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Partner with us
Collaborative Conservation: Building Partnerships for Haslemere's Biodiversity
Our situation on the intersection of 3 counties (the boundaries of which wildlife does not recognize) makes coordination of efforts more complex. Partnering with organizations such as the Surrey, Hants and Sussex Wildlife Trusts provides advice and a pathway for collaboration with other groups. Engaging with other towns and villages, such as Farnham, Witley & Grayshott, also promotes a joined-up approach.
Haslemere Town Council are essential in making things happen on the ground and have also proved a generous funding partner, for example in the purchase of equipment to survey and monitor local species. Having worked closely with Councillors on the Neighbourhood Plan biodiversity policies, we are familiar with the pressures they face and engage regularly to keep them updated and to seek assistance in progressing projects.
We also work with local wildlife organisations e.g. the Surrey Dormouse Group the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) Buglife UK and the Haslemere Natural History Society, which enables us to pool resources, funding and expertise for initiatives.
Philanthropic local groups such as the Haslemere Society and the Lobs Charity have provided funding for initiatives and keep their members up to date on what we are doing. Their support is essential, both fiscally and in encouraging the efforts of our team.
Partnerships offering professional expertise are also critical to the work. National authorities such as Natural England, CPRE and the Surrey Nature Partnership are excellent sources of advice, information and ways of getting things done. The team also buys in dedicated time from professional ecologists which has catapulted projects forward and ensured high quality output to tight deadlines.
The co-operation and support of local landowners and land managers is key to successful delivery of results and we work hard to develop good working relationships. We work closely with the National Trust, Haslemere Town Council and Waverley Borough Council on land in their care, as well as with various private landowners.
Wildlife Gardening
Inspirational Ideas; Hints and Tips Shared by the Community
We love to share what works for wildlife in gardens and have found the best ideas come from the community. Please don’t hold back; submit yours via the button below and with your permission, we’ll post them up to inspire others.
Advice on wildlife gardening from our ecologists:
- Plant hedges instead of fences where you can – or you could plant in front of your fence. If fencing is necessary, you can drill small holes at the base, large enough for hedgehogs to traverse but too small for cats!
- Laurels are poor sources of food for wildlife and give year round dense shade; limiting ground plants from growing beneath. Traditional hedging plants are much better; hawthorn, or less thorny options hornbeam, beech and hazel.
- Reduce lawnmowing frequency and increase cut height to allow any forbs within the grass to flower and set seed.
- Minimise garden lighting, by reducing the lumens (brightness) of bulbs, by hooding or shielding them to point downwards, or by reducing the time they’re on. Read more about the effects of obtrusive lighting in our article.
- Provide homes for wildlife in your garden; log piles, small ponds, bug hotels – anything that provides a stable base for them year in, year out.
Garden Wildlife Surveys
National Polecat Survey 2024 – 2025
Big Garden Birdwatch – 24 Jan – 26 Jan 2025
Big Butterfly Count – 17 July – 10 August 2025
Volunteering
Collaborative Conservation: Making Change Happen on the Ground
There is a strong leadership team in place, headed by Dr. Philippa Guest whose field of expertise is in sustainable agriculture. In most cases volunteering is driven by long held passion for wildlife (of both leafy and furry varieties) as opposed to specific expertise and all with a passion are welcome.
Reversing biodiversity decline is a big undertaking and the need is extensive. The limit to our ambitions is the number of hands to help and the group is always on the lookout for new members. In particular those with ecological experience, but we also need people on the ground (horticulturalists, walkers, bird spotters, litter pickers, landscapers) and people who can lead, administrate and publicise projects.
Volunteer time and funds permitting, projects will be rolled out further, so any gardeners willing to plant, pond-owners willing to report amphibious visitors, or landowners keen to house a dormouse nest, please do come forward, we’d love to hear from you.
Volunteers on Board
Be a Champion for Nature
Join us in Preserving Haslemere's Natural Splendour
Embrace the call to action – volunteer, participate, and contribute to safeguard the beauty of Haslemere’s natural spaces. Together, let’s create a sustainable legacy for our community.
The Best Team
Meet Our Volunteers
Our dedicated and thoughtful team have a considerable range of skills from diverse professional backgrounds. The majority began with little expertise in flora and fauna, but through generously applying their time and knowledge from other fields, have picked up significant local knowledge. We are guided by ecologists and consultants, but lay members of the community from whatever sector are always more than welcome.
