Countryside - volunteers

The Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers (SNCV) is the main nature conservation organisation operating in Sutton.

SNCV Volunteers Displays a larger version of this image in a new browser window

We have close ties with the local Wildlife Trusts and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. We are a non-political organisation and a registered charity. We are grateful for the support (financial and otherwise) of the London Borough of Sutton.

Our main aims are the conservation and improvement of sites of wildlife value in the borough. We carry out practical maintenance and habitat management work throughout the year. These tasks include hedgelaying, coppicing and fence construction. During the spring and summer we also carry out ecological surveys and monitoring. See the pdf icon plant list [177kb] for species that can be found in Sutton.

We carry out practical management tasks on sites spread throughout the borough. They vary in character from small pockets of 'green space' to Local Nature Reserves. Some of these sites have limited public access and so volunteer task days provide excellent opportunities to see them.

We meet both during the week and at weekends. Details of dates and times of specific tasks can be found in our seasonal task programme. We also have evening meetings every second month at the Sutton Ecology Centre where you can meet other members and share news and views.

Do you...

  • Enjoy fresh air?
  • Have a little spare time at weekends or weekdays?
  • Want to help make the borough richer in wildlife?
  • Want to gain practical work experience?

If so, why not come and join in on one of our task days?

To find out more about volunteering or work experience with the SNCV have a look at our volunteer information, contact Hendryk on 020 8770 5821, or email sncv@sutton.gov.uk.

The Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers are based at:

The Sutton Ecology Centre, Festival Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3NY.

Have a look in our pdf icon task programme [135kb] to find out what we are doing this season.

The SNCV is a registered charity and has been working to conserve and maintain Sutton's many wildlife sites since 1987.

SNCV Volunteers 2         SNCV Volunteers 3

Volunteering with the SNCV

The Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers welcome volunteers of all ages to help with practical conservation projects like hedge laying, tree planting, pond building, path maintenance, path signing and scrub clearance.

Cuddington Meadows

Cuddington Meadows was declared a Local Nature Reserve in January 2004, based on the diversity of its chalk grassland. Although at only 1.42ha (3.5 acres), Cuddington Meadows is a small site, it contains a number of scarce and important species within the chalk grassland.

Devonshire Avenue Nature Area

Devonshire Avenue Nature Area (DANA) is a small site of around 0.42ha (1 acre) in a residential area in South Sutton. It was declared a Local Nature Reserve in January 2004. The site was previously known as Devonshire Avenue Children's Playground. The site occupies land that was home to three houses that were bombed during World War II. The rubble was cleared and the site was then used as an informal playground. In the early 1990's, the land was brought under control by the Environment & Leisure part of the council to be used for nature conservation.

SNCV Sites

Please click on a link to find out more about the sites that the SNCV carry out practical work on.