Join us for activities ranging from coppicing, hedging and pond management to path laying, building bridges, constructing compost toilets and stiles, even repairing and renovating farm buildings. We recently built an island! No special qualifications are needed and it’s a great opportunity to try your hand at something new or to hone existing skills. We also enjoy good food, good company and starry evenings around the fire.
These camps run on similar lines to small standing camps and make a good introduction to FSC for newcomers. Children under 18 are welcome with their parent or guardian; families bringing younger children are asked to include at least one adult per child. Supervision of children is the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
There are no camp fees except a small contribution to cover food, usually about £5 per day. There is also no organized travel, so attendees make their own way to the site. Full location details are sent out in advance and most sites are not far from public transport and a friendly lift.
Weekend camps run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Bring your normal kit for camping, plus old clothes, work boots and gloves. Enrolments are normally managed in the four weeks before the camp, during which time we circulate those who have previously shown interest in attendance.
For more information or to enrol please contact the FSC Skills & Conservation Camps Secretary at conservation@fsc.org.uk.
Camps in 2026
Camp No. 60 – Cherry Green Trees Conservation & Skills Camp
Camp Chief: Flow Stone Organiser: Flow Stone
Dates: Friday 6th March 2026 to Sunday 8th March 2026
Ages: 18 plus unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
Join us for a weekend of learning and practicing rural skills, laying hedges, coppicing an area of Hazel trees and rebuilding the entrances to underground tunnels. There will be time for Winter twig identification, consideration of how to restore and maintain pockets of ancient woodland, campfire, singing and maybe even a dance. This Hornbeam and Hazel coppice woodland and adjacent camping field known as Cherry Green Trees, was gifted to the Girl Guides in 1934 and is currently used by them and by a local special school. Our help to maintain it will be very much appreciated. We will have indoor cooking facilities and toilets, there is also an indoor bunk bed sleeping option but do bring your tent if you’d like to camp. Nearest train stations – Welham Green or St Albans, we will arrange lifts.
Nearby Town: St Albans