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Opportunities to join the National Park as a new volunteer are listed on this page. Unsure which area is closest to you? Check out the map to see which is your nearest one.
We work closely with many partners across the National Park, from land owners, large estates and national organisations to smaller community groups and trusts, to provide rewarding and interesting opportunities for our volunteers, that also meet our operational needs and corporate priorities, to help conserve and promote the special qualities of the National Park.
Please note our practical conservation opportunities vary according to landscape, season, access to land and wildlife cycles.
Email us stating what areas and roles you are interested in at – volunteering@southdowns.gov.uk
Our Eastern Downs team covers an area from Steyning to Eastbourne, and works out of two locations at Stanmer Park and Seven Sisters Country Park.
This area runs group taster days for those interested in volunteering. Sessions are organised from both the Stanmer and Seven Sisters offices and run roughly from 10.00-3.00.
This area is now CLOSED for recruitment, more taster day dates will be added for Autumn 2026.
Our Western Downs team covers an area from Petersfield to Winchester with an office near Droxford.
Recruitment is currently closed for the Western Team, please check back regularly for updates.
This area runs taster days for those interested in volunteering. Sessions are monthly on Sundays and are roughly 10.00-3.00.
Our Central Downs team covers an area broadly from the A24 to Petersfield with an office near Singleton.
Ancient Tree Surveys – Volunteers will assist with the recording of ancient, veteran and notable trees across the central area of the South Downs National Park. We will be using the Woodland Trust’s existing methodology for tree recording and uploading data to their Ancient Tree Inventory Tree Search – Ancient Tree Inventory.
Identifying where ancient trees are is the first step to help conservationists protect our most ecologically valuable trees. The South Downs is very under-recorded for ancient trees, and we have relationships with estates which would allow us to record in areas that are otherwise private and wouldn’t be picked up by the Woodland Trust’s citizen science alone.
Are you interested in supporting a grazing project between the SDNPA and the Sussex Wildlife Trust as a Lookerer near Sullington Hill West Sussex?
Lookerers help keep an eye on the animals and surrounding area, as the herd need to be checked on regularly, ideally once a day on a rota, to ensure that the right number are there, they are healthy, the fences are intact and that they have water. Please read the role description for more information.
Natural England (NE) is looking for volunteers to assist with managing its livestock on its National Nature Reserves at Old Winchester Hill and Beacon Hill. This is a fantastic opportunity to work across the landscape of the South Downs and some of the top nature reserves in the country. Please read the role description for more information.
Tasks would include
Natural England (NE) is looking for volunteers to assist with practical conservation tasks on its National Nature Reserves at Old Winchester Hill, Beacon Hill and at times Ashford Hill. This is a fantastic opportunity to work across the landscape of the South Downs and some of the top nature reserves in the country. Please read the role description for more information.
Tasks would include
Contact Natural England directly at kilmestonbarnnnrs@naturalengland.org.uk to express your interest or for more information
