Our Glorious Cotswold Grasslands programme is a real success story – restoring or creating wildflower-rich limestone grassland across the Cotswolds. A devoted group of volunteers has helped with this work throughout the programme, and their help is essential.
In the summer, volunteers work alongside our Glorious Cotswold Grasslands team in the fields. When the meadows are in full bloom in early summer, we carry out a variety of botanical surveys. Later, once the wildflowers have set seed, we use brush-seed harvesters to collect the seed, sorting it by hand and drying it in the sun. As the weather cools, we work with landowners to prepare the ground ready to sow seed by hand with groups of volunteers. Over the winter, we run a regular Wednesday habitat management group, working on precious fragments of unimproved calcareous grassland to cut back encroaching scrub and grasses – which allows the wildflowers to flourish again.
This is deeply satisfying (and tiring!) work. The Glorious Cotswold Grasslands team works entirely in tune with nature, the weather, and the seasons. Volunteering with the team will connect you to the Cotswolds landscape in a unique way.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering please complete the form below.
Glorious Cotswold Grasslands enquiry form