Conservation Volunteering London
Join conservation efforts and explore London outdoors

The Wonder of Ancient Oak Savernake Forest, Berkshire
Sat, Feb 21, 8:45 AM**Distance**: 24km (15 miles approx) circular route **Ascent**: 265m **Duration**: 6 hours walking **Grade**: Moderate Savernake Forest is a quiet, hidden wonder that holds more veteran trees than anywhere else in Europe - walking here feels like moving through deep time. My plan is to visit this February when the forest stands bare, allowing the full presence of the trees to be seen and felt. Without leaves, their vast forms and ancient structures are revealed in a way that is really striking . I’ll return again in autumn, when the same paths are transformed by colour, offering a very different, equally powerful experience. Savernake is the largest privately owned forest in Britain, set within the North Wessex Downs. Its damp, heavy soils are particularly well suited to oak and beech, and many of the trees have immense girths that are awe-inspiring. Some are over 1,000 years old, bearing the marks of centuries of weather, growth, and survival. Some of trees to see are: King of Limbs (Radioheads 2011 album is named after it), Cathedral Oak, Big Belly Oak, New Queen Oak, Replacement King Oak to name but a few! There will be an optional pub stop at the end of the walk. The toilets in the forest are closed for the winter and there are no cafes along our way, so come prepared with enough food and water for the day. **COST AND LOGISTICS** **Cost**: £10 **Group size:** 20 **Start**: 8.40am London Paddington for Group Save **Meet:** 8:50 for those who buy their own tickets **MORNING train from London** **Dep**: 09:05 London Paddington **Arr:** 10.30 Great Bedwyn **RETURN:** **Finish:** 5.30pm at the pub **Return train**: 17:41. Next train is an hour later **Arr:** 18.57 in London Paddington. **Recommended train ticket** Off-Peak Day Return to Great Bedywn * **£29 group save/ network rail price** Recommended: yearly Network Railcard for reduced train prices www.network-railcard.co.uk **Meeting Point:** In front of Heathrow Express Ticket Office **REVIEWS** [Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/aaa-outdoor-hiking-adventure-travel/feedback-overview/) **PRICE INCLUDES** · Guided hike planned and led by an experienced AAA leader, trained in Outdoor First Aid. **PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** · Travel costs · Lunch, drinks or any refreshments · PayPal fees **RECOMMENDED KIT LIST** [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)[complete list]()[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist) · Suitable hiking shoes or boots · Packed lunch and snacks · Water - 2 litres recommended · Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!) · Warm windproof layer e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece · Wicking base layer e.g. Polyester/Tencel/Merino **CANCELLING/REFUNDS** If you can no longer join the hike, please message the Host listed on here, and update your RSVP status to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the hike is full, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', we will refund you, less than the PayPal/Meetup fees. To obtain this, please email info@aaalondongroup.com **after the event**, with the email address you use on your PayPal account and transaction reference. If the hike is not full, unfortunately we will not be able to provide any refund. **QUESTIONS** If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page. We have operated over 1,000 events without significant incidents in the last ten years, achieved through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. © AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted

Woolwich: Weekly FoodCycle FREE Lunch
Fri, Feb 27, 12:30 PM***They*** *say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but they're wrong!* **[FoodCycle](https://foodcycle.org.uk/who-we-are/)**'s lovely volunteers use [unwanted food](https://cityharvest.org.uk/about-city-harvest) to produce three course, [meat-free recipe](https://foodcycle.org.uk/recipes/) (tell them you're vegan) **[community meals](https://foodcycle.org.uk/community-meals/)** across [England](https://foodcycle.org.uk/find-a-meal/), that are free to all. [FoodCycle Woolwich](https://foodcycle.org.uk/location/foodcycle-woolwich/) ([map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVEi9poq68YRxQX86)\|[video](https://youtu.be/5VEIsN1aCk4)) is every Friday (with rare exception; I'm notified by text), at **[Woolwich Common Community Centre](https://www.wccc.org.uk/)**'s accessible [main hall](https://www.wccc.org.uk/gallery?pgid=l3le3lp7-1daa7232-8086-4a0d-82cb-1c2a7887d105). I sometimes help the Hosting team, and have met a few other vegan [volunteers](https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/opportunity/a1dQs000000fmvPIAQ), inc. chef and fellow [SE18 Vegans](https://www.facebook.com/groups/SE18Vegans) member John, who has a vegan daughter like me :-) P.S. You can bring food containers, in case of leftovers.

🦭 (Last Chance!) Hike to Atlantic Grey Seals – Britain's Wildlife Safari
Sat, Feb 28, 7:45 AM################# **Explore Britain’s most stunning trails in a small group of up to 15, travelling together by private minibus to beautiful, remote locations not easily reached by public transport.** **This is the final opportunity to see the seals until next year, as they gradually begin to leave.** **We’ve created a list of [FAQs](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e4VGmwhurmCng2cY3ZJHOS4j9ZlWKaX1/view?usp=sharing) to help answer your questions.** ################# We’re off to Norfolk! The seals in Norfolk are truly one of Britain's most special sights. Without any doubt, they're an incredible WOW factor and one that you must see! On this day hike, we'll walk along the top of the sand dunes and enjoy stunning panoramic views across the North Sea. On our way, we'll pass the much-loved grey seal colony at Horsey Beach, which draws thousands of visitors each year, **particularly between November and March**, when the seals come ashore to breed. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of seals and their pups stretching for as far as the eye can see! The whole walk is in the Broads National Park – one of fifteen national parks in the UK. You'll discover its iconic windmills, navigable waterways and broads (man-made, shallow lakes). With over 125 miles of lock-free waterways, the Norfolk Broads have more miles of waterway than Venice or Amsterdam, and are an extremely popular boating holiday destination! Locals like to call the Broads “the Venice of the East”. 💪 This walk is **suitable for all abilities** – it is almost entirely flat and done at a very gentle pace to allow us enjoy the nature and take plenty of pictures. **HIKE HIGHLIGHTS** * Watch seals and their young from a close distance at Horsey Gap, home to one of the biggest colonies of grey seals in Britain. * Take a gentle stroll over the vast open expanse of the golden sand dunes of Winterton Beach – a Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The area is a veritable haven for birds and all kinds of wildlife and is widely regarded as having the best sand dunes in Norfolk. * See the spectacular Horsey Windpump – the youngest and largest windpump in the Norfolk Broads. It was built in 1912 to pump water out from the surrounding land so that it could be used for farming. * Discover Horsey Mere, often regarded as one of the most beautiful of the northern broads and famous for its internationally important wildlife. * Walk the newly opened stretch of the England Coast Path – a new National Trail around all of England's coast, which once completed will be the longest coastal walking route in the world (4,500 kilometres in length!). **DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY** Distance: 6 miles (10km). Ascent: 50m. Difficulty: [Easy](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMjvqhAAdSeCdyzLPHs0z04_e2TiKdci/view). **ITINERARY** **07:45** Meet outside ibis London City – Shoreditch Hotel, 5 Commercial St, E1 6BF (near Aldgate East Station) **08:00** Sharp departure **11:15** Horsey Windpump to Hemsby hike via Winterton-on-Sea for a lunch stop **16:30** Departure **19:30** London, we'll drop you off next to Bow Road Underground Station **TRANSPORT** As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus. **SAFETY** This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader. **BOOKING** To keep ticket prices down and avoid PayPal/Meetup fees (£7 extra per ticket), we kindly ask for payment by bank transfer. Please include your Meetup name and the trip as the payment reference (e.g. John Seals). As places are limited, we can hold your place for 24 hours. Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited Sort Code: 20-17-20 Account Number: 63116514 We'll let you know by changing your status to “Paid” as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the [attendees list](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313185368/attendees) of the event. You don’t need a paid Meetup subscription to do this – just close any pop-up windows and continue. **THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES** * Transport throughout the trip * Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver * Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Lowland Leader * Professional event organisation * Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders * Admin fee * 20% VAT **THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** * Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance) **HOW TO CONTACT US** For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours. Your guide will be Lily (07450435289, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip. **WHAT TO BRING** * Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support * Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers or a poncho (if there is a chance of rain) * Gloves/hat/cap * Water (min 1L) * Packed lunch **REVIEWS ⭐** We have hosted over 600 events on Meetup and received an incredible number of positive reviews from our community. We’re proud to have achieved an **average event rating of 4.8 out of 5**. Please keep sharing your feedback – it helps us continue to improve and make every trip even better! **JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA** This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next! [Facebook group link](https://www.facebook.com/groups/220802492121957) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/london_social_hiking/) **REFUND POLICY** You can check our refund policy [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ny-b2NmMzBlpCiKjzkqC2vJEisxlORpn/view?usp=drive_link).

Parks, Woodlands, Nature Reserves & Canals – Medium or Short Country Hike
Sun, Feb 22, 10:30 AMWalk length 12miles/19km approx or 6miles/10km approx (Circular). A hike exploring a number of parks, woods, nature reserves, rivers and canals close to Rickmansworth. The halfway point is close to the town of Watford at Cissiobury Park and you could end the walk at this point for a shorter version. The hike goes though Whippendell Wood, Harrocks Wood and Croxley Common all designated sites of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Conservation. Sections of both the Chess Valley Walk and the Grand Union Canal and Cassiobury Park. The halfway point and lunch stop for this hike will be Cassiobury Park at Watford that has a visitor centre. The hike starts from the small Chess Valley town of Rickmansworth which also has access to national rail and underground services. The hike is largely flat but does have some gradients up to Wippendell and Harrocks Wood. Cost Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee. For paypal it is '[colin45@hotmail.co.uk'](http://colin45@hotmail.co.uk'/) Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer. Meeting Meet outside the main entrance to Rickmansworth Station for the hike to start at 10.30am. This is a circular hike finishing back at Rickmansworth where we can get some optional drinks. You can use Oyster or pay as you go for Watford Junction. Rickmansworth is on the Metropolitan line. Car: Parking near Rickmansworth station. Side roads close to the station may be free on a Sunday, please check for restrictions and allow time to park. The walk should finish at about 4.30pm including a snack lunch stop and optional pub stop at the end , however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace. Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681. Walking Safety Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/Terms_and_Conditions/) COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.

BABY SEALS DAY TRIP - Hike the Dunes Of Norfolk Our Most **POPULAR EVENT**
Sat, Feb 21, 8:00 AMThis is a ticketed event. Not a FREE EVENT. **The only Meetup Group with access to a private 5 star 🌟 Luxury 52 Seater Brand New Coach for these types of trips. To save you both time and money compared to using public transport such as trains and taxis** **Saves you 3 hours of travel time compared to using public transport.** **\-\-\-\-\-\-** **🦭✨ A Magical Day Trip to See the Baby Seals at Norfolk Beach! 🌊🐾** **Coach Trip from London** **Bring Your Best Camera with you and a drone is most welcome and useful too.** ***🦭🐾 Let’s go seal the day together! 🌊💙*** **\-\-\-\-\-\-** **If its full join the waitlist and we will move you to going list after you contact us to make a seat reservation via WhatsApp on 07590 919391.** **🗓️ Date & Time** 📍Meeting point: Outside Stratford Station (near the bus station). WHATSAPP GROUP FOR EXACT Location. 🕗 Departure: 8:05 AM sharp 🕚 Arrival at Norfolk: Around 11:00 AM 🍽️ Pub lunch: 4:00 PM (optional but highly recommended!) 🚌 Return departure: 5:30 PM 🏙️ Arrive back in London: Around 8:30 PM (traffic depending) \-\-\- **🌟 Event Overview** We’re heading to the beautiful beaches of Norfolk to witness one of nature’s most heartwarming sights — hundreds of adorable baby seals! 🦭💙 Every winter, between November and February, the beaches between Horsey and Winterton become home to more than 5,000 Atlantic grey seals, making Norfolk one of the best and largest seal-viewing spots in the world. You’ll see fluffy newborn pups, playful young seals, and giant males lounging on the sand. 🐾 Volunteers will be nearby to answer questions and help ensure everyone enjoys this special wildlife experience safely. After our gentle 6–7 mile easy coastal walk, we’ll head to a local country pub at 4:00 PM for a well-deserved late lunch and a chance to relax, chat, and share photos before heading back to London. 🍻🥧 \-\-\- ***📸 What to Expect*** **✨ Up-close (but respectful!) encounters with baby seals. Close Encounters not always possible. For health and safety reasons. Keep minimum distance of 10 meters for safety reasons.** **🏖️ A scenic beach and dune walk through the Broads National Nature Reserve.** **🌾 Stunning coastal views and charming nearby villages.** **🌤️ A relaxed, friendly group atmosphere with nature lovers like you.** **\-\-\-** ***🦭 A Little History & Fun Facts*** The Atlantic grey seals of Norfolk are one of the largest breeding colonies in England. Each year, female seals return to the same beaches to give birth — and the pups, born with white fur, stay close to their mothers for about three weeks before heading into the sea. In recent years, conservation efforts have helped the population thrive, turning this quiet stretch of coast into one of Britain’s most treasured wildlife spectacles. 🌍💚 \-\-\- **🚶♀️ Hike Details** **Distance**: 6–7 miles (easy and mostly flat) **Difficulty**: 🟢 Easy – suitable for all fitness levels **Terrain**: Sand dunes, grassy paths, and beach sections **Duration**: Around 3 hours (including photo stops and breaks) ***Please note: The seals are wild animals — if they approach you, do not touch them. Their mothers may abandon them if they smell human scent.*** **\-\-\-** ***💷 Cost & Payment*** 🎟️ £61 per person Includes: ✅ Return coach transport from London. ✅ Guided coastal hike with a qualified and fully trained and experienced Hike leader. ✅ Organising costs and group coordination **💰 *£1 deposit required to reserve your seat — this event always sells out fast!*** ***All payments are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by us.*** \-\-\- **🍱 Food & Refreshments** ***🥪 Bring your own packed lunch and water, as there are no shops on the beach.*** ***🍻 Optional pub meal at 4:00 PM (bring cash/card just in case).*** ***\-\-\-*** **🎒 What to Bring** Waterproof hiking shoes or boots 🥾 Warm, weatherproof clothing 🧥 Packed lunch + snacks 🍎 Water bottle 💧 Camera or phone for photos 📸 Good vibes and curiosity! 😄 \-\-\- ***☔ Weather & Safety.*** We go rain or shine! 🌦️ Please dress appropriately — it might be breezy or muddy in places. Even if the forecast shows rain, it’s often just for a short while. Your host is first-aid trained. You are responsible for your own health and safety during the event. The Host is qualified and Experienced Hiking and Mountain Leader. \-\-\- 📱 **How to Book** **📩 Message the host on WhatsApp: 07590 919391** 💷 Pay your £1 deposit to reserve your seat (first come, first served) Once you’re confirmed, you’ll be added to the event WhatsApp group for all travel details and updates. \-\-\- **🚍 Why Coach Travel?** Travelling by coach makes the journey cheaper, faster, and more social! You’ll sit back, relax, chat with fellow adventurers, and arrive together right at the beach — no confusing train changes or long walks from stations. Last year’s trip was an incredible success (we did it 5 times!) and everyone loved it. 💬✨ \-\-\- **⚠️ Terms & Conditions** *This is a social, non-profit hobby group event.* *Participation is at your own risk. Please ensure you have suitable personal or travel insurance if needed.* *Refunds are only issued if the event is cancelled by the organiser.* \-\-\- **💚 Join Us for One of the Most Magical Days of the Year!** There’s nothing quite like seeing hundreds of baby seals up close in their natural habitat — a truly unforgettable experience! Spaces are very limited and this event sells out fast every year, so book your spot early! 🎟️✨ **🦭🐾 Let’s go seal the day together! 🌊💙** \-\-\-

Free* English conversation class at International café
Sun, Feb 22, 2:30 PMDiscover the World at International Cafe! We are a group of Christian volunteers set out to create a friendly community that welcomes everyone! Come and practice speaking English with our English speaking volunteers. You will learn more about British culture and discuss life with NEW topics each week. We also include a Bible story at the end of our sessions. At International Cafe, we start our meet up with refreshments, snacks and continue in engaging conversations. Each week, we'll look at NEW topics about British culture and history, so you can learn and socialize. Best of all, it's a free event and open to everyone! So mark your calendars: 🕕 Time: **Sunday at 2:30 PM** 📍 Address: ECIR OEA, Inspire at St James Questions? Text Organiser at 07708228436.
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