Appeal for volunteers to protect Dorset’s seas

Appeal for volunteers to protect Dorset’s seas

Dorset Wildlife Trust is appealing for local people aged 18 and over to help with its wildlife conservation work in the Isle of Purbeck and Weymouth and Portland areas. The Trust is looking for new recruits to join a keen group of volunteers at both the Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, Kimmeridge, and the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland. With increasing concerns about the climate and ecological emergency and marine litter, alongside a newly created network of protected areas in the sea, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s marine conservation work has never been more important.

Local people who would like to do something valuable for our blue planet, and have time to offer on a regular basis, are invited to take part. No expertise is required as all volunteers will be provided with free training to equip them with the basic knowledge and skills necessary. Our aim is to enable visitors to the Trust’s centres to leave feeling empowered to make simple changes in their everyday lives that benefit the planet and help tackle the environmental issues of our day. Volunteer training will include topics such as the identification of seashore animals and seaweeds, geology and fossils and how to carry out simple seashore surveys to monitor wildlife and activities within the new Purbeck Coast Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and on Chesil Bank and the Fleet nature reserve.

Julie Hatcher, Wild Seas Centre Officer, said: “We have an amazing team of volunteers at Kimmeridge and Chesil with a wide range of backgrounds and ages. What they all have in common is a passion for wildlife and a desire to help ensure its well-being. We're a friendly and fun bunch of people to work with and are looking forward to welcoming some new faces to our centres in 2022."

By joining our volunteer teams, you could learn valuable new skills, help your local wildlife and play your part in combatting the ecological crisis at the same time. Open sessions at both the Wild Seas Centre and the Chesil Beach Centre will be held in January or February, when you can meet the staff and volunteers and find out more about what they do. There are a limited number of vacancies at both centres, so if you think you’re suited to join the hardworking teams, please contact the relevant centre to register your interest. 

To contact Kimmeridge: Julie Hatcher on 01929 481044 or email kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
To contact Chesil: Sarah Hodgson on 01305 206191 or email chesilbeach@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

For more information about these and more volunteer opportunities view our volunteering pages.