THERE are lots of groups that work across Basingstoke and Deane protecting and maintaining our environment.

You don’t have to have any previous practical experience, plenty of people are on hand to teach you the ropes and you can also get involved volunteering in other ways by helping out at events, helping with social media and marketing amongst other things.

You must wear suitable clothes for whatever activity you are planning to undertake but most groups provide the tools for a great opportunity to get exercise, help the local area, learn some countryside skills and discover new species that are right on our doorstep.

The groups are Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree plantation, Chineham Conservation Group, Cliddesden Conservation Group, Dummer Nature Group, Friends of Daniel Park, Friends of the Old Common, Fuzzy Drove Conservation Group, Hatch Warren Nature Group, Jubiloaks, Kempshott Conservation Group, Marnel and Popley, Mill Field Conservation, Oakley Woodlands, Old Down and Beggarwood, Overton Biodiversity, Silvermead Hedgerow and South View Conservation.

Activities include coppicing, pond clearance, plug planting, path maintenance, creating or improving habitats for wildlife, plants and trees and educating the community in environmental matters.

There are also dawn chorus walks, pond dipping, moth trapping and talks on the hazel dormouse, Hampshire’s wildlife, red kites and butterflies, insects, mammals and birds. Elsewhere, try tree planting, stream clearance, and wildlife conservation and education events.

Additionally there are Binfields Woodland Park plus Pamber Forest & Daneshill Park Woods Nature Reserves.

Details of all the above are on the borough council website at basingstoke.gov.uk/conservation-groups.