Do you want to help look after your local woodlands? Whatever your age, ability, or fitness level there are plenty of opportunities for volunteering.
You can get stuck into tasks such as tree planting and clearing scrub, or if that's not your thing, how about helping out with events, doing surveys, or helping with office work?
Your woodland needs you, so make a difference, volunteer today!
Volunteering opportunities currently available in:
- Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Northants
- The Chilterns
- Delamere
- The Forest of Dean
- Haldon Forest Park
- Kielder
- The Lake District
- The National Forest
- The New Forest
- Nottinghamshire
- Sandlings Forest
- South Yorkshire
- Thetford Forest
- Westonbirt National Arboretum
- Wyre Forest
Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Northants
Wood warden
Duties: Litter picking, topping up leaflet dispensers, opening/closing barriers, talking to the public and general "eyes and ears".
Contact details: Cheryl Joyce, Community and Education Ranger. 01780 444920 (North Beat area) or Jo Roberts, Community and Education Ranger. 01604 696239 (South Beat Area)
Volunteer Ranger (Practical tasks)
Duties: Join work parties doing general conservation work, such as ride clearance, coppicing, pond maintenance, bench installation, etc. Also need volunteers for wildlife surveys.
Contact details: as above.
Volunteer Ranger (General help)
Duties: Help with running events, manning stalls, car park marshalling, mailouts, guided walks, etc.
Contact details: as above.
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Duties: Help to administer the Volunteer Ranger service, including maintaining databases, making and laminating posters, producing a bi-monthly newsletter, and general mailouts.
Contact details: Cheryl Joyce, as above.
The Chilterns
Wendover recreation volunteers
Duties: Based in Wendover Woods. Provide an information point during weekends and bank holidays through the summer season to answer visitors’ questions. Small amount of patrolling, bylaw enforcement, checking pay and display tickets in the forest car park and general "eyes and ears".
Contact details: Colin Bradley, Recreation Ranger. 01296 625825 or 07778 025144.
Wendover Chilterns Society Volunteers
Duties: Practical volunteer work parties, clearing paths, ditches and ponds. Visit Chiltern Society website for more details.
Contact details: Tracey or Jenny in the Chiltern Society office 01494 771250.
Delamere
Duties: Contact us for more information.
Contact details: Kelly Johnston, Education Ranger. 01606 884942.
The Forest of Dean
Dean Green Team Conservation volunteers
Duties: Carry out conservation tasks in the forest every Tuesday September - April.
Contact details: Rebecca O'Dowd. 01594 833057
For more information visit www.deangreenteam.co.uk
Dymock Wood Conservation volunteers
Duties: Light conservation work with wildlife experts every Thursday October - March.
Contact details: Kate Wollen. 01594 833057
Haldon Forest Park
For more details see the Haldon Forest Park Volunteering page.
Kielder
Kielder Trail Reavers MTB volunteer team
Duties: build mountain bike trails from the ground up and drink some serious tea.
Contact details: info@kieldertrailreavers.com
For more information visit the Kielder Trail Reavers website.
The Lake District
Volunteer information warden
Duties: You will be needed during summer season to answer visitors’ questions on the nesting ospreys which can be viewed via CCTV from the visitor centre. The project is run as a partnership along with RSPB and National Park Authority.
Contact details: Nathan Fox, Forest Ranger. 017 687 78611
The National Forest
Sence Valley Volunteer Trust
Duties: Be part of a group of volunteers based around Sence Valley Forest Park in Leicestershire. They carry out ranger duties, conservation task days and assisting with events.
Contact details: Chris Mansell, Area Forester. 01889 586593
The New Forest
See Volunteering in the New Forest.
Nottinghamshire
Volunteers work on a range of projects including regular practical conservation tasks, acting as eyes and ears for our woodlands, wildlife/visitor surveys, assisting on events and leading guided walks. We also offer a Shadow Ranger voluntary apprenticeships for those interested in pursuing a career in the countryside and environmental sector.
Shadow rangers
Duties: Volunteer work placements with local countryside staff, aimed at people looking for a career in countryside management. 6-12 month work placements of 1-3 days per week.
Further details available on our Volunteering in Nottinghamshire page.
Sandlings Forest
Duties: Covering the south Suffolk woods close to Ipswich. The "Friends of Sandlings Forests" run a volunteer group that help with practical tasks and events.
Contact details: Friends of Sandlings Forests. 01394 450947.
South Yorkshire
Duties: Opportunities to work on conservation tasks suitable for all abilities. The Rangers work in partnership with Doncaster Primary Care Trust and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).
Contact details: South Yorkshire Community Rangers on 01302 820 278
Thetford Forest
Friends of Thetford Forest Park volunteer
Duties: Carry out monthly conservation tasks. For more details visit the Friends of Thetford Forest Park website.
Contact details: Rachel Riley. 01842 810271
Westonbirt National Arboretum
Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum
Duties: Working in partnership with our thriving Friends group we can offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities.
Examples of volunteer opportunities: practical conservation work (midweek and weekend work parties), Ha Ha restoration, propagation, education, meeting and orientating visitors, signage maintenance and administration.
Contact details: Cheryl Pearson 01666 881221 or visit our web pages.
Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest Volunteer
Duties: One Sunday a month carry out conservation tasks across the forest. Also hold regular social events
Contact details: Phil Rudlin, Wildlife Ranger. 01299 266302
