Friends of Blaise offer a wide range of opportunties for volunteering with local experienced volunteers and park rangers. Often we team up with other local groups for this such as SusWOT.
Great as outdoor gym or you just want to commune with nature in a magnigicent setting.
2020/21 Update
Due to the ongoing situation there are limited volunteering options available. We hope there will be more options as we move towards the spring of 2021.
litter picking
Throughout the year we organise litter picking events around the stream and paths in Blaise. Details of events will published on the latest @Blaise page.
Community garden
Hidden away to the side of the museum, behind walls is the Community Garden (formerly the kitchen garden to the great house). This 2 acre site contains multiple greenhouses for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. In addition it has an all-purpose cabin, a pond, three beehives, an orchard, and several outhouses.
Although the garden is now a charity in it's own right and has an active body of volunteers, we always need more, not just for gardening but restoring the outhouses, helping out with events and welcoming visitors.
It is open throughout the year every Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm where tea, coffee and often with home-made cakes provided for the volunteers.
Potential upcoming projects include art & craft afternoons, building a pizza oven, charcoal making and cider pressing.
conservation work
Woodland Work
Between December and March with no bird nests to disturb, there will be a regular Monday work programme of coppicing, thining and scrub clearance throughout the 400 acres of woodland. This is a great chance to get out and immerse yourself in this historic, wild landscape.
Balsam Bashing
In the summer months in conjunction with SusWOT we clear invasive plants such as Himalayan Balsam from the river banks.
We Believe You Will Find These Activities Really Worthwile And An Opportunity To:
castle opening
We are always looking for more volunteers to help open the castle for just a few hours on a weekend or bank holiday afternoon. Wihtout your help we will struggle to keep opening this fine gothic folly to the public. If you think you can help even just for an hour please email us at contact@friendsofblaise.co.uk