Woodland Conservation Volunteers

There are four Woodland Conservation sessions each month. The Friends of Oxleas Woodlands Woodland Conservation Group meets two Fridays and one Tuesday per month. The Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party
- which has been working closely with Greenwich Council since 1994 - meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

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 2025 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 2025

Shooters Hill Woodlands Working Party (SHWWP)

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

Tuesday Woodland Conservation

Tuesday 21st January
Tuesday 18th February
Tuesday 18th March
Tuesday 15th April
Tuesday 20th May
Tuesday 24th June
Tuesday 22nd July
Tuesday 19th August
Tuesday 23rd September
Tuesday 21st October
Tuesday 18th November
Tuesday 23rd December

Friday Woodland Conservation

Friday 17th January
Friday 31st January
Friday 14th February
Friday 28th February
Friday 14th March
Friday 28th March
Friday 25th April
Friday 16th May
Friday 30th May
Friday 20th June
Friday 4th July
Friday 18th July
Friday 1st August
Friday 15th August
Friday 29th August
Friday 19th September
Friday 3rd October
Friday 17th October
Friday 31st October
Friday 14th November
Friday 28th November
Friday 19th 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!