Conservation holidays

In 2006 we invited BTCV, the leading practical conservation charity, to run conservation working holidays ‘Natural Breaks’ in Bowland. These working holidays, a weekend or a full week, are a cheap way to see another part of the country, meet new friends (and sometimes to meet again friends made on previous holidays) and learn a new skill; but best of all to have a good time. People come from all over the UK, sometimes from overseas but there is always space for a few local people to come along for a day or two. Hedgelaying and dry stone walling tasks have proved very popular and these are now a permanent feature. There are more hedges being planted now than at any time in living memory and hedgelaying is as relevant today as it ever was. Hedgelaying has to be done in the winter when the hedge is ‘dormant’ but walling can be undertaken at any time – although it is more pleasant in the summer.

On every task there is a local expert trainer who explains the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of each particular skill and one of the best parts of every working holiday is gaining local knowledge from the landowner/farmer and the trainer – during the task or in the pub afterwards!

To see the programme of working holidays and book a place then follow this link to the BTCV website. Local people interested in joining in with a task for a day or two should call Martin Charlesworth on 01200 426433 or email martin [dot] charlewsorth [at] lancashire [dot] gov [dot] uk