Volunteering

Our workdays are generally on a Saturday morning, once a month through the spring, summer and autumn. We may also have ‘extra days’ throughout the year to get specific jobs done.
We normally start at 9:30am, with lunch at around 12:30pm. We are, however, somewhat weather dependent — so if it is forecast to be very hot, we might start early, and if it is forecast to be stormy, we may cancel. Do check the website or our Facebook site!

Our workday goals are to keep the green attractive and safe for both people and wildlife. That means that we have some mown paths alongside some impenetrable thickets. We have some hedges that we aim to cut and trees and shrubs we try not to cut.
There are always a range of jobs to do, so we think we can provide a satisfying few hours of labour for most any volunteer. Along the way you get fresh air and exercise in good company, and leave with the warm glow of knowing that The Pits are very far from being the pits!

Scheduled workdays for 2026 (Saturdays)

21 March
25 April
23 May
20 June
18 July
15 August
22 August (provisional ‘extra’ day)
12 September
26 September (provisional ‘extra’ day)
10 October
24 October (provisional ‘extra’ day)
7 November

We feed our Saturday volunteers! Lunch is generally home-made soup and rolls and we provide soft drinks, tea, coffee and biscuits. Special requirements can be requested.

Time spent and degree of work accomplished is up to you — it isn’t a boot camp! However, we advise that boots, or at least stout footwear, should be worn! This is not an activity for designer clothes either.

Hand tools and thick gardening gloves are provided although some volunteers prefer to bring their own.

We meet at the HPCA allotment cabin (see HPCA Location Plan). Volunteers are briefed on the days tasks and first timers will be given an experienced partner to work with. Everyone is asked to sign in and out. HPCA volunteers are fully insured and we have trained first-aiders on site, though we haven’t needed them. Yet.

A lavatory and hand-washing facilities are on site.

What will you be doing?

Typical jobs include litter picking, cutting back undergrowth, mowing paths and verges, raking and carting cuttings.

Other HPCA volunteering opportunities might include monitoring and recording wildlife on site; helping with administration, publicity or catering; tool and machine maintenance; and, other tasks we may not have presently identified!