Conservation tasks

If you think your group would enjoy a day out doing something really hands on, practical and satisfying, why not have a go at one of these conservation taster days and help care for the National Park at the same time?

Dry Stone Walling

There are around 1500 miles of drystone wall in the National Park and much of it is several hundred years old. As well as making a strong field boundary for livestock, these walls provide shelter for wildlife and are an important part of the character of the North York Moors. Building and repairing drystone walls is a highly skilled job, but here is a chance for your group to have a go under expert supervision.

Coppicing

Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management.  It means severely pruning the tree so that it grows new shoots.  This prolongs the life of the tree as well as creating a more varied habitat for wildlife and useful timber products for people.  Available between mid October and early March.

Tree Planting and Seed Collecting

The National Park Authority is in the process of re-establishing some areas of native woodland and planting native species is an important part of this work.  Trees provide a home for a huge range of wildlife, they provide shelter and wind breaks, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution and even produce the oxygen we breathe!  If you would like to plant a tree and help save the world, here is your chance!  Available between November and March.  If you have more time and a bit of space at school you could collect tree seeds such as acorns, plant them in pots and grow them on, and then when they are big enough, come back and plant them in the National Park.

Building Bird, Bat or Bug Boxes 

In some areas birds, bats and bugs struggle to find suitable nest sites and putting up artificial shelters can really help.  This activity is done indoors either at our centres or as an outreach activity in schools.  The boxes are provided in kit form and participants are shown how to assemble them.  Complete boxes can be taken away and put up at home or around school grounds.

This activitycan be done as a whole class where one or two boxes are made as a group; worksheets are provided on who might live in the box.  It can also be combined with a walk around the school grounds identifying suitable places for siting the boxes.  This activity is ideal for primary aged children and lasts for 1 hour and is charged at a group session rate plus £6 per box made.

Footpath Maintenance

There are over 1400 hundred miles of public rights of way in the National Park and looking after this huge network is the responsibility of our Rangers.  Cutting back overhanging vegetation and and keeping paths clear is hard but satisfying work and something that you could help with.  In some areas you can still find trods.  These ancient stone pathways were built and used by monks in the middle ages but many are now overgrown and no longer visible.  If you would like to help restore these ancient pathways then contact us.

Maintenance of Water Courses

Streams and ditches provide a valuable habitat for wildlife and an important drainage function but they can easily get overgrown and obstructed.  If your group would enjoy a day working in a muddy ditch helping improve the habitat for water voles and other wildlife then let us know and we'll see what we can organise for you.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CONSERVATION TASKS 

Health and Safety

These activities are lead by appropriately qualified and experienced supervisors from the National Park Authority’s Volunteer Service.  All activities begin with an introductory session on safety procedures and full risk assessment reports are available on request.

Group Size and Costs 

The average group size for these activities is 10 pupils plus their own teacher to one National Park Supervisor, but this varies depending on age and ability of the group, location and the type of task.  The cost is £45 per supervisor except for bird, bat and bug box building which is charged at £6 per box plus a group session rate.  The best thing to do is to contact us and let us know what you'd like to do and we can work out the best way to organise the activity for your group.

Activity Locations

Some activities can be done based at our Visitor Centre and others can be done at various locations in the National Park.  Ring to discuss so that we can find a location suitable for you.

Clothing and Equipment

Participants should wear old clothes and sturdy walking boots or boots with steel toe caps.  Trainers and sandals are not permitted.  Protective gloves are provided where required but participants should bring a pair of thick gardening gloves if they have any.

Physical Activity

Participants should come prepared for quite hard physical work.  Note that some activities involve lifting, particularly dry stone walling, and may not be suitable for people with back problems.