Volunteer

There are many opportunities to get more involved in the work of the Trust, whether you're looking for work experience, a new hobby, or are just keen to do something to help protect wildlife in your local area.

These opportunities include:

Employee Action Days

A fantastic opportunity for staff building and an interactive way for companies to make a practical and positive difference to local wildlife. For more information click on the link above.

Nature Reserves

Get outdoors with our practical teams, gain experience as a volunteer placement, help us look after your local nature reserve or join in with wildlife surveys.

Community & Education

Helping at our education work or with community projects.

Biodiversity

Working with the Living Landscapes team to help survey areas of grassland around Avon.

Development

Helping to promote and market the Trusts work.

Events
Share your expertise with others.

Wildlife Action Group Volunteer work programme
Are you looking for fresh air, fun and exercise? If so, come along and join us at 10am on Sundays or Wednesdays ando some important and worthwhile practical work on nature reserves around Bristol,Bath and Avon.

For more environmental volunteering vacancies see www.environmentjob.co.uk or www.countryside-jobs.com

Summer Placement Volunteering Roles

Last year we were contacted by a number of University students regarding summer placement opportunities. This year we have created a few summer placement roles to help some of our projects. For more information, please get in touch with Sarah (Volunteering Officer), on 0117 917 7270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

These are: Summer Placement with the Living Landscapes Grassland Project and Summer Placement with the Reserves Team.

Volunteering vacancies

Nature reserves

Wildlife Action Groups (WAG)

Join in when you can on any Wednesday or Sunday and be part of the volunteer teams that do practical conservation work on our nature reserves. Work is seasonal, so in the summer the work is drystone walling, stock fencing, path maintenance, hide repair and grass cutting using scythes to name a few. In the winter we turn our hands to hedgelaying, coppicing, bramble bashing, and small tree felling. Tasks are carried out using hand tools, and occasionally drills. Transport, tools, training and tea are all provided. Click here for this quarter's WAG Programme.

Voluntary Reserve Wardens
Are you interested in your local environment? Would you like to help wildlife flourish in your local area? Volunteer Wardens have a unique role within the Trust, helping to manage AWT nature reserves. Ideally we are looking for people who can give a long-term commitment (2 years+) to their local reserve.

Please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) on 0117 917 7270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk if you would like to discuss the opportunities for wardening in your local area.

Folly Farm Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help with the management of the 250 acre Folly Farm nature reserve . The group is made up of retired / semi-retired volunteers that visit the reserve every Thursday. Folly Farm is near the village of Bishop Sutton and Chew Valley Lake. For further information please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) on 0117 917 7270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Royate Hill Local Volunteer Group

Volunteers are needed to help the Royate Hill Local Group to manage the fantastic nature reserve in Easton/Eastville. Tasks range from management of the grassland such as grasscutting and scrub removal, to step building. It is a monthly group that meets on one Saturday a month. For more information on the reserve please use this link.

If you would like to join the group, please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) for more information on the group and where they are meeting. E-mail sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or phone 0117 9177270.

Gordano Conservation Group leaders and volunteers

The Gordano Conservation Group is a practical work group who help Avon Wildlife Trusts to manage its reserves in the Gordano Valley (between Portbury and Clevedon). Some of these reserves include Prior's Wood, Tickenham Ridge, Walton Common, Weston Moor and more. The group meet one Sunday a month at programmed nature reserves to carryout work such as rhododendron clearance, scrub clearance, drystone walling, ragwort pulling, and more.

Download the Gordano Group work programme (word doc)

The group is in need of more volunteer leaders to help to supervise the group, which is growing increasingly popular. First aid, health and safety training, and leadership skills training provided. Or event If you just fancy helping out as a volunteer with the group in either role please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) on 0117 9177270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Weston-Super-Mare Practical Group

A small group of volunteers and volunteer wardens meets to manage the two nature reserve near to the village of Bleadon, just south of Weston Super Mare. The group works on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year, on Hellenge Hill and Purn Hill carrying out a range of management from controlling scrub trees and brambles in the winter, to carrying out monitoring and surveying through the summer. months. If interested please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer)on 0117 9177270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk, who can pass your details onto the voluntary warden who looks after the group.

Brown's Folly Practical Group

Brown's Folly is one of Avon Wildlife Trust's first nature reserves. Standing high above the river Avon, with commanding views towards Bath, Brown's Folly boasts rich grasslands, woodlands and scrub, which carpet the remains of the old Bath stone quarries.

There is an active group of volunteers on site who meet most Mondays, and would be pleased to have more help with their tasks of making sure the paths are free of fallen trees, thinning out non-native trees from the canopy and generally maintaining the nature reserve.

If interested please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) on 0117 9177270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk, who can pass your details onto the voluntary warden who looks after the group.

Folly Farm Gardening Volunteers

The Folly Farm Centre is at the heart of the 250 acre nature reserve. The farm gardens around the farm buildings are in need of maintenance. Tasks could involve weeding, planting, mowing, drystone walling repairs and more. Hot drinks, refreshments and biscuits provided.

See here more info.

If interested please contact Philip Niemand (Folly Farm Centre Director) on 01275 331590 ore-mail philipniemand@follyfarm.org.

Community

Community Action Team Volunteers
The People and Wildlife Programme have now set up a regular volunteering opportunity on Thursday's to help support AWT's community projects around Bristol. Activities could range from constructing a herb spiral at North Street Green, Bedminster to hedgelaying and management of our reserve on Brandon Hill.

We provide transport to site, all necessary tools, training and refreshments. 

We welcome people of any ability so if you have a disability or maybe English as a second language and would like more information please get in touch. For further information please contact Kelly Bray (People & Wildlife Community Action Officer) on0117 917 7270 or email kellybray@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Community Volunteer Support Assistants

The People and Wildlife team are looking for volunteers to help support various volunteer groups in practical conservation.

Download a role description here.

For further information please contact Kelly Bray (People & Wildlife Community Action Officer) on0117 917 7270 or email kellybray@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Community Engagement Volunteers

The  People and Wildlife Team run a range of projects, events and activities to engage and encourage people to appreciate and care for nature. There has been a great response and interest from the communities in Bedminster, Heartleaf and Withy wood. We are looking for volunteers to help support and develop further projects in this area.  

Download a role description here.

If you are interested in this role but do not live in South Bristol then please still get in contact as there maybe other opportunities near you.

Interested.  For further information please contact Kelly Bray (People & Wildlife Community Action Officer) on0117 917 7270 or email kellybray@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Biodiversity

Summer Placement with Living Landscapes Grassland Project

We are looking for volunteers to help survey specific areas in the Mendips and the Cotswolds, to find out whether historic sites of species rich grassland still exist or can be restored. The data collected will update regional records and contribute towards the creation of an up-to-date grassland map for the Avon area.

Surveys are carried out during the week from 9am to 5pm, and we are hoping to find people who can commit to at least one day per week for the duration of the survey season May to September.

Download a role descrption here.

If interested please send a CV and cover letter to Dr Kate Pressland by e-mail katepressland@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Development

Marketing Assistant

We are looking for an enthusiastic, outgoing volunteer with e-marketing experience to support the Trust's communications and marketing work. Required for up to two days per week ideally - and plenty of scope for developing ideas!

Please email your CV to Pat Ellingham (Director of Development and Communications): patellingham@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Events

Volunteer Speakers

If you have an interest in wildlife, are confident about making presentations and like meeting new people, you could join our team of speakers who travel to a variety of groups, including special interest groups, clubs and community associations. For further information please ring Judy Copeland on Wednesday at the Trust Office on 0117 917 7270 or e-mail on judycopeland@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.