Name: Wild Guardians at 42 Acres
Start: 2026-05-31T19:45:00+01:00
End: 2026-07-26T10:00:00+01:00
Location: 42 Acres

A relaxed, monthly volunteer gathering to support nature restoration. Rooted in a spirit of community and curiosity. Join us to learn new skills, spend time in nature, and connect with like-minded folk.
Come and spend a few hours in nature doing something that matters. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to get stuck in and try something new.
42 Acres has been a rewilding nature reserve for over a decade and is species-rich. Join us to connect with the natural world through hands-on activities from wildlife surveying, to tending habitats, and slowing down with nature photography.
Sessions run on the last Sunday of the month 10am-2pm (except in May when we are meeting at 8pm for bats and beavers!). There will be time to connect, wander, and simply be outside. If you’re up for it, you’re welcome to join in for a wild swim too. At 1pm we’ll stop and share a simple lunch together, provided by 42 Acres.
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𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆: 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
Part of the Great Somerset Wildlife Count, with guest expert Keith Ball (Somerset Bat Group). Please note: this is an evening session, running 8–10pm, as we head out for some gentle nocturnal exploration.
𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟮𝟴 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲: 𝗛𝗮𝘇𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗲 & 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Join us to create footprint tunnels for hazel dormice to discover whether this protected species (that have been spotted on neighbouring land!) exist at 42. We'll also take a relaxed walk around the 11-acre lake, recording observations and contributing to global biodiversity databases. We’ll look for signs of beaver activity, tracks, and birdlife, and finish at the white stork enclosure, part of our species reintroduction work. Guided by Lynne Sewell (Sustainable Witham), Robyn Caple (@nestandnettleecology), and Lisa Hawes (42 Acres).
𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟮𝟲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆: 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 + 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴
Part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, one of the longest-running insect surveys in the world. With guest expert Fred Giles, we’ll explore the world of butterflies, dragonflies, and other insects, with a chance to get closer through pond dipping and observation.
𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟯𝟬 𝗔𝘂𝗴: 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀
Join us to check reptile refuges across the sitebo, helping us understand which species are present (and which are likely absent). Or take a creative route, help us start making a handmade herbarium for the site while learning how to “key out”, a step by step process used to identify unknown plant species.
𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟮𝟳 𝗦𝗲𝗽: 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀
Discover the stories of Britain’s ancient and veteran trees, and learn how to identify and photograph them in their late-summer form.
𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝟮𝟱 𝗢𝗰𝘁: 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶
Help us ascertain whether harvest mice are present on the land at 42, we'll search together for their tiny nests. We’ll also explore the world of fungi, discovering what’s emerging across the site at this time of year.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
-Open to everyone aged 12 and over.
-Gloves and wellies/boots are necessary.
-If you have issues with mobility please let us know before signing up, we will do our best to accommodate.
-Please book only if you’re committed to attending and staying for the entire session.
-If you become unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your space to someone else.
-If rain stops play, we have a Plan B and will aim to move inside to create bee bricks and/or a herbarium together.
-Please speak with your licensed medical health professional if you have any health conditions or are pregnant.
-As much as we love our four-legged friends, we can not allow dogs on this experience.
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹:
Please arrive 10 minutes before we begin. Meeting at The Hermitage car park. Full directions are on our website: www.42acres.com/getting-here
𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
https://www.42acres.com/terms-and-conditions-workshops-and-experiences