Volunteering

Volunteering allows you as an individual to really make a difference to the environment, and towards the targets and actions outlined in the Wiltshire BAP.  It is also an excellent way to gain work experience, make new friends, develop your personal and practical skills, enhance your CV and above all – have fun!

Volunteering opportunities across Wiltshire

Browse the list of volunteering opportunities below, or go to the following websites to find out more about how you can get involved in environmental volunteering in Wiltshire. 

Wiltshire World Changers website

The Wiltshire World Changers website is bringing together people and communities from across Wiltshire who are taking action to look after the environment, tackle climate change and protect wildlife. On the website you can search a Green Map to find local projects, volunteering opportunities and nature reserves in your area.

Do It!

Search over 800 000 volunteering opportunities on this website by typing in your postcode, and apply online. Go the the Do-it website >

BTCV

BTCV runs a huge range of environmental volunteering programmes.  Some are targeted towards particular groups such as young people, some are open to all.  Training and conservation holidays are also available. Volunteers meet on Wednesdays and weekends.  The Swindon office can be contacted on (01793) 640247. Go the BTCV website>

BTCV’s Green Gyms benefit the local environment through practical conservation work, while also allowing you to increase your fitness levels and general sense of well being.  You may burn up to a third more calories after an hour of some Green Gym sessions than when doing a step aerobics class! In addition, regular participation in Green Gym sessions should make you stronger, and lessen the risk of illnesses such as osteoporosis.  Green Gyms are open to anyone of any ability, age, and level of fitness.  Typically each session starts with a gentle warm up, before moving onto individually designed activities that become more strenuous as fitness increases.  Contact Simon Penn at BTCV by using the email box at the bottom of the page, or go to the Green Gym website for more information.

Wiltshire Wildlife Conservation Volunteers

This group meets on a Saturday and/or Sunday from 10.30am – 3.30pm from October to March, and some Wednesdays during the summer months.  A programme of conservation tasks is carried out during weekends and occasionally during the week.  Work includes using traditional tools and skills to maintain and improve wildlife habitats, tree planting, ponds, scrub clearing and coppicing.  No previous experience is needed, and help and training is provided.  Volunteers are needed for the larger organized tasks as well as smaller jobs such as keeping trails clear and maintaining seats.  They need to be able to cope with rough and often wet, muddy ground.
For more information go to the WWCV website >

Butterfly Conservation, Wiltshire Branch

This group caries out practical conservation work to benefit butterflies and help to monitor butterfly populations. Contact branch treasurer Phil Claridge (01793) 813937 or branch organizer Tim Hoare on (01225) 811214 for more information, or contact the Wiltshire Branch using the email box below.

Corporate volunteering

Contact Iain Boyd by using the email box below to find out about corporate volunteering opportunities at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Biological recording

The Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) provides a central reference point for environmental information on geology, habitats, sites and species. Visit WSBRC website.

Sending in your wildlife records to the WSBRC or becoming a volunteer monitor, helps the WSBRC establish accurate records of the distribution of different species throughout Wiltshire and Swindon. This is particularly important when it comes to BAP species, which by their very nature are rare or suffering population decline. By establishing their distribution, conservation efforts can be best targeted, and progress can be measured.

-Go the the WSBRC recent sightings board to find out what you have been recording in Wiltshire this month
- Visit the Featured Species pages of the WSBRC website to find out which wildlife is out and about this month
- Go to the biological recording pages of the WSBRC website to find out how to record the wildlife you've seen
Find out more about the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Volunteer monitoring schemes with the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Recording the wildlife and ecology of the same site over a number of years (monitoring) helps us to understand how that environment is changing. If enough sites are regularly monitored, we can begin to build up a picture of the changing face of Wiltshire. This is where you could make a real contribution! 
Visit the WSBRC website to find out more about:
- River monitoring
- Protected road verges
- County recorders

Email us about any of the opportunities above

Please make sure you state the opportunity you are interested in, or the person you wish to contact in the 'Subject' box.