The New Forest NPA is inviting businesses into the National Park for teambuilding days volunteering in nature to benefit wildlife and communities while boosting participants’ health and wellbeing.
Led by the National Park Authority’s knowledgeable team, corporate volunteering days can offer access to sites that might be closed to the public with tailored sessions made as accessible as possible to meet each group’s needs.
All relevant training, tools, and safety equipment will be provided by staff who will share insights into the stories and projects that shape the National Park.
A typical session may include nature projects like restoring heathland or clearing vegetation from footpaths to connect homes and green spaces, as well as tasks that support the Forest’s heritage and communities.
Group benefits include teambuilding and networking opportunities that take the office outdoors, providing a screen break and moment away from deadlines as people connect with the nature around them.
Corporate volunteer experiences with the New Forest NPA include:
- A half- or full-day package
- An introduction to the site
- A briefing to explain the task and provide required training
- A tea break with tea and biscuits
- All tools, PPE, and training
- A welfare van with seating and toilet facilities, meaning days can be flexible with relation to length and remoteness
Corporate volunteering days with the New Forest NPA can be complemented by joining a corporate riding experience with PEDALL, the New Forest Inclusive Cycling charity.
Adam Vasey, Lead Volunteering and Access Officer at the New Forest NPA, said:
‘Volunteering with us is about connecting with nature and the people around you, all while having a great day.
‘It’s nice to see teams bonding and spending time together in an environment where connections and laughter come naturally, and it’s inspiring to see the difference we can all have in a relatively short space of time.
‘When people come back from a team day with us they’re energised and feel a real buzz and sense of achievement because they’ve supported something fantastic. The New Forest belongs to everyone. It’s a national park – it’s here for the nation and we need everybody to help out so nature thrives.‘
Adam Wickremasinghe, part of a corporate volunteering group and Delivery Manager at Ordnance Survey, Southampton, said:
‘Everybody had fun volunteering with the New Forest NPA – there were loads of smiles and laughter, and plenty of elbow grease involved! Most of us spend a lot of time at desks in front of screens, so the chance to volunteer in nature felt really different.
‘Working outside as a team and having a positive impact on the environment certainly strengthens and energises us as a team and supports our wellbeing as individuals.
‘At Ordnance Survey, we’re encouraged to be more engaged with each other and with our local communities, and our volunteering day with New Forest NPA really aligned well with that.’
- Visit the New Forest NPA’s corporate volunteering page or contact our Volunteering Team at volunteering@newforestnpa.gov.uk to get involved.
- Hear from a team of volunteers recalling their time volunteering with the NPA.
New Routes to Nature – the initiative supporting volunteering in the New Forest – has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.