Work experience: Get involved with peatland restoration

Are you a student passionate about the environment and looking for hands-on work experience in peatland restoration and conservation? If so, applications are now open to join us for a practical five-day work experience for 14-18 year olds taking place between 7 and 11 July 2025 with the South West Peatland Partnership.

This will be a chance to learn how peatland restoration helps with natural flood management, wildlife diversity, and making our landscapes more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis. We’re excited to have planned a really practical week out and about with the team on the moorlands of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, giving you the opportunity to explore remote landscapes and gain hands-on skills in conservation planning and processes.

What You’ll Be Doing

Over five days of fieldwork, you could take part in:

-          Restoration surveys, assessing areas for upcoming SWPP work

-          Wildlife and plant monitoring, understanding the long and short-term impacts of restoration

-          Archaeological surveys, helping protect historical features

-          Fixed-point photography, tracking changes in the landscape

-          Hands-on restoration, working alongside our regular volunteer groups

-          Communications & research, updating records, event planning, or resource creation

What You Need to Know

You’ll be outdoors in (nearly!) all weathers in remote areas of the moor, with lots of walking on tricky ground.

You’ll need appropriate outdoor clothing, spare layers, waterproofs and wellington boots. There are often no shelters or toilet facilities out and about during the day.

You must be able to make your own way to Okehampton each day, where transport to the sites will then be arranged with our team.

The experience includes a creative write-up, photo diary, or artwork project to showcase your learnings and favourite elements of the work. This will be explained during the week.

How to Apply

Spaces are very limited, so we’re looking for students who are passionate about the environment, eager to learn and happy out on the moors in all weathers! To put yourself forward, please drop us an email, copying in a parent or guardian, and tell us a little about yourself and why you want to take part in our work.

Deadline: 9am Tuesday 8 April 2025

Contact: Rachael, SWPP Education & Engagement Officer at southwestpeatlandpartnership@gmail.com 

Can’t make these dates? Join our group of nearly 100 volunteers in a whole range of roles year-round across the South West’s peatlands: Vacancies & volunteering — South West Peatland Partnership