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Learn the art of dry stone walling, woodland management, tree planting, hedgelaying and much more.

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Get instant online access to the definitive ‘how to’ practical conservation guides. Advice and instructions to manage your countryside and green spaces.

Step by step

All the processes in the handbooks are explained in an easy to follow, step-by-step way using plain English.

Clearly illustrated

Over 2,000 line drawings accompany the text, adding clarity to text descriptions. More illustrations coming.

Definitive

Written by experts, these handbooks have long been considered the definitive conservation guides.

Updated

The content and illustrations in each book will be regularly updated to keep pace with standards and practices.

Background

Before each book dives into the 'how to', it covers a thorough and wide-ranging introduction to each subject.

Printable

Take wherever you go. Accessible with an internet connection, pages can also be printed for use in the field.

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Used by the National Trust across the UK as best practice guidance for all their Ranger community

Frequently Asked Questions

What's included in the price? Expand

Access to everything! A subscription gives access to all ten handbook titles (plus any we add in the future), so everybody gets access to everything.

Where does my money go? Expand

Some of the profits we make from subscriptions on this site will be put straight back into making improvements to the handbooks. Other monies will go to directly support the work that TCV does on the ground across the UK.

Are these better than the books? Expand

We like to think so! Whilst you can't beat the smell of a new book, this website will be updated regularly to keep up to date with practices and standards. It will also include photos and videos - something that the paper books don't (or can't). Pages are printable, so you can still take them out in to the field.

Testimonials

About "Dry Stone Walling"... Great book. Full of detailed drawings and text explaining in detail how the walls are constructed. Covers walls from all around the country. Very well written and nicely produced. Probably one of the best books on the subject.

About "Fencing"... Great book with all the detail you need regardless of fencing ability. Very intuitive with detailed diagrams and descriptions.

About "Footpaths"... Excellent! Clear and concise and exactly what I needed and will need in the future. I highly recommend this book!

About "Dry Stone Walling"... It is an excellent manual with clear illustrations showing both best practice and the pitfalls to avoid. It goes from basics right through to advanced features and covers the range of British walling styles. A brilliant book.

About "Hedging"... this is simply the best book it covers everything from the history of hedging to the present day. Hedge laying is a dying trade & to find a book which covers all the technique is a real bonus.

TCV Conservation Handbooks
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The Handbooks

Dry Stone Walling

How to construct and repair dry stone walls, stone-faced earth banks, retaining walls and other dry stone features.

Fencing

The design and construction of fences for conservation and amenity, as well as for agricultural or other purposes

Footpaths

The design, construction, maintenance and repair of rural footpaths and informal paths in urban areas

Hedging

Hedgerow management for conservation volunteers and others interested in creating and maintaining hedgerows.

Sand Dunes

Maintenance and improvement of extremely fragile, valuable, natural habitats through manual work.

Toolcare

Guidance on the storage, maintenance and repair of tools used in conservation work, and setting up workshops and toolstores

The Urban Handbook

Recognising the unique qualities of cities and towns to understand how best to contribute to environmental improvements

Woodlands

Management of traditional British woodlands, and the creation of new woods and managing associated habitats

Waterways & Wetlands

Maintenance and improvement of valuable waterways - bodies of fresh water, springs, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, canals and ditches

Tree Planting & Aftercare

Growing, planting and caring for trees to ensure success of planting and on providing an environment in which the young trees will thrive

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Registered in England as a limited company (976410) and as a charity in England (261009) and Scotland (SC039302)
Registered Office: Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB

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Website created and managed by Made in Trenbania on behalf of TCV

© Copyright 2023 The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). All rights reserved.

You may print this page for your own use, but you MAY NOT store in a retrieval system, or transmit by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of The Conservation Volunteers.

Of course, here's the usual message about saving paper and ink - please only print when necessary!

TCV is registered in England as a limited company (976410) and as a charity in England (261009) and Scotland (SCO39302)

Registered Office: Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB