Volunteering opportunities
It takes the skills, enthusiasm and dedication of many people to manage land for wildlife, also to inform, influence and campaign, and to promote awareness and enjoyment of wildlife. Many volunteers and organisations work with us to make this happen.
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that allows you to develop skills and interests, to meet new people and, above all, to contribute to the conservation of some of our most valuable natural areas. Here are just some of the ways you may be able to get involved at different times.
Brian Eversham, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust, said, “Volunteers are central to this Wildlife Trust – we were as a charity set up and run by volunteers and we are still managed by a group of volunteer trustees. We now have 95 staff but we have around 1300 regular volunteers who help the organisation to achieve far more than the staff could achieve on their own. They have many different reasons for volunteering but they all make a huge contribution to the Trust whether by freeing up staff time by completing routine tasks or by donating specialist skills and expertise.”
Rebecca Glithero is one of three Voluntary Reserve Assistants working with the Cambridgeshire reserves team for six months during the winter of 2009-10. She helps with practical tasks and is learning many new skills that will stand her in good stead for a career in conservation.
This has included getting trained and qualified to use chainsaws. She said "This an important part of our training with the BCNP Wildlife Trust as it enables us to participate fully in the large amount of tree felling and woodland management that is scheduled to take place over this winter. Contrary to what many people might assume, felling trees is an important way of conserving and managing our woodlands and other natural spaces."
As a charity, the Wildife Trust depends upon an army of volunteers carrying out a boggling range of tasks. And they are not all of the hearty, outdoor variety. Take Gina Lewis, for example. She helps the Trust by preparing welcome packs for new members. Gina comes in for a couple of hours in the early morning. She likes being able to choose hours that don’t interfere with her busy life. “I find the work relaxing and enjoy the fact that I am able to give something back” says Gina.
Barbara Cracknell is currently a regular in the communications team at Cambourne. She files news articles and manages photographs, making it easier for staff to find publicity shots when needed. She also answers enquiries, sends out information and reads proofs. Oh… and she is a Wildlife Watch leader, a volunteer warden at for Natural England Woodwalton Fen and helps out in the Great Fen Countryside Classroom at Ramsey Heights. ‘I do whatever is asked of me’, she says modestly.
If you would like to volunteer for the Wildlife Trust please download and complete the volunteer enquiry form in the box on the right hand side of this page.
Conservation
Voluntary officer placements
Reserve wardens/assistant wardens
Work party volunteers
Cattle/sheep checkers
Surveying/monitoring field recorders
Find out more about the Bedfordshire Mid-week Wildlife Team
Office-based work
Planning case workers
Biological data assistants
Corporate fundraising assistants
Photo librarians
Membership/mailing assistants
Project workers
Communications assistants
Working with people
Trustees and committee members
Wildlife Watch/Greenwatch leaders
Education/community assistants
Local group committee members
Local appeal volunteers
Events assistants