Volunteering on Flat Holm

Volunteering with the Flat Holm Society has given me a unique opportunity to connect my creative practice with a place rich in history and ecology. One of the highlights has been helping to prepare the island’s Victorian cholera hospital for upcoming maintenance work. Being involved in the conservation of such a significant building—set in a landscape that feels almost untouched—is something I find incredibly grounding.

Flat Holm’s layered history, from military remnants to its role in early wireless communication, offers endless inspiration. As someone who carves with reclaimed wood, I often collect material from the island—shaped by weather, sea, and time—which brings an added depth and narrative to my sculptures.

Alongside the historic work, I support ongoing conservation efforts for the island’s lesser black-backed gull colony—an amber-listed species that nests here in large numbers. Helping with population counts and habitat care has been both humbling and eye-opening.

Flat Holm is more than a volunteering site; it’s a place where heritage, craft, and the natural world come together. Whether I’m collecting materials, maintaining paths, or supporting wildlife, every task feeds back into my creative process. The island reminds me of the value of slow, intentional work—and the importance of protecting the stories embedded in both landscape and material.