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.

We only create voluntary opportunities where we can fully train, support and value the volunteers involved.

These opportunities include:

Corporate Volunteering or Employee Action Days

A way for companies and businesses to make a practical and positive difference to local wildlife.

Wildlife Action Group

Our twice weekly (Wednesday and Sunday) volunteer group who help with practical conservation on Trust nature reserves.

Nature Reserves

Gain experience helping to look after and manage your local reserve or further a field.

Community

Helping with our Community outreach projects.

Grassland Restoration Team

Assisting with restoration of wildflower meadows around Chew Valley and St. Catherine's Valley..

Communications and Development

Nothing at present, please check back again at a later date.

Events

Share your expertise with others.

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

Or for other opportunities in Bristol and the surrounding area see www.greenvolunteersbristol.co.uk

Volunteering vacancies

Nature reserves

For any nature reserve volunteering opportunities, please get in touch with Sarah van der Meer (Reserves Officer) on 0117 917 7277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Corporate Volunteering or Employee Action Days

Avon Wildlife Trust currently does not have any funded projects which enable us to offer free corporate volunteering.

Instead we offer Employee Action Days, charged conservation practical days. The team will work together to make a difference for wildlife at one of Avon Wildlife Trusts nature reserves. All tasks will offer the group an interactive way of making a positive and practical difference to local wildlife.

To plan, organise and run a practical day for your team with a dedicated leader we charge £500 for a team of 10. We can work with up to 30 people, with one leader to each team of 10.

For further information please download the information pack here.

To book a day or if you have any extra questions, get in touch with Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) by email, sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or by phone 0117 9177277.

Wildlife Action Group (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.

Please note that we can only accommodate a certain number of people on these days and you may be disappointed if numbers are too high.

Click here for this quarter's WAG Programme.

Gordano Conservation Group

The Gordano Conservation Group is a practical work group who help Avon Wildlife Trusts nature reserves team to manage its reserves in the Gordano Valley (between Portbury and Clevedon). Some of these reserves include Prior's Wood, Tickenham Hill, Weston Moor, Walton Common 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.

For the groups programme for 2011click here. For next years programme (2012-13) click here.

Gordano Conservation Group Leaders

The group  needs more volunteer leaders - First aid, health and safety, and leadership skills training provided.

Weston-Super-Mare Practical Group

A small group of volunteers meets to manage the two nature reserves of Hellenge Hill and Purn Hill south of Weston Super Mare on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year. They carry out a range of management from controlling scrub trees and brambles in the winter, to carrying out monitoring and surveying of the wildlife through the summer months.

With amazing scenery and great company it would be a great place to help make a difference.

Brown's Folly Practical Group - active during the autumn and winter

An active group of volunteers meet at the reserve on Mondays during the autumn and winter at Brown's Follynear Bath. Why not join them with their woodland management tasks such as coppicing, thinning, removing non-native trees and maintaining footpaths around the nature reserve during the autumn and winter.

Volunteering is a great way to get practical experience of woodland management, learn from experienced volunteers about species found within the woods as well as helping to manage a special place.

Willsbridge Valley Practical Group

Willsbridge Valley (south east of Bristol & west of Bath) is a lovely oasis in the midst of a housing estate. It is managed and maintained by the invaluable help of the Willsbridge Valley Practical Group.

From weeding and maintaining the fantastic wildlife recycling garden, creating dead wood habitats in the wooded areas, managing the wildlife ponds on site and more, there are lots of activities to get stuck into all year around.

The group meet on a Tuesday and would love more help to manage this well loved reserve.

For any nature reserve volunteering opportunities, please get in touch with Sarah van der Meer (Reserves Officer) on 0117 917 7277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Portbury Wharf Reserve Volunteers
Come volunteer and help the Trust to manage the new 47 hectares Portbury Wharf nature reserve. Tasks will vary from helping to maintain access, to carrying out scrub removal, ditch management and more. There will be opportunities to get involved with a variety wildlife monitoring and in particular experienced naturalists are needed to assist with surveys. Portbury Wharf is near the village of Sheepway, near to Portishead.

If you are interested in helping with the reserve or monitoring please get in touch with Bernie D'Arcy (Portbury Wharf Reserve Manager) on 01275 817710 at the Portbury Wharf office or e-mail berniedarcy@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Community

People and Wildlife Project

For more information on the People and Wildlife project see their area of our web-site here.

Community Action Team Volunteers
The People and Wildlife Programme have now set up a regular volunteering opportunity on Thursdays 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) on 0117 917 7270 or email kellybray@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk.

PAW Volunteer Placements

Additionally, the People and Wildlife Team is looking for two enthusiastic and committed volunteer placements for these exciting positions, for a minimum period of 6 months.

The successful placements will be fully involved in developing and creating inspiring engagement activities and delivering practical conservation activities with different audiences at our education centres, nature reserves and projects throughout Avon. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop transferable skills and gain confidence and experience developing and engaging people with the natural world and wildlife.

To download a copy of the placement profile PAW Volunteer Placement JD - Feb 2012

Avon Wildlife Trust's People and Wildlife Programme aims to inspire more people about nature and to support them to do their own wildlife projects in their community. The programme is especially aimed at engaging people who do not usually get involved with wildlife and works with a wide variety of people.

Learning Team

Nothing at present , check back again at a later date.

Conservation

Grassland Restoration Team

The AWT Avon's Wildflower Grassland Project has surveyed beautiful grasslands across the Chew Valley, the Mendips and around Bath over the last 3 years. Our next task is to try to improve and extend these areas, for example by helping landowners and farmers to tackle scrub and other issues on their land.

Would you be interested in joining the Grassland Restoration Team (see picture above!) over the autumn and winter on Tuesdays?

Lifts to the sites would be provided from the office on Jacobs Wells Road (Bristol) with hot drinks, biscuits, tools & training and PPE provided.

If you'd like to find out more or register your interest then please contact richiesmith@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk Richie Smith (Living Landscape Project Officer) or call 0117 9177279.

Communications and Development

Nothing at this time, check back again at a later date.

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.