Practical Volunteering Helping look after our Nature Reserves

Overview

We need volunteers to help us look after our nature reserves. This is outdoor, practical work in the countryside. Typically our volunteers help us with a wide range of conservation work and habitat management including fencing, tree clearing, mowing, hay making, installing visitor facilities such as bird hides, benches, boardwalks, laying stone on paths.

We are looking for people who are happy to spend the day outside in all weathers carrying out physical practical work. You will need to be enthusiastic and happy to learn new skills and work within an existing friendly and positive team. You don’t need any prior experience as all training will be provided but you need to be happy to get muddy!

volunteers do not need any prior experience as all training will be given. you do need to be happy to spend the day outside in all weathers, sometimes with no access to any indoor facilities. you need to be fairly self-sufficient with a packed lunch and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy or dirty. wellies and waterproofs are needed but we can help provide these if needed. we provide all the tools and equipment, training to use them and to carry out the task and we provide all personal protective equipment such as work gloves, ear/eye protection, helmets etc as required. you do not need to be extremely fit as all volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and within their own abilities and we have regular breaks but a moderate level of fitness and physical ability would be beneficial. we do work in outdoor environments where the terrain can be muddy, varied and hilly at times and we will spend the day outside in all weathers throughout the year. we can cover basic travel expenses and we do try and offer formal certified training in assorted tool use and first aid as budgets allow throughout the year. we also have a twice yearly social event to thank all volunteers too.