This Volunteers’ Week, 1^st to 6^th June, we want to celebrate all that they bring to our organisation, our wildlife and our region, and say a huge thank you.

As a charity, we rely on the immense contribution of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters to help us carry out crucial conservation work and speak up for wildlife.

We look after more than 100 nature reserves right across Yorkshire, covering a huge variety of landscapes and habitats. Many of our volunteers are involved in practical conservation work, such as clearing invasive, non-native plant species that threaten native ones, or carrying out surveys. Around 1,100 practical conservation task days take place each year.

You might also meet some of our volunteers at our events, while others volunteer in our offices, where they support us with ecological data input, research and fleet vehicle checks.

Marie Fooks, volunteer support manager, said:

“Many of our volunteers join us because they care deeply about wildlife and conservation. It’s really important for us to celebrate volunteering and recognise the impact their support and time has for wildlife in Yorkshire.”

We encourage volunteers from all walks of life, with a variety of experiences and abilities. Some roles need specific skills or experience, but for most you can learn as you go along, and we provide training where people need it.

“Volunteering is a great chance to gain experience and skills, whether it’s a starting point for a career in conservation or to do something that can make a difference to the natural environment,” said Marie. “For example, we recently ran a training course for volunteers on dry stone walling at one of our nature reserves. Dry stone walls are such an integral feature of our countryside, but building them is a skill that’s been lost in many places.”

People volunteer for us for many different reasons, but the top one is that they want to make a difference to nature, as Simeon Gurr, River Derwent Voluntary Trainee, explains:

“Volunteering for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a two-way endeavour. Not only am I able to learn more about the diversity of nature in my local areas and develop new useful practical skills, but I know that I am giving back to wildlife in the best way possible. It is fantastic to get together with a friendly group of likeminded people and see how the effort we put in has a positive effect on the species that live there.”

Marie adds: “On 7^th June, we’re holding our volunteers’ conference to celebrate the volunteering that’s been going on across the year. We also have volunteering awards, and offer long service badges, a volunteer training programme and expert support from our staff.”

Find out more about volunteering for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.