From surveying to practical conservation work or wildlife gardening to database entry, design work, photography or envelope stuffing - there really is a volunteer opportunity for everyone.
If you have some spare time you want to donate, some skills you want to share, or perhaps you want to gain some experience for your CV please don't hesitate to get in contact.
Here are some examples of the volunteering opportunities available with us at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust:
On our reserves
We have over 10 reserve based volunteer groups running all over the county that you can join to help manage our 60 plus nature reserves. Find out more about your local reserve group here.
On farms and private land
The Living Landscapes team delivers landscape scale conservation by working with farmers and landowners to link our nature reserves and make farmland more wildlife friendly, allowing more species to thrive and move through the landscape. With our volunteer groups we undertake river restoration work, control invasive species and install natural flood management structures. Find out about the Cotswold Rivers and Painswick Valley volunteering opportunities here.
Ecological surveying
Our Survey and Monitoring Programmes run throughout the year offering opportunities to records species found on and off our nature reserves, helping to keep up-to-date records of the species present and the condition of the habitats.
This program welcomes people regardless of skills and experience. You will have the opportunity to learn a variety of ecological surveying techniques.
- Stroud Wildlife Survey - running since 2014, this group has worked on conservation verge surveys, freshwater invertebrate surveys, rare plant monitoring and veteran tree surveying. This friendly group is open to all levels, offers great opportunities to improve survey skills and offers free training. For more information please email stroudwildlifesurvey@gmail.com
- Survey and Monitoring in the Dean - a new group just launched in April 2017, the survey opportunities are part of a wider project within the Dean, Foresters Forest a Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership programme. The project aim is to raise awareness and participation in the Deans rich herritage, wildlife and culture, through a range of volunteer and community projects. To join the group please contact them at forestersforest@fvaf.org.uk
- Cirencester Area Group - formed in 2016 by a group of volunteers. They run ad-hoc surveys, events and conservation activities in the Cirencester area. For more information about the group's latest work please email them at wildciren@gmail.com
- Toad Patrol - Toads on Roads patrollers help save thousands of migrating toads from being killed on roads each spring. GWT have been working with Froglife to support this campaign and in 2015 we initiated the Gloucestershire Toads on Roads network (GlosToR). Toad Patrol runs from January to April each year, however, we are always eager to recruit more patrollers so please contact us if you want to get involved in saving amphibian lives in your area. Email the GlosToR volunteers on glos.toads@gmail.com for more information
From surveying to practical conservation work or wildlife gardening to database entry, design work, photography or envelope stuffing - there really is a volunteer opportunity for everyone
At our HQ and GCER
There are lots of ways that you can help at our headquarters, this could be through working on spreadsheets and databases, scanning, photocopying and helping us keep the small wildlife garden looking pretty.
Our wildlife garden at Robinswood Hill always requires plenty of weeding in spring, summer and autumn.
We also have a large number of administrative opportunities from assisting with the Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records to our membership team.
Fundraising
Help us raise much needed funds - this could be through attending one of our events and shaking a bucket, to distributing and collecting donation envelopes in your local area or helping our fundraising team in the office.
Fundraising is a major part of our work. Each year a variety of events and campaigns are delivered in order to raise much needed funds.
Help with events
Become an event angel and help us deliver an exciting range of events. We promise you'll have fun whilst you help with tasks such as running wildlife themed family activities, welcoming the public, serving refreshments and marshalling.
Come help out at our annual events such as Go Wild at Robinswood Hill or join us at one of our stands at your local County Show and discover for yourself the smiles you can put on people's faces with the work you do.
Sign up as an event angel and you will get to attend the event of your choice!
Education
Inspire those young and old to love nature.
We have volunteer opportunities in education for all ages. This could be leading guided walks for adults or children around our reserves, running events with school groups, teaching under 5s to love the outdoors, helping to run one of our after school or kids holiday clubs or lead a wildlife talk. There is plenty to do!