More than 900 volunteers supported events, undertook practical conservation activities, helped in visitor centres and much more to aid Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s protection of wildlife last year. As the UK celebrates National Volunteer Week 1-7 June, NWT takes the opportunity to thank its volunteers for their tremendous support.
Over the last year, NWT benefitted from volunteers to such an extent that it would have needed to employ an extra 20 full time members of staff to cover the work.
Chief Executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Brendan Joyce said: “Our volunteers donated an astounding 34,000 hours in 2013 to help us protect wildlife. We want to publically share our heartfelt gratitude to every one of our volunteers for helping us to look after over 50 nature reserves and protected sites; engage and inspire thousands of people through our education and event programmes, and assist the running and administration of the Trust. Thank you! We couldn’t do it without you.”
As the tasks as so varied, NWT’s volunteers span all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Volunteer Coordinator for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Angela Collins said: “As well as benefitting NWT, our volunteers learn new skills, meet new people and enjoy working in some of Norfolk's most valuable and beautiful natural areas.”
Interested in volunteering with Norfolk Wildlife Trust?
Volunteers support us in limitless way ways, bringing a huge breadth of skills and experience to the Trust. As the Volunteer Week campaign is celebrating its 30
th anniversary this year we thought we would highlight 30 different ways that volunteers have helped us. The list gives a flavour of our volunteer support, but in no way covers everything that our volunteers do for us!
1. Welcoming and helping over 165,000 visitors in our six visitor centres across Norfolk
2. Daily checking of our grazing stock, which helps us maintain some heath and grassland sites
3. Practical land management on several of our reserves
4. Volunteer wardens, on some of our more remote sites
5. Filing and general administrative duties at our Head Office in Norwich
6. All the committees and people who support our eight local groups
7. Assisting staff with our schools education programme
8. Updating our website
9. Leading guided walks
10. Answering enquiries to our Wildline Wildlife Information Service
11. Surveying and monitoring bird populations on our reserves
12. Helping engage with the public at our varied events programme throughout Norfolk
13. Helping visitors identify birds in our bird hides
14. Assisting with protected species surveys
15. Volunteer ambassadors who represent the Trust by giving talks
16. Tracking down businesses and land owners in our living landscape areas
17. Surveying and monitoring the condition of County Wildlife Sites
18. IT Support throughout the Trust
19. Butterfly transects (walking set routes regularly to monitor butterfly numbers)
20. Fence and path building and repair on our reserves
21. Running the 250 club which raises valuable additional funds for the Trust
22. Driving our boats at Hickling and Ranworth Broads
23. Packing Christmas card orders
24. Graphic design for our publications
25. Being on the reception desk at our Head Office
26. Taking photographs of wildlife, wild places and people
27. Being a Trustee of Norfolk Wildlife Trust
28. Surveying our sites to report on our signage
29. Conducting visitor surveys at our visitor centres
30. Making up and sending out new membership packs