Volunteering with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Our conservation volunteering opportunities offer an immersive and rewarding experience. Imagine becoming a Volunteer Warden for your favourite local reserve, playing a crucial role in its ongoing health and vitality. Wardens act as the eyes and ears of the reserve, monitoring its condition, identifying potential issues, and even leading guided walks to share their passion with others.

Beyond the warden role, we welcome volunteers for a variety of ad-hoc tasks. These activities are often more physically demanding yet deeply satisfying, from brush cutting and rhododendron removal, reclaiming valuable habitats from invasive species, to meadow cutting. These hands-on experiences provide a chance to learn practical conservation skills, work alongside experienced professionals, and contribute directly to the preservation of Wiltshire's natural landscapes.

We recognise the crucial role that sustainable farming practices play in supporting biodiversity. We use conservation grazing with our herds of cattle and sheep to manage the delicate ecosystems of their reserves. This provides an opportunity for volunteers interested in the intersection of farming and conservation.

You can join the farming team by becoming a Livestock Looker, playing a vital role in the welfare of these animals. This involves checking on the herds, ensuring they have access to food and water, and reporting any concerns to the Farm Manager.

Wiltshire's chalk streams are a precious and increasingly threatened resource. We are looking for a team of River Guardians to play a direct role in protecting these vital ecosystems. River Guardians are trained to monitor the health of these waterways, collecting valuable data on water quality, flow rates, and the presence of key species. This information is crucial for understanding the challenges facing our rivers and developing effective conservation strategies. The beauty of this role is that it can be undertaken at any time for your local river or stream.

Volunteers also contribute to the removal of invasive non-native species, which can wreak havoc on aquatic ecosystems. This hands-on work involves carefully removing these unwanted plants, such as Himalayan Balsam, and replanting with native species.

Understanding the distribution and health of our wildlife populations is essential for effective conservation. We rely heavily on support from our dedicated volunteers to record sightings of various species, from birds and butterflies to wildflowers and fungi. These records provide invaluable data that helps track changes in biodiversity, identify areas of concern, and inform conservation management decisions.

Volunteering with the Youth, Education, and Wellbeing team offers the chance to inspire the next generation of conservationists. You could assist with educational activities, lead nature walks for school groups, help run family events, or support the Trust's Forest School programs.

These roles provide a rewarding opportunity to share your passion for nature, help children learn about the wonders of the natural world, and promote the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.

While fieldwork is often the most visible aspect of conservation, our administrative functions are equally vital to its success. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting these essential operations, ensuring the smooth running of the organisation and maximising its impact. Office-based tasks can include anything from assisting the membership team, ensuring members receive timely and accurate information, to data entry and management.