A volunteer group is marking its 50th anniversary by helping to restore an historic piece of west Dorset landscape.

The Dorset Countryside Volunteers (DCV) is a small group of volunteers that focuses on hands-on nature conservation work across Dorset.

This year, as they celebrate half a century, the group will be restoring one of Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve’s hedgerows that have disappeared over the years.

The group provides at-cost labour to organisations which manage land for the benefit of wildlife in Dorset, including Butterfly Conservation, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Dorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust to name a few.

A spokesperson for DCV said: “To mark their 50 year milestone, this February DCV will be creating something special at Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve in west Dorset. 

"It’s a familiar place to the group, who have carried out conservation work there for many years."

Referred to as ‘the farm that time forgot’, Kingcombe Meadows at Toller Porcorum is almost untouched by artificial fertilisers and pesticides and was recently granted National Nature Reserve status in conjunction with the nearby Powerstock Common reserve.

The spokesperson added: “One of its most striking features is a network of thick historic hedges, however it has been discovered, from examining an old map of the area, that there were once even more hedges here, with some six hedges having disappeared, possibly being ‘grubbed out’ in the past.  

"Not only is a close-knit network of hedges an important historic landscape feature in this area but hedges are invaluable to wildlife as safe havens and corridors between ecosystems.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust, which owns and manages this reserve, has welcomed the offer for the group to take on the project, with the planting to take place on the weekend of February 24 and 25.

The spokesperson added: “It is hoped that as it grows, the restored hedge will not just stand as a lasting legacy of DCV but that it will benefit wildlife long into the future and enhance visitors’ enjoyment of the beautiful Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve.” 

Volunteers are always needed and they can choose how much time to give.  Training, tools and hot drinks are also all provided.

Details of the group’s forthcoming tasks are available on the DCV website at https://www.dcv.org.uk/ or contact the group co-ordinator on coordinator@dcv.org.uk or call 07923 498760 for information.