Conservation Volunteering London

Introvert friendly volunteering walk through LDN listening, helping homeless

Balancers Community Volunteering - Clothing Distribution

Hi Balancers, We believe community is about more than meeting new people. It's also about showing up for those who need support. As part of our ongoing partnership with Refugee Community Kitchen, we're inviting you to join us for a different kind of volunteering session. This time, we’re joining **Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK)** at their Goodge Street service to provide essential clothing to people who need it. 👕 **HOW IT WORKS** We’ll meet at **6:00 PM in front of the Dominion Theatre**. From there, we’ll cross the road to Primark and split into small groups. Each group will be given a few essential clothing items to find and buy. Once we’re done, we’ll walk about **5 minutes to Goodge Street**, join the RCK service and distribute the clothing while their team serves food. 💷 **CHIPPING IN** We’ll collect contributions from the group and use the full amount to buy the clothing that evening. If you can, **bring some cash** — but there’s absolutely no pressure to contribute much. Even **£1 helps**, and you’re just as welcome to volunteer regardless of how much you contribute. 💬 **Join our Volunteer WhatsApp group for updates and coordination:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1) 🤝 **NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED** We’ll explain everything on the day. Just bring yourself and be ready to help. **Good to know:** 📍 Meet: In front of the Dominion Theatre ⏰ 6:00 PM 👕 Primark is directly across the road 🚶 Goodge Street is around 5 minutes away As always, Respect, Kindness and Authenticity come first. We’re there to support people with dignity and without judgment. Let’s keep showing what our community can do when we act with heart. See you there 💛

Litter Pick - Catford/Sydenham - Waterlink Way (SE London)

Join the Eco Around Community for a litter-pick walk from Catford to Sydenham along the Waterlink Way, facilitated by Biljana. Waterlink Way connects several parks and green spaces in Lewisham borough, following the Pool and Raversbourne rivers. It stretches 8 miles from South Northwood Country Park to the Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich. Considered one of South London’s hidden gems, it not only provides an enjoyable route to walkers and cyclists, but it also improves habitats for aquatic wildlife. While maintained by Lewisham Council, contributing to the Waterlink Way’s extra clear-up would be much appreciated. **When:** Saturday, 29 Aug, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm **Where:** We’ll start from Halfords in Catford and follow the Pool River along the Waterlink Way, finishing at B&Q in Sydenham. Use the What3Words navigation below to see the exact meeting points. Start: what3words: [///dash.liver.flip](https://w3w.co/dash.liver.flip) Finish: what3words: [///note.news.short](https://w3w.co/note.news.short) We are planning to have some optional drinks/food afterwards. **How to dress and what to bring:** Appropriate footwear, no open-toed shoes and we recommend some waterproofs (just in case). We have some gloves, bin bags and litter pickers but feel free to bring your own and a refillable water bottle in case you get thirsty. Hand Sanitiser is also useful. **Updates:** Unless there is a heavy rain forecast, we will stick to our plans. Please check the event for updates. **Photo Consent:** We plan to take general pictures and a group picture to document the activity and help us promote future online events. If you wish not to be in the pictures, let us know.

Woolwich: Weekly FoodCycle FREE Lunch

***They*** *say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but they're wrong!* **[FoodCycle](https://foodcycle.org.uk/who-we-are/)**'s lovely volunteers use [unwanted food](https://cityharvest.org.uk/about-city-harvest) to produce three course, [meat-free recipe](https://foodcycle.org.uk/recipes/) (tell them you're vegan) **[community meals](https://foodcycle.org.uk/community-meals/)** across [England](https://foodcycle.org.uk/find-a-meal/), that are free to all. [FoodCycle Woolwich](https://foodcycle.org.uk/location/foodcycle-woolwich/) ([map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVEi9poq68YRxQX86)\|[video](https://youtu.be/5VEIsN1aCk4)) is every Friday (with rare exception; I'm notified by text), at **[Woolwich Common Community Centre](https://www.wccc.org.uk/)**'s accessible [main hall](https://www.wccc.org.uk/gallery?pgid=l3le3lp7-1daa7232-8086-4a0d-82cb-1c2a7887d105). I sometimes help the Hosting team, and have met a few other vegan [volunteers](https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/opportunity/a1dQs000000fmvPIAQ), inc. chef and fellow [SE18 Vegans](https://www.facebook.com/groups/SE18Vegans) member John, who has a vegan daughter like me :-) P.S. You can bring food containers, in case of leftovers.

Beautiful gardens, woods, deer, rivers and history - Wimbledon to Barnes

Join us for a wonderful walk from Wimbledon to Barnes, taking in the wild beauty of Wimbledon Common, the deer-filled expanses of Richmond Park, the colour of the Isabella Plantation, the grandeur of Pembroke Lodge, and the gentle Thames towpath through Kew. A perfect blend of nature, history, and riverside charm — ideal for a refreshing, sociable day out, that we'll round off with an optional drink/food in a local pub. **SUMMARY (all info is approximate!)** **Distance**: 20km/12.5 miles **Duration**: 5 hours walking **Grade**: Beginners/Intermediate, flat, along good paths, with plenty of short stops and options to leave part-way through if you get tired. **COST AND LOGISTICS** **Cost**: £12 **Meet:** 10:15am - Pret A Manger, Wimbledon Station https://maps.app.goo.gl/qxXSReLuq6zok85Q9 **Start**: 10.30am **Finish:** 5.30 pm Barnes Station / The White Hart Pub **Both stations are within the Oyster/Contactless Zone** **REVIEWS** [Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/aaa-outdoor-hiking-adventure-travel/feedback-overview/) **PRICE INCLUDES** * Guided hike planned and led by an experienced AAA leader, trained in Outdoor First Aid. **PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** * Travel costs * Lunch, drinks or any refreshments * PayPal fees **RECOMMENDED KIT LIST** [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)[complete list](www.aaahiking.co.uk/kit-lists)[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist) * Suitable hiking shoes or boots * Packed lunch and snacks * Water - 2 litres recommended * Waterproof jacket and trousers - no jeans please * Warm windproof layer e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece * Wicking base layer e.g. Polyester/Tencel/Merino **CANCELLING/REFUNDS** If you can no longer join the hike, please message the Host listed on here, and update your RSVP status to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the hike is full, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', we will refund you, less the PayPal/Meetup fees. To obtain this, please email info@aaalondongroup.com **after the event**, with the email address you use on your PayPal account and transaction reference. If the hike is not full, unfortunately we will not be able to provide any refund. **QUESTIONS** If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page. We’ve run over 1,000 trips in the last 18 years, so you’re in good hands. That said, all participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group [Terms and Conditions](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/terms-and-conditions). © AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted [FAQs](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions) \| [Terms and Conditions](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/termsandconditions) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/AAAhiking) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews)

Hut to Hut in the Tatra Mountains

***Update (as of July 2025).*** The revised dates are based on utilising the Wizzair flights from Luton to Poprad, departing at 05:05 and arriving at 08:35. From here, the transfer to the planned start point is 60 mins. The hike to the first hut is approximately six hours, 13 km, and 1,400 m of elevation. Should we experience a delay in transit, an alternative route is available, which takes four hours and has a shorter transfer time. We will return on Ryanair to Luton. A full itinerary will be available on www.aaahiking.co.uk soon, detailing the distances, elevation and makeup of each day. **HIGHLIGHTS** * Enjoy five nights hiking between huts in the beautiful Tatra Mountains * One night in Zakopane at the end. * Breakfast & Dinner are included at most huts. * Experience the simplicity of hut-to-hut hiking and the stunning vistas it can provide. * Experienced Hike Leaders will be on hand to guide you throughout. * A mix of challenging days with notable elevation gain and one relaxing day hike * Summit some impressive mountains. * Finish in Zakopane Enjoy the joys of this hut-to-hut mountain experience and relax in various styles of huts that offer local cuisine. While the plans are being finalised at this stage, we canvass interest. The trip will commence at Poprad airport and consist of six nights' accommodation, most of which will be in mountain huts that vary in standard, including sleeping accommodations and catering facilities. **What to Expect** Hiking will vary from moderate trails, energetic sections, Challenging portions, and **one or two very technical areas** involving chains and ladders. It may feel like a via ferrata, but it's not. **A head for heights is essential.** Please review the sections related to food and accommodation below. Each day's hiking distance is anticipated to vary from 6 to 8 hours, covering a distance of 11 to 20 km, with an elevation gain of 800m to 1,500 m. The third day will be a short day's hike due to the nature and location of the huts. However, on this day, alternative hiking options will be offered. If you're unsure, you can watch this short video for clarification. It was recorded over a challenging section we will most likely cover. [https://youtu.be/zdYhRobeNAo?si=M-Jou3k3o8JyJSrC](https://youtu.be/zdYhRobeNAo?si=M-Jou3k3o8JyJSrC) I**MPORTANT: This trip is not for people who do not enjoy heights** **FOOD** The mountain huts serve breakfast and dinner daily, with menus that vary considerably. This could cause problems if you have particular dietary needs. **Experience here has proved difficult/impossible for vegetarians and people with gluten intolerances.** We had a restaurant offering fish to a vegetarian! **ACCOMMODATION** The accommodation style will vary depending on availability and the venue. Most huts will mean sharing a room with many people, not always in our group, of both sexes, or sharing a room with others in our group, again, in a **mixed-sex room**. Equally, it could be a small room where we can divide by sex types. You will need to be flexible. ***If this is not for you, then please don’t RSVP*** **TRANSPORT** Flights will be to and from Poprad, with local transfer services to get us to the trailhead and a transfer from Zakopane to Poprad. **Recommended Flights** 22 August, Departs **Luton** to Poprad on Wizzair 05:05 / 08:35 28 August, Departs Poprad to **Stansted** Ryanair 17:30 18:55 Flights can not be booked at this stage. **COST** **The price includes the following:** * Five-night huts * Breakfast included for 5 mornings, simple ingredients for self-assembly packed lunches. Where breakfast is not included, it can be purchased separately. * Dinner is included on 4 evenings. Where breakfast is not included, it can be purchased separately. * Private transfers from and to Poprad * An experienced hike leader providing guided and self-guided hikes, plus backup hike routes for most days, subject to local conditions * Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations, including Financial protection. **The price does not include:** * Flights or trains to/from Poprad * Packed lunch extras * Entrance fees to any sightseeing options * Incidental food at stops. * Alcoholic drinks and other incidentals **PRICE** The trip is £782 per person. ***(Booking and deposits have been secured for 50% of the accomodation. The remaining do not open their booking for August next year just yet.)*** Please review the pictures below, taken during a previous trip in June. **MAKE YOUR BOOKING** Click 'Attend' and confirm your place with a **deposit of £200** or pay the full amount of £782 to the bank details below. Name: **Addicted2Adventures Ltd** Account No.: **46633235** Sort Code: **60-83-71** Bank: **Starling** Add Ref: **"260810"** Then email \*\*[mike@aaalondongroup.com**](http://mike@aaalondongroup.com%2A%2A/) to advise you've paid. **The balance is to be paid by 01.05.26.** If you have a question, [check out our FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions)

🌳 FREE BANK HOLIDAY HIKE – 🌿 London’s Farthing Downs & Happy Valley Loop

On this **12–14 km adventure**, we’ll swap city streets for sweeping chalk downs, hidden valleys, and peaceful woodlands. Meeting / starting around **10:15 am** outside **Coulsdon South Station** \- platform 1 exit \(meeting point & finishing point\)\, the urban world quickly disappears behind us as we step into wide open skies\, ancient paths\, and landscapes that feel truly wild\. We will aim to finish by max 2pm before lunch. **Highlights include:** ✨ Panoramic ridge walking on **Farthing Downs** ✨ Shady woodland trails through **Happy Valley** ✨ Wildlife-rich grasslands and late-season countryside colours This hike is the perfect mix of views, variety, and atmosphere — proof that you don’t have to travel far to find nature at its best. *** #### What to Bring 🥾 Good hiking shoes/boots (chalk paths can be slippery when damp) 💧 At least 2L of water + snacks 🧥 Layers & a waterproof jacket (it’s autumn after all!) 📸 Camera/phone for the big sky views 💪 A positive spirit — it’s called *Happy Valley* for a reason! *** #### Difficulty **Moderate** — mostly easy-going with a few short, sharp climbs. A good one if you want a challenge without being wiped out. Everyone is welcome, as I always say, just be ready to push yourself a little. *** #### Important Notes * This hike is **free**, but you are responsible for your own safety and well-being and not the organiser. * Please **stay with or behind the hike leader** — this keeps the group together and ensures no one gets lost or left behind. * Respect people, animals, and the environment. * Please read our *About Us* section before signing up to know our values/rules: 👉 [https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities](https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities) *** #### Post-Hike Social We’ll finish back at **Coulsdon South** early afternoon, before lunch, with the option of a drink/snack in a local pub. 🍻☕ *** #### Contact (lost/late) 📱 WhatsApp: **07830 374 629** *** ✨ Let’s end September with sweeping views, woodland trails, and fresh air just outside London. Who’s in?

Kent's Hidden Gems, Ightham Mote, Knole Deer Park, Greensand Way & Bourne Valley

The Gower Peninsula & Swansea – August Bank Holiday Weekend

A chance to spend the late August Bank holiday exploring the fantastic Gower Peninsula. Gower is the UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers a wide range of landscapes from beaches to limestone cliffs and moorland. We will be based in Swansea which is a large coastal town with good transport links. The hikes will be linear or circular using buses from Swansea. There may be the chance to do some swimming! Saturday August 29th Rhossili Bay & The Beacon 11miles/18km (Circular) A varied circular hike exploring the Gower Coast from Rhossili Bay and including The Beacon the highest point on the Gower Peninsular. 9.05am bus from Swansea gets to Rhossili at 10.03am, last return bus 20.40. £9.10 Adult outer Swansea zone bus ticket. Sunday August 30th 11miles/18km (Linear) A chance to explore Port-Eynon Bay and Oxwich Bay to Parkmill along the Wales Coast Path. 9.10 bus from Swansea gets to Port-Eynon at 10.18am, Bus back is from Parkmill. £9.10 Adult outer Swansea zone bus ticket. Monday 31st August 7miles Swansea to the Mumbles 7miles/11km (linear) A Short Monday hike from Swansea along the Wales Coast Path to the Mumbles which marks the start of the Gower Peninsular coastline. Walks may be changed nearer the date depending on transport or conditions. Hike Cost/Meetup/organizer: £50 for complete weekend (organizer hike fee) or £20 per day if you just want to do each hike as a day hike or just part of the weekend. As this is a weekend away trip we need payment in advance, please contact the organizer by meetup message for details. Transport and accommodation needs to be booked yourselves. Please do this ASAP for accommodation in particular. Many booking sites offer free cancellation and prices often go up nearer the date. Many hotel booking sites offer free cancellation options. Although unlikely if numbers signing up are exceptionally low this weekend may be cancelled. We will be based in Swansea for accommodation, evening outs and take public transport or car shares to the walk start and end points (final details nearer the date). Parking could be expensive in Swansea if coming by car. If you don't mind walking there is often free residential roadside parking in some areas on the edge of town. (please check for any restrictions). Trains go to Swansea from London. A watsapp group will be set up for this trip around one month before the trip. Please contact the organizer if you want to be added. We will meetup in Swansea for drinks food and socials during the weekend. Option to go out on Friday evening the 28th August in Swansea. Walking Safety: Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking boots, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (http://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/) COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.

Stave Hill Ecology Park and Southwark Park, 3.5 miles

* We will meet at Canada Water tube station. We will then make our way to visit the Stave Hill Ecology Park. * Stave Hill itself is a 30-foot (9.1 m) high artificial mound in the shape of a truncated cone, with a viewing platform and relief map of the former docks in cast bronze by Michael Rizzello at the top. It provides views over Canary Wharf, the City of London, and much of south and central London; on clear days the view stretches as far as Wembley Stadium. * It was created in 1985 by the LDDC, using waste material and rubble from the works to fill and landscape the former commercial docks. * We will then make our way via the Surrey water to Southwark park to visit the ponds and gardens. We will then procede to Bermondsey tube station, this is where the walk ends. * For members who prefer a longer route, we can carry on to London Bridge for the local Wetherspoons. What to bring: Comfortable footwear Water Photo-taking gadgets and chargers An umbrella just in case (it's London after all) The walk is free for members who have subscribed for an annual membership. For other members the fee is £5 cash/card on arrival to contribute towards the organiser's meetup fees and costs. The annual pass option is £15 payable by cash/card on the day. This will provide access to at least 40 walks per year (members are welcome to bring a guest to each event). All walks are free for the NHS staff (also welcome to bring a guest). ***'No Show' Policy:*** *If the member replied 'yes' but did not attend the event, did not update the RSVP and did not inform the organisers on 3 occasions – this triggers an automatic removal from the group. That's once for events with a waiting list.*

TEiP SUMMER CAMP • FREE RETREAT • Location TBD | Thought Experiments in Public

**A free day retreat under the trees of London, co-produced by our community.** **WHY:** Humans are naturally creative, naturally social, and naturally part of nature. Modern life squeezes our creativity, our time together, and our time outside. We want to make space (physically, temporally, economically) for people to come together, be creative, and connect with nature. **How does this connect to THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS (TEiP)?** TEiP has become a thriving community because our events create opportunities for people to get straight into meaningful, imaginative, creative conversations. We want to take that imagination and creativity to the next level. We've met so many people with skills and ideas to share, and so many people up for trying new things. So we're creating an opportunity for people to share and learn from one another in the same openminded, relaxed spirit as TEiP. And we're doing it outside because it's Summer, we love nature, and our last outside event attracted a huge number of RSVPs demonstrating major enthusiasm for outdoor gatherings. **How will it work?** * We'll gather in one of London's pockets of forest (location TBC) for a day. * There will be a central hub for '[hanging out](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/hanging-out)', refreshments, and the occasional TEiP style round of conversation. * In nearby clearings and 'rooms of the forest', throughout the day, there will be optional activities hosted by community members (e.g. improv, forest bathing, poetry, yoga, etc.) * It will all be free! **Please [get in touch](https://www.alltogether.one/contact) if you'd like to run an activity 😊** **And please come along if you'd like to hang out and possibly try something new ❤️** **Notes on the general atmosphere:** * The vibe is relaxed, collaborative, and friendly. * Participate in as much or as little as you wish. * We appreciate both depth and levity in our conversations. * A 'beginner's mind' takes the pressure off everything. **Who should come:** Everyone! This group is not about being experts. The more perspectives, the richer our conversations and the richer our collective creativity. By bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world together, we all become a little wiser. **What to bring**: * Something to sit on - picnic rug, camping chair, plastic bag (handy because it can double as a bin-bag at the end of the day) * Water * Other drinks/snacks for yourself (you can share if you want to, but there's no pressure) * Layers, sunglasses, sunblock, umbrella... it's London **Where we'll meet:** * Location TBD. As we've had such an enthusiastic response, we're scouting a few appropriate places I will share a what3words link when we've found the perfect spot. **Some relevant links:** Newsletter - [Upcoming events and our evolving story](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) 💌 Instagram -[Scrapbook and thought provoking stuff](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs) ❤️ Whatsapp - [Occasional announcements](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DapwAXpnOHO5DRYThobpe4) Looking forward to meeting & talking & celebrating SUMMER with you! Bonny ❤️ N.B. we may take some photographs and videos at this event to share the story and help others discover our events. By attending, you acknowledge that you may appear in photos or videos. If you would prefer not to be included, just tell one of the organisers and we'll happily respect your wishes. #CoProduction #Creativity #Community #TEiPinthepark #ThoughtExperimentsInPubs #thegreatoutdoors #BritishSummer #Inclusivity #Openmindedness

GERMANY’S FAIRY-TALE BLACK FOREST

**Backabush is going to Germany’s enchanted Black Forest (Schwarzwald), one of Europe's most beautiful hiking regions, for the August bank holiday.** FOR MORE INFO VISIT: [https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/310629159/](https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/310629159/)