You can volunteer to work alongside ‘roving' rangers that support groups and green spaces in various sites across Bristol.
Support groups include:
- ParkWork: mainly city centre and east Bristol
- One Tree Per Child: city-wide
- Your Park: south Bristol
- The Nature Nurture Group: mainly north and east Bristol
ParkWork
ParkWork offers ranger led conservation and gardening sessions in parks and green spaces across Bristol, with training and skills development for people who are looking for work in the green sector.
ParkWork session are led by Joe, and take place weekly and monthly.
Weekly:
- Eastville Park on Wednesdays
- Oldbury Court on Fridays
Monthly:
- Brandon Hill on the first Tuesday morning of the month
- Castle Park on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month
- Owen Square Park on the second Tuesday morning of the month
- Lawrence Weston Moor/Saltmarsh Drive on the last Tuesday of the month, alternately
- Mall Gardens on the first Friday morning of the month
Contact parkvolunteers@bristol.gov.uk with the email subject ‘ParkWork' to find out more.
One Tree Per Child
One Tree Per Child plants trees in schools, parks and open spaces across Bristol. Volunteers can help plant or maintain trees throughout the year.
Find out more on our One Tree Per Child page.
Your Park: South Bristol
Our parks service works closely with the charitable foundation Your Park to improve our cities, parks and green spaces for health, wellbeing, and nature.
You can join work parties with volunteers and groups in 9 parks in south Bristol:
- Cottle Road green space
- Dundry Slopes
- Hartcliffe Millennium Green
- Hawkfield Meadow
- Hengrove Mounds
- Northern Slopes
- Stockwood open space
- Withywood Park
- Willmott Park
Contact rachel@yourpark.org.uk if you're interested, and you can find out more about bringing Bristol's parks to life on the Your Park website.
The Nature Nurture Group: mainly north and east Bristol
Help care for Bristol's green spaces with Nicky the ‘roving' ranger, taking part in seasonal outdoor activities that include:
- cutting back brambles along woodland edges and grasslands
- clearing litter from paths and streams
- learning new skills like scything grass and pruning fruit trees
- repairing paths and steps to protect woodland flowers
- observing and discovering local wildlife and habitats
No experience is needed, and all fitness levels are welcome.
South/east Bristol
- Wednesdays, 10am to 3pm
- Locations:
- Callington Road Local Nature Reserve
- Coombe Brook Valley
- Eastwood Farm
- Crox Bottom
- Saltwell Valley
View the pdf South and East Bristol ranger-led volunteer group Summer 2025 Programme(258 KB) .
North Bristol
- Fridays, 10am to 2pm
- Locations:
- Kingsweston Estate
- Shirehampton Park and Napier Miles
- Lawrence Weston and Saltmarsh Drive
View the pdf North Bristol ranger-led volunteer group Summer 2025 programme(276 KB) and the pdf Botany group summer 2025 programme(276 KB) .
Taster sessions
You can join Nicky for a 30 to 60 minute taster session or come for half or a full day.
We'll provide you with:
- training on conservation tasks
- tools, equipment and gloves
- tea, coffee and biscuits
There is also a portable toilet and handwashing facilities.
You'll need to bring:
- lunch and a water bottle
- sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing
How to join our sessions:
- Email parkvolunteers@bristol.gov.uk. We recommend emailing 1 to 2 weeks before the session you would like to come to
- You'll be sent an email with information including the meeting point for the session