Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s volunteers do amazing things for wildlife, from surveying wild areas to improve local knowledge to greeting visitors and showing them why Norfolk is such a special place for nature. After many months of necessary hiatus, NWT is thrilled to announce it is able to welcome volunteers back to their roles, starting at three of its biggest nature reserves.
NWT is supported by an incredible 1,400
volunteers a year, giving more than 50,000 hours of their time to help conservation in Norfolk. Although it will take a while to be back up to full capacity, many volunteers in the visitor centres at Cley Marshes, Holme Dunes and Hickling Broad have restarted, following safety assessments. The Trust hopes to soon welcome practical volunteer work parties back to the nature reserves to undertake habitat management.
Volunteers have a varied and stimulating role in helping to run the visitor centres, which includes welcoming visitors, sharing wildlife information and promoting the work of the Trust. Most volunteers help out for one day a week, and full training and on-going support is provided.
NWT Volunteer Coordinator, Alan Marchbank said: “Volunteers play a vital role in the functioning of the visitor centres: we could not open them without their loyal support. During the long months of lockdown some NWT volunteers were able to carry on, including our ever-diligent livestock checkers, who went on their regular checks to make sure our sheep, cattle and ponies were staying safe and well. We would like to thank them all for their invaluable support during these difficult times.”
Roger Jones is one of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s longstanding volunteers. He said: "In 30 years of volunteering for NWT, I have helped in 17 different ways, from education to practical conservation and assisting with several projects. I enjoy meeting people and showing them what is in their local environment. I look forward to getting back to talking to local groups and resuming churchyard surveying next year."
NWT welcomes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, giving volunteers the chance to meet a wide variety of people and to learn about wildlife in Norfolk.
If you are interested in volunteering please take a look at the available roles.