Helping the heather: faith communities unite to protect Horsell Common
On Saturday 17 October, eight volunteers from different faiths and beliefs came together on Horsell Common for another rewarding morning of conservation work, organised by Woking People of Faith (WPoF).
EVENT REPORTS
Kawther Hashmi
11/5/20261 min read
Blessed with lovely autumn weather, the group rolled up their sleeves to help protect the Common’s precious heathland habitat. Volunteers spent the morning pulling up young pine trees and cutting back birch saplings and gorse, which would otherwise crowd out the heather and prevent it from flourishing.
Heather plays an important role in supporting local wildlife, providing valuable habitat for species such as nightjars, slow worms, butterflies and other insects. By clearing competing vegetation, volunteers helped create the conditions for these plants and animals to thrive.
This latest session forms part of Woking People of Faith’s ongoing environmental initiative, which regularly brings people of different faiths and none together to care for the natural world. Previous conservation efforts have already shown encouraging results, with heather beginning to flourish in areas cleared by volunteers.
The morning was not only an opportunity to make a practical difference to the environment but also a chance to enjoy the outdoors, work alongside others and strengthen friendships across faith communities.
Everyone left feeling satisfied with what they had achieved, demonstrating once again how a shared commitment to protecting our environment can bring people together, regardless of faith or belief.