Volunteering
Kate McVay, Ecology Officer for Wormwood Scrubs, supervises volunteer groups for a range of activities such as hedgelaying, scything, meadow maintenance and even helping the shire horses.
For upcoming on-site opportunities, see the Events page.
In addition, we are always in need of volunteers to:
help at events such as the Dog Show and Nature Days
organise and join litter collections
distribute leaflets, collect signatures
bring expert knowledge on a range of topics such as ecology and planning
spread the word about the Scrubs
just be vigilant - if you see activity that is damaging the Scrubs, contact the Law Enforcement Team or use the H&F Report It app
keep to the main paths through the wilder areas! This is VERY important! Recent increase in footfall has dangerously encroached on and reduced habitat space for species.
“Volunteering on the Scrubs is not a resounding success accidentally. This team is a power-force of community bio-activism that enhances it’s subject (the Scrubs) and the well-being of those who participate because of Kate and Nettie, their approach, their consistent input and because of the loyalty that they inspire in the team.”
Read what our volunteers say…
“I have birded on scrubs for a long time. Then when retired started to volunteer after a chance meeting with Kate McVay, helping with butterfly monitoring, scrub management etc.
Part of my retirement plan was to study something and I started an Applied Ecology Masters in autumn 2024.
One of my modules required field work and of course I selected the Scrubs as my local nature reserve. Kate was kind enough to support me in this work and I had permission from LBHF via Osama [Osama El-Amin, manager of Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust].
- I did a UKHab (new methodology replacing Phase 1) vegetation survey and audit of bees and butterflies and static acoustic monitoring of bats over three week long periods.
I discovered three species of bats using the Scrubs, that the scrubs has 40% of all UK butterfly species including scarce and protected species, and 18 species of bee - including one that is locally scarce - using the site and the difference between habitats that support bees.
— Liz Evans
I have been volunteering to help, with various conservation gardening jobs and bio-survey assistance, see above, for 3-4 years now. I have made some very good friends in the amorphous group and always look forward to being/working with them. No matter the mood when I arrive, I feel better after.
It's healthy work for us, physically, socially and emotionally. As well as giving a wonderful health-boost to the wild-life on the Scrubs and particularly in the two listed Nature Reserves. Working in all weathers, it is also a learning opportunity for anyone to aid wild-life and biodiversity, in a very practical way, elsewhere as well.
— Judy Baldwinson
“I am now two years into an RHS course which I was inspired to do by my experience volunteering on the Scrubs.”