Woodland Conservation Volunteers

There are three different ways to get involved as a Woodland Conservation Volunteer:

on the 2nd Saturday of the month you can join the Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party,
on two Fridays and / or a Tuesday you can join the Woodland Conservation Volunteers,
on the last Saturday from September to April you can take part in Coppicing.

This gives you up to five opportunities a month to make a positive difference to the ecology of Oxleas Woodlands.

The conservation groups consist of volunteers over the age of 18 and undertake a range of tasks, including - clearance of rhododendron and sycamore, dead-hedge construction, ditch clearing, pond renovation, holly reduction, path maintenance etc. No special skills or knowledge is required, and we provide tools. You must provide your own gloves and we recommend clothing and boots suitable for working in woodland (think mud and brambles!) Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome - but expect to get grubby !!!!

Check our 2026 dates below, or email us for details.

All conservation groups meet at 10am and generally continue working in the woods until about 1pm.

To become a volunteer email us at oxleas.volunteers@gmail.com

Calendar 2026

Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party (SHWWP)
The Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party has been working closely with Greenwich Council since 1994

Saturday 10th January
Saturday 14th February
Saturday 14th March
Saturday 11th April
Saturday 9th May
Saturday 13th June
Saturday 11th July
Saturday 8th August
Saturday 12th September
Saturday 10th October
Saturday 14th November
Saturday 12th December

Tuesday Woodland Conservation

Tuesday 20th January
Tuesday 24th February
Tuesday 24th March
Tuesday 28th April
Tuesday 26th May
Tuesday 23rd June
Tuesday 28th July
Tuesday 25th August
Tuesday 22nd September
Tuesday 27th October
Tuesday 24th November
Tuesday 15th December

Saturday Coppicing

Saturday 24th January
Saturday 31st January
Saturday 28th February
Saturday 28th March
Saturday 26th September
Saturday 24th October
Saturday 28th November

Friday Woodland Conservation

Friday 16th January
Friday 6th February
Friday 20th February
Friday 6th March
Friday 20th March
Friday 4th April
Friday 17th April
Friday 1st May
Friday 15th May
Friday 5th June
Friday 19th June
Friday 5th July
Friday 3rd July
Friday 17th July
Friday 31st July
Friday 14th August
Friday 28th August
Friday 4th September
Friday 18th September
Friday 2nd October
Friday 16th October
Friday 6th November
Friday 20th November
Friday 4th December
Friday 18th December

Have you seen our woodland conservation group in Oxleas Woodlands?

Those of you who get out and about in Oxleas Woodlands will have spotted our hard-working volunteers in their yellow hi-vis vests carrying out activities to protect and conserve the woodlands for future generations. This does not, as you would expect, happen without a great deal of planning and organisation and, as the group sizes grow, so does the amount of time put into this aspect.

How do we decide what we will do?

As you will know, this could not happen without the cooperation of the landowners, the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Parks and Open Spaces Department, with which we have created a joint plan. This sets out the key ecological issues that exist within the woodlands and suggests the amount of attention which should be given to dealing with each aspect. For example, the highest priority of all is given to, as you will no doubt guess:

Removing invasive and competitive species such as rhododendron, cherry laurel, and our native holly.

So, you will understand now why you see us clearing so much of it from the sunny slopes, and also from along the edges of the pathways.

But why do we remove these species?

The simple answer to that question is that both species spread very quickly, and cast deep shade on the woodland floor, preventing native shrubs and flowers from growing beneath them. Then, as they spread, we lose more and more of our beautiful ancient woodland species, like wood anemone, bluebells etc. Additionally, they cast that same deep shade on the woodland pathways, meaning that the paths take much longer to dry out, making them muddier for much longer, and we don’t want that do we?

Where have we done some holly and cherry laurel clearance?

A year ago, we spent several weeks clearing holly from within and around the area and as the ‘dancing daffodils’ die down, watch out for our beautiful native bluebells pushing through.

Nor is the holly and cherry laurel wasted as all vegetation cut back in the woodlands stays in the woodlands. We use it to create ‘dead’ hedges to protect areas while they regenerate. These hedges also act as habitat and wildlife corridors for small mammals, invertebrates, etc. and, as the vegetation rots down, fungus helps the process too helping valuable nutrients return to the earth to feed a new generation of flora and funga.

Not only is this area now a light dappled space but walkers can see the spring flowers from three different sides, bringing brightness during the dull winter months. That’s what we call a success, and we hope you do too!