Volunteering

Marine survey volunteers

Julie Hatcher

Volunteering

Is volunteering right for me?

Volunteers come to us for all sorts of reasons: to do their bit, to get healthy, to stay healthy, for the social element, for fun, for the challenge, to learn new skills, to practice old skills, to prepare for the workplace, to help wildlife, to get out into the fresh air, to learn about wildlife, to carry on using skills during retirement - and occasionally it’s just to give it a go. We like to think that we have the ideal opportunity for everyone who comes to us – so why not put us to the test?

Complete our volunteering registration form to sign up for our monthly Volunteering Alert newsletters to find out about our latest volunteering news and opportunities.

There are lots of different opportunities, it's just a matter of choosing which ones you want to try. Read about some of the options below:

Volunteering opportunities

Video production: Diarmuid Mitchell

Getting stuck in with our work parties

Join a conservation work party and help to manage our nature reserves across the county.

  • Mainly winter activities
  • A few sites host volunteer work parties throughout the year.
  • All sessions are led by experienced volunteers or Reserve Wardens
  • All tools provided for you.

Undertake active management tasks such as:

  • Path creation
  • Scrub clearance
  • Hedgelaying
  • Path clearance
  • Small pine removal.

The emphasis is for everyone to enjoy their time, in a safe environment, whilst carrying out work that will directly enhance the conservation aspects of the site.

  • Most work parties run from 10am until 3pm.
  • Ring the organiser beforehand to check.
  • Details of each event are in the DWT events guide or in the latest issue of Volunteering Alert.

Have a look at our current dates on the events page. We welcome new volunteers, phone or email us and come along! 

Contact volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk to find out more.

 

Working in the offices and visitor centres

Volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust needn't involve being outside, doing something manual or getting very muddy and wet!

There is a huge range of other tasks that may appeal to you indoors at our Headquarters near Dorchester, or any of our Visitor Centres

  • Organising events
  • Clerical support
  • Staffing reception
  • Data input
  • Carrying out research
  • Helping pack DWT newsletters into envelopes

There are also regular sessions at our Brooklands Farm HQ carrying out such tasks as the stuffing of newsletters, raffles and other bulk mailings into envelopes ready for delivery.

Contact: If you are able to volunteer for a regular session of perhaps one day a week, you may like to assist one of our teams with a specific project. Contact volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk to find out more.

Carrying out wildlife surveys

Recording and monitoring of wildlife is an important part of our work across Dorset, from our Nature Reserves and Dorset's Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) to the Living Landscape & Living Seas projects and your local community patch!

There are a number of ways you can be involved, depending on your interests, how much time you have, and how experienced you are at identifying wildlife.

If you have existing wildlife identification and survey skills, would like to contribute to the nature reserves recording and monitoring programme or are a regular recorder at any of our sites get in touch. There are also occasional opportunities to be trained for specific surveys which are advertised through the volunteer e-mail newsletter.

Contact details:  volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Discover more - our volunteer handbook

Volunteer Handbook

Read our volunteers' blogs

Find out about Dorset Wildlife Trust

Information Pack for Volunteers

Volunteering for Young People

Volunteering at Lorton Meadows by Sam Dallimore

Volunteering at Lorton Meadows by Sam Dallimore 

Meet the volunteer team near you

We have regional teams throughout Dorset. Feel free to contact them directly if you wish to discuss specific volunteering roles.

Complete our Volunteering Registration form

Sarah Pritchard - Brooklands HQ

Sarah Pritchard Administration Officer is the member of staff responsible for the Brooklands HQ Front of House Volunteers. Our volunteers provide a welcoming, friendly, first point of contact for members and public alike. Their main jobs include supporting the administration team with answering the phone, emailing messages, opening incoming mail and preparing outgoing mail. They also help with any admin jobs that arise such as helping to construct adoption packs and membership packs.

If you are interested please contact Sarah at spritchard@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

 

Sarah Pritchard

Julie Hatcher - Marine Volunteers

Julie Hatcher

Julie Hatcher

Julie is the Marine Awareness Officer and manages the Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge where she organises the team of volunteer marine wardens.

Kimmeridge Marine Volunteers: Please contact Julie Hatcher on 01929 481044 or email her for details of Kimmeridge marine volunteering opportunities at kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Kelly Hunt - East Dorset Volunteers

Kelly Hunt copyright Ben Arkless

East Dorset Volunteers: Meet on the second  and fourth Thursday of the month at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill, throughout the year.  A mix of practical tasks and survey work, there will be something to meet everybody’s needs.  For information on the East Dorset Volunteers  please contact Kelly Hunt at khunt@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.

 

Brownsea Island Volunteers

Brownsea Volunteers: Meet every Friday from September and throughout winter helping with habitat management of this unique nature reserve. Contact the Brownsea team for more information on  brownsea@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Ben Atkinson - North Dorset Volunteers

North Dorset Volunteers

North dorset Volunteers © S Oliver

Ben Atkinson is the North Dorset Volunteer Co-ordinator as well as being the North Dorset Reserves Warden. He is involved with survey/monitoring work in the Summer. In the Winter, tasks mainly involve habitat management. He always ensures that volunteering tasks are enjoyable, action-packed and fulfilling - so if that sounds like the sort of thing you want to be involved in, drop him a line!

North Dorset Volunteers:  Meet one Sunday every month throughout the year and various Wednesdays. Much of the work will involve keeping the downland clear of invasive scrub.

For details and to confirm the meeting point, please phone Ben Atkinson on tel: 07458 073878 or email him  at batkinson@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Lizzie Parris - West Dorset Volunteers

West Dorset Work Party

West Dorset Work Party Lizzie Parris

Lizzie Parris is the West Dorset Volunteer Co-ordinator as well as being a reserves warden for West Dorset. She runs regular volunteer work parties on our West Dorset nature reserves. 

West Dorset Volunteers: Meets every Tuesday from 10am until 4pm. Feel free to get in touch for more information if you are interested in helping the West Dorset wardens with a variety of practical management tasks.

For further details please email her at lparris@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Nick Gray - Pastures New Volunteers

Nick Gray

Nick Gray

Nick Gray is the West Dorset Conservation Officer, he runs regular work parties which work with local landowners and farmers to restore and enhance wildlife-rich grassland.

THURSDAYS – PASTURES NEW: meet on Thursdays throughout the year (weekly in winter, fortnightly in the summer), for active conservation on wildlife-rich grasslands, hedgerows, woodlands and riverbanks. Based in West Dorset. Please contact Nick Gray for details on 07824438974 or email ngray@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

South Dorset Volunteers

Kilwood © James Hitchen

The Trust runs regular work parties on South Dorset nature reserves.

South Dorset Volunteers: Meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 am. Please note dates may vary occasionally so check our on-line events guide for up to date information. Join the Warden on a practical task and help to manage our South Dorset nature reserves. Booking is essential. 

For more details or to book please e-mail volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Dan Bartlett - Lorton Meadows Volunteers

Dan Bartlett

Lorton Meadows: Meet fortnightly on Wednesdays at the Lorton Meadows Wildlife Centre 10am ­ 3pm. Tasks involve scrub clearance, path and gate clearance, fencing repairs.

For further details please contact  Dan Bartlett at dbartlett@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Colleen Smith - Moore Wessex Water Guardians Volunteers

Colleen is the Assistant Conservation Officer (Rivers & Wetlands), she runs the Wessex Water Guardians Community Project.

Colleen Smith-Moore

Wessex Water Guardians volunteers walk publicly accessible stretches of river, in their own time, to monitor river health and check for pollution. Training is provided and no prior experience is necessary. If you are interested, please find further details on the website or contact Colleen at waterguardians@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Mitch Perkins - Assistant Wilder Communities Officer

Mitch Perkins

Mitch is the Assistant Wilder Communities Officer and helps look after our wildlife gardening projects.  Are you a wildlife friendly gardener, who would like to help us ‘spread the word’, either by providing advice, giving talks or helping out at events?  Please contact Mitch (mperkins@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk).

Abi Mustard - Chesil Community Engagement Volunteers

Abi Mustard

Abi is the Community Ranger based at the Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre, and she oversees the Community Engagement Volunteer team who support her work in engaging with visitors to Chesil Beach and Fleet Lagoon promoting the high wildlife conservation value of the site.

Community Engagement Volunteers: please contact Abi for more information about the Community Engagement Volunteer team opportunities via email to amustard@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or telephone 01305 206191.

You can find out more about our work at the centre at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/chesilcentre

Volunteering events happening soon...

Useful downloads

If you would like to have a more in-depth read about volunteering with Dorset Wildlife Trust just click the relevant title below to download.

Get in touch

We really do value your feedback on our volunteering programme so please feel free to get in touch at volunteering@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk