About us

EuCAN is a Community Interest Company (CIC) working in the UK and other countries of Europe to involve more people and communities in the conservation management of their local environment, by providing training and practical experience for young graduates, potential volunteers and therapeutic groups, in nature conservation and in sustainable land management and food production enterprises. EuCAN CIC started life in 2007 as the European Conservation Action Network, a project linked to The Kingcombe Centre in west Dorset, and funded entirely by the Leonardo da Vinci strand of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. Since 2007, The European Conservation Action Network has set up 23 different two-week placements and enabled nearly 300 volunteers to visit 11 partner organisations in the EU.

In 2011, when The Kingcombe Trust was wound up, EuCAN became established as an independent Community Interest Company through which, in addition to promoting placements with our other EU partners, we have organised several conservation projects in Dorset and Somerset, are undertaking an increasing number of habitat management contracts using professionals and trainees working together, and have run training courses each year in botanical and lepidoptera identification and ecology, bumblebee conservation and id and other subjects. The CIC now acts as a hub for the wide network of volunteers, organisations and other contacts that EuCAN has cultivated since 2007.

Have a look at our Flickr site to get an idea of the range of activities we have been involved with!