:30am. The work party leader will be there to meet you and will show you where you will be working and how to use the tools safely. 

• It’s then time to have a go on your own; you can work at your own pace with the work party leader nearby as you get used to the tools and chat with your fellow volunteers. 

• It’s then time for lunch! Don't forget to bring a packed lunch and you'll get to enjoy sitting in the middle of nature with your fellow volunteers. There's a portaloo on site and also a barn to shelter in if the weather's a bit grim (we usually carry on in all but extreme weather but this isn't always for everyone).

• Once you have refuelled it’s back to work for another hour or so before you finish up for the day, put the tools away and head back home at around 3pm.  

What will you need to bring? 

• Suitable clothing for the weather 

• Walking boots or wellies 

• Gardening or work gloves (if you have them) 

• Lunch/snacks/drink 

What sort of things will you be doing? 

We have a plan! The sessions below give an idea of what we've done and what we plan to do to give you an idea of what we get up to: 

Friday 22nd December 
Removing bramble and thinning trees to let in more light for grassland flora and enable cattle to graze the Spittleful rock. Learn about tree felling techniques - we will be using bowsaws and loppers.  A chainsaw might be used by a licensed volunteer for thicker trees.   

Friday 26th January 
Maintaining the hedgerow on the ancient lane as well as have a walk around some of the site. Learn about traditional hedgerow management and help to keep this one diverse. We will use bowsaws, pruning saw and loppers. We may remove sick ash trees from the hedge and utilise the ash trees to make habitat piles for reptiles and other creatures.  

Friday 23rd February  
Diversifying the nearby hedgerow on the farm.  Learn about hedgerow and heath landscape management whilst helping to keep this area diverse, increase connectivity of the open habitat and ensure members of the public can access the site. We will use bowsaws, pruning saw and loppers.   We will utilise the brash to make habitat piles for reptiles and other creatures.  

Friday 22nd March – meet at the entrance barrier by Toll Cottage  
Working to maintain the banks of the original Worcester road for rare invertebrate and flora. This will involve clearing bramble from the ancient banks to expose soils to provide nesting habitat for bees and space for flowering plants and grasses.  Brambles on this soft soil can be pulled up or cut with loppers. We may identify a few shading trees that can felled.  

Friday 26th April – meet at the barns at Dropping Well  
Creating micro-habitats for rare wildlife around the farm. This could include cutting away embankments on sunny south-facing slopes to benefit rare bees as well as building bunds or habitat piles. Tools will include loppers, slashers and spades. 

Friday 24th May  - meet at the barns at Dropping Well Farm  
At this time of year we can check fencing and make repairs using pliers, hammers and wire. We may need to knock in posts using a drivall.  Signposts need to go up to prevent wildlife disturbance and encourage visitors and their dogs to stay on the main paths. We'll close off newly trodden unofficial paths with signage and by blocking them.  

What do you think? 

If this sounds like your cup of tea then we would love you to join us! Our work parties are on the last Friday of every month. You don’t need to come to every work party, you can come when it fits with your diary, we just need to know in advance when you are joining us so we can make sure that you know the correct meeting point to join in the fun. 

If you're interested and would like to know more, drop our volunteer co-ordinator a line (or give us a call on 01905 754919) or visit our volunteer page for more info.

If you'd like to know more about the history of our heathlands, visit Sue's heathland heritage blog. 

We hope to see you on the heathland sometime soon!