Dune Restoration Workday Checklist and Planning Guide

A dune restoration workday needs more than volunteers and shovels. You must secure permission for the site, coordinate the work with grounds management, prepare teams, and make safety arrangements before anyone starts digging or collecting litter. This checklist follows the workday from early planning through registration, briefing, fieldwork and cleanup. It also helps you catch details that are often left until the last minute, such as refrigerated food, weather checks, marked walkways and enough protective equipment for every participant.

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The plan, step by step

Every task with its own sub-checklist, in the order you'll actually need them.

Preparations

Define scope and objective
2 people
Arrange permission for the dune area
Coordinate tasks with grounds management
2 people
Check insurance and safety rules
Send invitations
2 people
Process registrations
2 people
Collect dietary requirements
Assign volunteer lists and teams
2 people
Reserve a waste container
Reserve tools
Check food and drink supplies
2 people
Check the shopping list
2 people
Do the shopping
2 people
Store fresh food refrigerated
2 people
Send participant information
Check the weather forecast and site
2 people

Event

Bring materials to the work area
4 people
Set up reception and registration point
3 people
Build the catering point
3 people
Prepare tools for each team
4 people
Mark walkways and work areas
3 people
Give a Safety and Site Briefing
3 people
Register volunteers
3 people
Hand out work gloves and safety goggles
3 people
Collect Litter
12 people
Remove invasive growth
12 people
Plant dune grass and native plants
12 people
Shield sand drifts with branches
8 people
Sort waste by type
3 people
Refill drinks
2 people
Serve coffee and tea
2 people
Distribute snack breaks
2 people
Check the Work Results Together
4 people
Collect and count tools
4 people
Refill the handwashing station
Prepare meal
4 people
Serve dinner
4 people
Wash dishes
3 people
Leave the work area clean
6 people
Dismantle the catering point
3 people
Remove Lighting and Signage
3 people
Take waste to the collection point
3 people
Load and transport materials
5 people
Clean the venue and restroom area
3 people

Aftercare

Clean Borrowed Tools
3 people
Return tools
2 people
Store reusable materials
2 people
Check waste disposal
Send thank-you message to participants
Report damage or leftover materials

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 20
Tableclothsqty 8

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Sound system
Extension cordsqty 4

Lighting

LED lampsqty 8
Battery lanternsqty 6

Tools

Shovelsqty 15
Hoesqty 10
Rakesqty 12
Scoopsqty 8
Hand sawsqty 4
Pruning shearsqty 8
Wheelbarrowsqty 6
Bucketsqty 12
Plant stakesqty 15

Safety

Work glovesqty 60
Safety gogglesqty 30
Reflective vestsqty 12
First aid kitsqty 2
Tick removerqty 2
Sunscreen dispensersqty 2

Grounds

Barrier tapeqty 4
Conesqty 20
Information boardsqty 6
Directional signsqty 8
Wooden pegsqty 60
Jute Twineqty 4
Native dune plantsqty 250
Biodegradable Plant Potsqty 250

Waste

Litter pickersqty 15
Trash grabbersqty 10
Waste binsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 80
Reusable soup bowlsqty 60
Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable cutleryqty 70
Serving spoonsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6

Kitchen

Soup kettlesqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Serving plattersqty 8
Jerry cans for drinking waterqty 6

Cleaning

Washing-up basinsqty 4
Spongesqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 3
Towel rollsqty 6

Catering

Groceries

Tips

Secure site permission and agree the work area with grounds management before inviting people. Confirm the objective, boundaries and access route at least 2–3 weeks before the workday so the teams know exactly where to work.
Set a registration deadline and collect dietary requirements with each sign-up. Send participant information at least 3 days in advance, including the meeting point, clothing guidance, start time and what to do if the weather changes.
Prepare tools by team instead of leaving everything in one shared pile. Count shovels, hoes, rakes, scoops, hand saws, pruning shears, wheelbarrows and buckets, then place safety equipment at the registration point before volunteers arrive.
Check the site and forecast 24 hours before the event, then repeat the check on the morning itself. Mark walkways and work areas with cones, barrier tape, wooden pegs and signs so volunteers can move safely around active work zones.
Plan the closing routine before the first task begins. Set aside time to collect litter, return tools, remove temporary markers and check that the waste container is ready; a 30-minute cleanup slot prevents the workday from running over.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I organise a dune restoration workday?: Start planning at least 3–4 weeks ahead. Use that time to obtain permission, coordinate the work with grounds management, reserve tools and a waste container, invite volunteers and confirm insurance and safety rules.
How many tools and safety items does each volunteer need?: Plan one pair of work gloves and one pair of safety goggles per active volunteer, with spare sets available. Assign shared tools by team and count them before and after the workday so nothing is left in the dune area.
When should I send information to dune restoration volunteers?: Send the practical participant information at least 3 days before the workday. Include the meeting point, registration time, expected finish, clothing guidance, weather arrangements and any dietary information you need for catering.
What should I do if the weather forecast changes?: Check the forecast and site conditions 24 hours before starting and again on the morning of the event. Decide in advance who can postpone or adapt the work, and communicate the final decision before volunteers travel to the site.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.