Hedgerow Heroes Coordinator

Use your passion for hedgerow restoration, organisational skills and experience with community engagement, to join us at CPRE London - a charity that fights to protect London's green spaces. 

We need someone to join our Hedgerow Heroes Project team to assist with administration, so by volunteering with us you’ll be helping to find positive solutions for the issues facing the countryside and the environment. You’ll make a real difference and be a central part of a friendly and passionate charity.

What you will be doing

Our Hedgerow Heroes project is an ongoing project focused on hedgerow planting, restoration and surveying. The goal of the project is to help reinforce and enhance London’s green belt, and use hedgerows and related engagement activities to help people in greenspace-deprived areas - which also have indicators of social deprivation, mental health issues and poor air quality - to connect with nature. All activities will be designed to be inclusive, allowing a wide range of people the opportunity to engage in hands-on conservation work and gain appreciation of the natural world in their local area.

*Our previous coordinator went on to secure employment with CPRE, helped by the experience of volunteering in this role.

The role of the Hedgerow Heroes Coordinator will be: 

• the administration and organisation of people and teams to meet planting and restoration session requirements 
• provide support for community-led hedgerow planting and restoration sessions 
• to work alongside more experienced volunteers to learn planting techniques and skills 

As your experience grows potentially to:

• Deliver skills-building sessions related to hedgerow planting, laying, maintenance and surveying 
• Deliver hedgerow walks to promote the value of hedgerows; help people learn about native hedgerow species and hedgerow foraging.

The project will be run in partnership with London’s Friends of Greenspace Network – which supports community groups aiming to enhance their local green-spaces, and with whom CPRE have a strong and continuous relationship providing them with regular newsletters; corporate volunteering opportunities; events; and by facilitating capacity building and directly providing bespoke support and advice.

What are we looking for?

Are you passionate about hedgerows and community engagement? Can you help us introduce, restore and maintain hedgerows in London’s green belt, in cooperation with Friends-of groups and community-level volunteers?

Time requirement: It is anticipated that this role would require 2 - 3 days per week, hybrid working, some onsite. However, this is flexible and can be discussed at interview.

The skills you need - our ideal volunteer will demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Attention to detail and determination
• Skilled communicator who can demonstrate a passion for connecting people and the environment and inspiring communities to take local action.
• Conservation work or hedgerow planting and management would be an advantage
• Competent IT skills and organisation/admin experience 
• A flexible and ‘can-do’ attitude
• An ability to work both as part of a team and independently with minimum supervision
• An interest in environmental issues and enthusiasm for helping further CPRE London’s work 

Benefits for you: 

• Use your skills to help our charity and make a positive difference to London’s green spaces
• Meet like-minded people and enjoy being part of a team
• *Enhance your CV by developing new skills and gaining valuable experience
• We will support you in your role and provide you with relevant training
• We can give you a reference for your future work or volunteering
• Get involved with social events and workshops on a local and national level, including the annual CPRE conference
• The opportunity to attend a volunteer induction run by CPRE’s national office
• We provide out-of-pocket travel expense

We would encourage interested individuals to apply before the stated deadline, as we may interview early if a suitable applicant is identified.

Deadline: 21st July 

Scheduled Interview date: Tuesday 29th July (online or in person)

Start Date: Early September