Volunteering With Us
NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP
NWKCP simply could not continue without the support of our amazing, multi-award-winning volunteer team, some of whom have been volunteering with us for over twenty years! The team has a great feeling of camaraderie and nothing beats the feeling of working outdoors and having fun.
Our volunteering teams, typically go out on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 and 16:00 across a range of different sites in Bexley, Dartford, Gravesend and Sevenoaks. They work on a huge variety of projects which include path clearance, coppicing, creating nature areas in schools, hedge laying, pond creation, restoring river banks using traditional techniques and many more.
If you are keen to keep fit, connect with nature, make new friends and improve spaces for both wildlife and people then why not join us and become one of our invaluable volunteers?
For more information on volunteering with us please click on the following link: Volunteer Handbook
To sign up as one of our volunteers or to find out more please contact: Stephanie.Johnson@kent.gov.uk
If you are under 18 and interested in volunteering or thinking of work experience please follow the link to find out more:
Work Experience and Under 18s Volunteering
We can also offer practical, outdoor volunteering activities for employee teams. Follow the link to find out more:
Employee volunteering
Please find below a copy of this month’s volunteering tasks:
Volunteer Project Programme
September 2026
Tuesday 1st – Dartford Heath
We will be bracken pulling on Dartford Heath, this will help reduce bracken dominance and support the restoration of diverse heathland vegetation. We will be working in the compartment opposite the car park on Heath Lane (Google Map for Dartford Heath Car Park).
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting at Dartford Heath car park, Heath Lane (Upper), Dartford DA1 2TN Google Map for Dartford Heath.
Wednesday 2nd – Joydens Wood, Summerhouse Drive, Dartford DA2 7PB
We will be removing reeds that have choked up one of the ponds on site, along with cutting back vegetation that is growing in and around another pond which is struggling to retain water. Depending on if we get any rain waders maybe required for this task so please let me know your shoe size beforehand so that I can provide these.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am, at the yard at Trosley Country Park or 9:40 if meeting on site at the entrance to Joydens Wood that is next to the bus stop on Summerhouse Drive. There is plenty of parking on the residential roads off from Summerhouse Drive. Please wait at the entrance so that Steph can pick up all the volunteers and drive them closer to the working areas.
What3words Summerhouse Drive Entrance: ///order.ranch.slug
Thursday 3rd – Joydens Wood, Summerhouse Drive, Dartford DA2 7PB
We will be removing reeds that have choked up one of the ponds on site, along with cutting back vegetation that is growing in and around another pond which is struggling to retain water. Depending on if we get any rain waders maybe required for this task so please let me know your shoe size beforehand so that I can provide these.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am, at the yard at Trosley Country Park or 9:40 if meeting on site at the entrance to Joydens Wood that is next to the bus stop on Summerhouse Drive. There is plenty of parking on the residential roads off from Summerhouse Drive. Please wait at the entrance so that Steph can pick up all the volunteers and drive them closer to the working areas.
What3words Summerhouse Drive Entrance: ///order.ranch.slug
Saturday 5th – Brooklands Lakes Bat Walk
Nina is looking for a couple of volunteers to help support her on the bat walk around Brooklands Lakes. This will mostly involve ensuring the group sticks together and alerting her if any issues occur.
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: Nina will be on site around 19:10 getting ready and the walk will start at 19:30 and last about 1 hour and half. There is free parking available in the fishing club car park: ///chief.cove.ideal,
Google Map for Brooklands Lakes. The entrance is next to the B&M car park entrance on Princes Road.
Tuesday 8th – Trosley Country Park, Waterlow Road, Vigo, Gravesend, DA13 0SG
We will be creating a new pond on site.
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am at Trosley Country Park. Please make sure you enter your vehicle registration in at the office to get free parking for the day.
Wednesday 9th – Hollows Wood, Chelsfield Lane, Sevenoaks, BR6 7QT
We will be cutting down and pulling up invasive laurel trees that are growing on site.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. There is parking on site in a small loading bay area which Steph will be able to unlock for everyone to use upon arrival. The parking/meeting site is where Chelsfield Lane is intersected by a small path (see google maps).
What3words: Parking: ///humid.ending.limbs
Thursday 10th – Hollows Wood, Chelsfield Lane, Sevenoaks, BR6 7QT
We will be cutting down and pulling up invasive laurel trees that are growing on site. Nina will also be with us to apply pesticides directly to the laurel stems.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. There is parking on site in a small loading bay area which Steph will be able to unlock for everyone to use upon arrival. The parking/meeting site is where Chelsfield Lane is intersected by a small path (see google maps).
What3words: Parking: ///humid.ending.limbs
Friday 11th – Trosley Country Park, Waterlow Road, Vigo, Gravesend, DA13 0SG
We will be continuing work on the new pond.
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am at Trosley Country Park. Please make sure you enter your vehicle registration in at the office to get free parking for the day.
Wednesday 16th – Joydens Wood, Summerhouse Drive, Dartford DA2 7PB
We will be removing reeds that have choked up one of the ponds on site, along with cutting back vegetation that is growing in and around another pond which is struggling to retain water. Depending on if we get any rain waders maybe required for this task so please let me know your shoe size beforehand so that I can provide these.
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am, at the yard at Trosley Country Park or 9:40 if meeting on site at the entrance to Joydens Wood that is next to the bus stop on Summerhouse Drive. There is plenty of parking on the residential roads off from Summerhouse Drive. Please wait at the entrance so that Nina can pick up all the volunteers and drive them closer to the working areas.
What3words Summerhouse Drive Entrance: ///order.ranch.slug
Thursday 17th – Rectory Meadow, Hartley, Banckside Road, DA3 7RD
We will be cutting the meadows on site and raking up the arisings. Brushcutter operators will be required.
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park if wanting a lift, otherwise meet on site at 10am at the entrance to Rectory Meadow (gate at the end of Banckside Road).
What3words: ///grain.funny.drain
Wednesday 23rd – Joydens Wood Ponds or Gattons Plantation Pond
Depending on our progress we will either be continuing our work at the two ponds we worked on in the previous weeks in the main section of Joydens Wood or moving on to vegetation clearance around Gatton’s Plantation pond which is in a different section. Steph will confirm the working area along with sending out the new meeting details if we are moving to this new pond. Brush cutter operators maybe required if working on Gatton’s Plantation pond.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: details to be sent out and confirmed the week before.
Thursday 24th – Telegraph Hill, The Larches, Higham, ME3 7NQ
We will be doing scrub clearance and woodland management. Brushcutter operators maybe required.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. Parking on The Larches and other residential roads. Meet at gate at the end of The Larches. No toilets on site.
What3words: ///outer.forced.lamp
Monday 28th – Dartford Gunpowder Mills, Powder Mill Lane, Dartford
We will be clearing vegetation and removing litter from the Old Gunpowder Mill.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. Meet at the junction of Powder Mill Lane and the Darent Valley Path. On street parking on Powder Mill Lane DA1 1JA
Google Map for Gunpowder Mills
What3words: ///broad.posed.fine
Tuesday 29th – Dartford Gunpowder Mills, Powder Mill Lane, Dartford
We will be clearing vegetation and removing litter from the Old Gunpowder Mill.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. Meet at the junction of Powder Mill Lane and the Darent Valley Path. On street parking on Powder Mill Lane DA1 1JA
Google Map for Gunpowder Mills
What3words: ///broad.posed.fine
Wednesday 30th – Telegraph Hill, The Larches, Higham, ME3 7NQ
We will be doing scrub clearance and woodland management. Brushcutter operators maybe required.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting directly on site. Parking on The Larches and other residential roads. Meet at gate at the end of The Larches. No toilets on site.
What3words: ///outer.forced.lamp
