Volunteering with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

For those who yearn to connect directly with the natural world, the Trust's 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. Our 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.

Train to become a Task Leader at a nearby Reserve, we will provide you with the qualifications and information you need to coordinate a group of volunteers for weekly, monthly or seasonal activities.

Or volunteer at one or a variety of reserves, where you can get involved in the various seasonal and essential activities for example: brush cutting, rhododendron removal, reclaiming valuable habitats from invasive species, and hedge laying or coppicing. These hands-on experiences provide a chance to learn practical conservation skills, work alongside other volunteers and often, experienced professionals, plus contributing 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.

By joining the farming team, you can become 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 global resource. We are always looking for volunteers to join our 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 along your local river or stream.

Water Team 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 often use the support of 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.

Volunteers can join the Education team to support Forest School sessions at schools and Family Days on Reserves. Or, become part of the ever-growing Wildlife Watch team who run forest school sessions once a month around the county for primary-aged children and their families. The Wellbeing team run regular programme to promote adult wellbeing and often look for volunteers to support their work.

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 preparing resources for the education team, data entry and management.

Furthermore, there are opportunities to contribute from home. These remote volunteering roles can include writing articles for our publications, proofreading and copyediting important documents, or working with data to support research and conservation initiatives. These flexible opportunities allow individuals with diverse skills and schedules to contribute meaningfully to the Trust's mission.