Volunteering

The Friends Task Group meets roughly every fortnight on the Common to carry out a programme of maintenance and conservation. The work programme is agreed in advance with Natural England to ensure that the Task Group’s work complements and supports that of Natural England and Escrick Park Estate.

Task Days in 2025 began on Wednesday 10 January and will take place every fortnight, generally on a Wednesday, throughout the year. Occasionally we add an extra day, for example when there’s work to be done with the sheep. Task Days begin at 10am and generally finish around 2pm.

Work during the past year has included clearance of birch growth (which swamps other plants), refurbishment and replacement of marker posts on the waymarked walks, pond maintenance, protection of rare plants including the Royal Fern and Marsh Gentians, building of ‘dead-hedges’ (refuges for insects and small mammals) and support for the shepherd who looks after the flock of black Hebridean sheep.

If you would like to join the Task Group, please contact us at skipcomfriends@gmail.com. You don’t have to commit to a particular number of sessions – just come along when you can and for as long as you can.

Hibernaculum built by the Task Group to provide a winter shelter for insects and small mammals