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Volunteering & events

Want to get involved with our project and help with practical ecological restoration?

Our volunteer days can be booked by using the booking links below. We will send out more detailed information and directions to anyone interested in volunteering with us, or contact our Project Officer if you have any questions.

More details below, and you can sign up the the newsletter to be kept up to date.

Volunteering dates to May 2024

Click on the links below to be taken to the booking page. If any dates are full, you can add your name to the waiting list in case of any cancellations.


Sunday 11th February: Volunteer day, Miterdale Forest

Tuesday 27th February: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Sunday 10th March: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Spring Residential Weekend 15 - 17/18 March: Hardknott Forest

Tuesday 26th March: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Sunday 14th April: Volunteer day, Brotherilkeld Farm, Eskdale

Tuesday 30th April: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Sunday 12th May: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Wednesday 15th May: Dry stone walling for beginners, Hardknott Forest

Tuesday 28th May: Volunteer day, Hardknott Forest

Group bookings

We also organise days for schools, community groups, workplaces and special interest groups, please get in touch.

What do volunteers do?


Volunteers help with practical ecological restoration, monitoring and research. Local residents, children from local schools, volunteers from the University of Leeds, and the John Muir Trust have contributed thousands of days of volunteer work.

Volunteer days are open to all and are a great opportunity to socialise and to learn about forest restoration, as well as contribute to creating more native woodland in Cumbria. Tasks include removing non-native trees, planting native trees, collecting and propagating seeds, and the protection and maintenance of native trees.

Times: Days run from 9.30am to about 3.30pm.

What to bring: Please bring lunch, a drink and suitable footwear and clothing including waterproof trousers. Tools and work gloves are provided. Click the link below for our leaflet on volunteering at Hardknott Forest.

Volunteering with Restoring Hardknott Forest

Where to meet: We meet at the Forestry England Hardknott Car Park at Birks Bridge (Landranger Map 96. Grid ref: SD234 995). The car park is on the minor road just south of Cockley Bridge and north of Seathwaite.

We also run regular residential weekends where you can come and join us for two days of forest restoration activities. Even more time to enjoy the local scenery, wildlife and a well earned pub dinner!

We stay in local accomodation such as the Wallabarrow Bunkhouse or the Birks. The evening meal is in the nearby Newfield Inn.

What else do we do?

Do you work at a school, youth club? Have a group of friends of colleagues who'd be interested in getting involved? We can organise days for schools, community groups, workplaces and special interest groups. Please contact us for more information.