Supporter groups in Devon

Two volunteers collect fallen apples in the orchards at Killerton, Devon — Volunteers collecting fallen apples | © National Trust Images / Ross Hoddinott

Devon has a thriving network of supporter groups, united by their interest in our projects and the places in our care. Volunteer groups focus on hands-on activities like coppicing, apple picking and stewarding busy events. Centres and associations offer a year-round social programme of talks and trips. Wherever you join in Devon, these groups are a great way to deepen your connection to local National Trust places.

Why join a supporter group?

Getting together with other National Trust enthusiasts, members and volunteers who feel passionate about the same things is priceless. Sharing unique experiences and finding out more about the places you care about is what being part of a local National Trust supporter group is all about.

From listening to expert talks and going on behind-the-scenes tours to taking relaxing holidays or restoring natural habitats in the great outdoors, you’ll be part of something amazing. Supporter groups promote and assist the National Trust’s work within their local area and raise money for conservation and development projects through all kinds of events.

The Exeter National Trust Volunteer (NTV) Group

The Group was founded in 1981 and brings together members from the Exeter area to support National Trust projects and events.

They hold twice-monthly work events on Sundays, with occasional evenings in summer when they help with stewarding and car parking for events at Killerton.

Exeter NTV Group help with gardening, footpath construction, step building, hedge laying, apple picking, snowdrop planting, woodland work and general maintenance tasks. They welcome all abilities, although a reasonable level of fitness is needed.

The properties they help at include:

Killerton

Castle Drogo

A la Ronde

Knightshayes

Coleton Fishacre

Bradley

Lydford Gorge.
New members are always welcome. For more information, to get a copy of the Group’s work programme, or to join:

email the Group

call 01392 495987

see what's coming up on their Facebook page

Adult and child volunteers at a family muck-in working on a hedgerow at Lower Halsdon Farm in Exmouth, Devon — Volunteers at a family muck-in at Lower Halsdon Farm in Exmouth, Devon | © National Trust Images / Steve Sayers

Newton Abbot Association

Since 1983, the Newton Abbot Association has been supporting the National Trust by raising money for conservation and development projects. You don’t need to be a National Trust member to join – Association members receive an informative quarterly newsletter with booking forms for events and trips.

The Association offers a busy programme of events, including:

illustrated talks by guest speakers, from September to March

day trips from February to October to historic houses, buildings, gardens of interest and National Trust places

regular social events including an early New Year lunch and an annual dinner.
For more information or to become a member:

email the association

Plymouth Centre

Formed in 1967, the Centre’s members from the Plymouth area, South Hams and across the border to Cornwall continue to have a lively programme of activities. We keep in contact with local National Trust properties enabling us to inform members of events through our Spring/Autumn Newsletters.

Members are kept in touch by receiving Spring and Autumn/Winter Newsletters giving details of all up and coming events, plus news from local properties.

The Centre organise monthly Talks in the autumn/winter meeting on the last Wednesday of the month at St Peter’s Lutheran Church Hall Larkham Lane, Plympton. Recent topics include the History of Dartmoor Prison and a representative from the National Marine Aquarium. Spring and Summer sees the start of our monthly coach trips to National Trust properties and many other interesting places, all very well attended and enjoyed by our supportive members. If interested you can get in touch with our membership secretary details below
For more information on how to join:

email the membership secretary

call 01752 290437

Sidmouth National Trust Supporters Group

The Sidmouth National Trust Supporters Group was formed in 1974 and continues to offer a lively programme of activities. Anyone in Sidmouth or the surrounding area interested in the aims of the National Trust can join.

The Centre’s activities include:

monthly talks from autumn to spring on heritage and environmental topics

monthly outings from spring to autumn to National Trust properties and other interesting places

Christmas lunch at a Sidmouth hotel together, plus other occasional social gatherings.

New members are invited to a free coffee morning where they can meet the Committee as well as other newcomers. All members receive a quarterly newsletter with details of past and future events.
For more information or to join:

visit NT SIDMOUTH - Sidmouth National Trust Supporters (weebly.com)

email the membership secretary

call 01395 579716

Visitors make their way through the entrance into Castle Drogo, Devon — Entrance at Castle Drogo | © National Trust Images / John Millar

South Hams Centre

This supporter group covers the southernmost part of Devon, reaching almost to Plymouth in the west and Brixham in the east and going as far north as the edge of Dartmoor.

For more information or to join the South Hams Centre:

email the membership secretary

Date	Events
18 February 2025 10am	TRIP TO OVERBECK’S GARDEN (NT)	To Overbeck’s for a private tour with the new Head Gardener when the beautiful Magnolia “Campbellii Overbeck’s” should be in bloom. Starting from Kingsbridge, members will be driven up by bus to Overbeck’s, picking up at Malborough and Beadon Cross, Salcombe, returning by lunchtime. Tickets (22 only), £13.00 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please) Email: joan_johnstone@btinternet.com
27 February 2025 12.30pm for 1pm	LUNCH AT THE COTTAGE HOTEL, HOPE COVE	We are delighted to be returning to The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove for a lunch arranged specially for the South Hams Centre. The £35.00 ticket cost covers a three-course meal and coffee. Details of menu choices are with the Autumn Newsletter. The booking form should be sent by 1 February, together with cheque to Jan Alen, 14 Southville Gardens, Kingsbridge TQ7 1LE. Tel: 07526774291, Email: jan_alen@hotmail.com
6 March 2025 2pm	THE NATIONAL TRUST IN DEVON TODAY	Jonathan Fisher is the National Trust General Manager for South and East Devon and he will bring us up to date with the work of the NT locally. This lively presentation will follow our 45th Annual General Meeting at Kingsbridge Methodist Church Hall. £6.00 entrance includes refreshments.
18 March 2025 9.45am	COACH TRIP TO KILLERTON (NT) and DARTS FARM, TOPSHAM	First stop is Darts Farm and a chance to visit the café and tempting West Country food, gift and outdoor pursuits shops. The afternoon will be spent at Killerton, one of Devon’s great estates, with parkland, landscape garden, chapel and lovely Georgian house. Tickets £32.50 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please) Email: joan_johnstone@btinternet.com
25 April 2025 9.15am	COACH TRIP TO TAVISTOCK and COTEHELE (NT) AT SPRINGTIME	First to Tavistock with time for a stroll and coffee. Then on to Cotehele where the House, Gardens, Mill and restaurant will all be open. Tickets £28.00 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
20 May 2025 10.15am	COACH TRIP TO BOVEY TRACEY and SUTTON MEAD, MORETON HAMPSTEAD	Bovey Tracey is a pretty riverside town with interesting local shops and cafés, a whisky distillery and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. After lunch we take the scenic drive to Sutton Mead at Moreton Hampstead. This is a garden of constant colour and variety which has been developed over 45 years by the current owners who tell us that the rhododendrons, azaleas and late spring bulbs are at their best in May. Tickets, including garden admission and home-made tea, £34.00 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
13 June 2025 9.15am	COACH TRIP TO SIDMOUTH	The picturesque seaside town of Sidmouth nestles beneath majestic Triassic red cliffs and the green hills of the glorious Sid valley. The town has a charming, timeless feel and you may choose to spend the day exploring, visiting the shops, art galleries and cafés, or just relaxing on the seafront promenade. Tickets £30.00 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
3 July 2025 9.15am	COACH TRIP TO KERNOW MILL and DUCHY OF CORNWALL NURSERY	Heading into Cornwall, Kernow Mill is always a popular place to stop for coffee. From here we go on to the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery near Lostwithiel. Originally established to serve the nearby Duchy estates, the nursery has beautiful garden and indoor plants and the shop sells high quality gifts and homeware items from Cornish suppliers. From the café there are views across the valley to Restormel Castle. Tickets £28.50 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
30 July 2025 2.30pm-4pm	CREAM TEA AT THE COOKWORTH MUSEUM	Another local, joint event with the Cookworthy Museum in Kingsbridge. An opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy a cream tea sitting outside in the very pleasant setting of the walled garden, beside the museum’s Farm Gallery. £6.00 for cream tea, with free admission to the museum.
21 August 2025 10.15am	COACH TRIP TO TAMAR VIEW NURSERY and WINDMILLS GARDEN, CALLINGTON	First stop will be Tamar View, the well-appointed Cornish garden centre and restaurant. The afternoon will be spent t Windmills, another privately owned garden and new destination for us. Situated next to a medieval church and built on the site of an old rectory, we are promised a garden “full of surprises”. Tickets, including garden admission and homemade tea, £35.00 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
19 September 2025 9.45am	COACH TRIP TO HONITON and CADHAY MANOR, OTTERY St MARY	Late morning with time for lunch in Honiton before going to Cadhay Manor a few miles away. Listed by Country Life as “one of the top ten manor houses in the country”, this splendid mansion was built in 1550 and constructed around a Central Court of the Sovereigns, overlooked by four carved images of the Tudor monarchs. Cadhay also has a lovely garden and a tearoom. Tickets, including entrance with guided tour, £39.50 from Joan Johnstone, 12, The Moorings, Embankment Road, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1LP. Tel: 01548 857014 (9 am to 5 pm only please.)
To join and for tickets please email the membership secretary

South Devon National Trust Volunteer (NTV) Group

Volunteer groups help National Trust staff, getting hands-on with conservation days and weekend events. Activities range from footpath and step construction to planting and coppicing.

Roll up your sleeves and get back to nature with a great bunch of friendly folk in some of Devon’s most beautiful places. You don’t need specific skills, just a willingness to get stuck in and make a difference.

Volunteers meet most Sundays, but you don’t have to attend every task and can come along as little or as often as you like.

The Group regularly help at:

Cotehele

Antony

Buckland Abbey

Saltram

Plymbridge Woods

the south Devon section of the South West Coast Path.
Want to get involved or find out more? Get in touch:

email the group

call 01803 835251

Torbay Centre

The Centre was founded in 1969 and has over 300 members, who mainly come from Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Funds raised from the year’s activities support National Trust projects locally and beyond.

Torbay Centre run coffee mornings, lunches, afternoon teas and dinners at a local hotel through the winter months.

In summer there are monthly coach outings to local National Trust properties and other historic houses and gardens.

Members have enjoyed Christmas shopping trips, visits to carol concerts at Exeter Cathedral, New Years’ Viennese concerts at Exeter University and shows at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. There are also short UK holidays to places like Chester, Sandringham, Salisbury and the Peak District.
For more information and to join the Torbay Centre:

call 01803 314251