Conservation Work Parties

Join us

Moor Green Lakes organises work parties on the second Sunday of the month from September to March.

Our aims:

• Maintain and enhance habitats
• Protect the flora and fauna
• Promote public interest in the reserve

Typical tasks include:

• Maintaining a variety of habitats for wildlife
• Improving meadow diversity by controlling encroaching bramble and gorse
• Managing shorelines access for waterfowl by removing dense willow vegetation
• Coppicing woodland to produce varied age habitat and natural views into the reserve
• Clearing the shingle islands of vegetation to support nesting gulls and terns
• Maintaining the bird hides, screens and boundary fencing

Volunteers are contacted shortly before each work party with details of the work planned. They are asked to bring their own refreshments and gloves. Tools are provided but some volunteers prefer to bring their own.

When possible, a Tuesday work party is organised for the week after the Sunday work party

If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer, please contact us using the Contact Form - with the destination of Work Parties - and we will get back to you.

We will be working with the BVCP volunteer handbook, available to download here

Planned work for 2025-2026

Tuesday parties are led by Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership but Moor Green Lake Members more than welcome. Please email blackwater.valley@hants.gov.uk to register your interest in Tuesday sessions.

Sunday parties are led by one of 4 Moor Green Lakes Group Volunteer Leaders listed below.

• Duncan Clark
• Jon Needes
• Jane Heritage
• Sarah Elston

Sessions

• Tuesday 9th September 2025 (TBC) - Paddock and Colebrook Hide
  • Hay cut birdfeeder paddock
  • Cut back in front of Colebrook hide
  • Expose kingfisher post
  • Locate pontoon ramps
  • Hay cut access to Long Island
• Sunday 14th September 2025 - Grove Lake view conservation
  • Clear reeds and vegetation around Grove hide
  • Expose stream
  • Cut back in front of Grove viewing screen
  • Cut Grove meadow shorelinet
  • Cut back in front of Grove seat
• Sunday 12th October 2025 - Tern Island and Long Island
  • Clear Tern Island
  • Clear Long Island large shoreline willow
  • Southwest shoreline clear view from hide
• Tuesday 14th October 2025 - Colebrook West and Tern Island
  • Long Island access prep for scouts work party
  • Continue Sunday work
  • Cut high levels of bramble prior to Robomow in November
• Sunday 9th November 2025 - Plover Island and shoreline conservation
  • Clear vegetation from Plover Island
  • Remove willow from shoreline around Plover Island
  • Clear bee verticals
• Tuesday 11th November 2025 - Blackwater Valley path
  • Revetment stabilization at end of bridleway
  • Coppice coupe 34 for materials
  • Initial bank erosion protection/stabilization (opposite coupe 72)
  • Pole-saw path between lakes
• Sunday 14th December 2025 - Colebrook North meadow and shoreline
  • Clear a more permanent view to the owl box from Colebrook Hide.
  • Push back shoreline willow to expose meadow.
• Tuesday 16th December 2025 - Colebrook Northeast
  • More clearance of central willow and oak area
  • Clear shoreline and area around Colebrook Northeast acidic scrape
• Sunday 11th January 2026 - Hedgelaying and coppicing
  • Start hedge-laying from Colebrook hide back towards the car park
  • Coppice nearby coupes, harvesting stakes and binders
  • Coppice other coups further along the path
• Tuesday 13th January 2026 - Hedgelaying and coppicing
  • As above
• Sunday 10th February 2026 - Blackwater Valley Path
  • Coppice coupes along the river path
• Tuesday 10th February 2026 - Blackwater Valley Path
  • Coppice coupes along the river path
• Sunday 8th March 2026
  • TBD
• Tuesday 10th March 2026
  • TBD