Who are we? What do we do?

The Berkshire Conservation Volunteers (BeC) are a group of people who carry out voluntary environmental work on local nature reserves in Reading, Berkshire, & north Hampshire. This is valuable work that would otherwise probably not get done. The group was founded in 1975, and has been going ever since. We work for various landowners.

The work we do is varied, typically consisting of woodland type work during the winter (coppicing, scrub clearance, tree planting, hedge laying etc), with more varied work during the summer (path construction, hay making, pond clearance, fencing, dry stone walling etc.).

Tasks take place every sunday of the year, with occasional weekend tasks to further afield locations (e.g. dry stone walling in Dorset in the summer).

New volunteers are always welcome. No experience is necessary as our experienced volunteers are always willing to give any advice & training required. You are advised to wear old clothing, and stout boots or wellies (preferably with steel toecaps).Also bring waterproofs and a packed lunch, BeC will provide Tea/Coffee/Squash and Biscuits.

To book for task, please contact the task-leader listed in the programme (If possible, by the Thursday before the task). Transport is available from the Tool Store at the Edenham Crescent at 9:10am, and from the front of Reading Station at 9:30am. Just look out for the white BeC minibus at the pickup point at the front of the station. Other pick-up points can sometimes be arranged – please contact the task-leader.

Alternatively, if you prefer, make your own way to the site and follow the red BeC arrows from the meeting point to the work site.

Whenever possible, please do let the task leader know you are planning to come on task. Occasionally task details change at short notice, and we can only let you know of changes if we know you are planning to attend the task. However we do always take enough tools and biscuits for a few extras, so if you get the urge on Sunday morning, but haven't booked, you will still be made welcome.

Over the last couple of years the group has developed a bit of an international feel, with several voulnteers from Spain and the Czech Republic, and one or two from Ireland, South Africa, Germany, Lithuania, and further away places such as Trinidad and Nepal being seen out on task. The map below shows where:

BeC Volunteers Countries Map from TravelBlog

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