Volunteers helping to clear gorse from heathland (credit: Chris Gomersall/2020VISION)
Other ways to volunteer
From caring for nature reserves to surveying butterfly species, there are plenty of ways to get hands-on with your local wildlife. If we don't have a suitable volunteer vacancy at NWT for you at the moment, there are lots of volunteer groups who do conservation work on our reserves and other sites of natural importance throughout Norfolk.
Please contact these volunteer groups directly.
Volunteering opportunities across Norfolk
The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership maintains a useful directory of volunteering opportunities with community environmental groups.
Norwich
Based in or around Norwich? Many parks, open spaces and natural areas in Norwich have their own groups. Most are open for anyone to join, and run regular work parties to look after these spaces.
Find out more about Norwich activities
UEA Biodiversity Conservation Volunteering
The University of East Anglia is setting up regular volunteer work parties to carry out practical conservation to enhance biodiversity. The university's unique campus includes five County Wildlife Sites and spans a river, a broad, woodland, marsh, fen, meadows and all the habitats in between. We are very lucky to have the expertise of the incredible staff from the Ecology and Environmental Science departments to help guide our evidence-based conservation.
Generally, autumn/winter work might include meadow cutting and raking, scrub clearing, coppicing, gorse removal and reed cutting. In the spring/summer we'll move onto things like meadow and pond management and river bank restoration, with more opportunities for biodiversity monitoring and events in the warmer months.
All equipment, PPE and training will be provided and there will of course be hot drinks, treats and socials down the line when we have some regular groups established. If you'd like to be on the contact list, then just fill out this form and we'll be in touch - UEA Biodiversity Heroes Volunteer Form.
All adults are welcome – if you are aged under 18, please get in touch first. If you have questions, get in touch with Nadia (Biodiversity and Community Coordinator at UEA) at n.el-fakhri@uea.ac.uk.
Holt Lowes Volunteers
This group meets on the first Friday of every month through the winter. Sessions run from 10am-12.30pm but participants are free to leave before the end if they need to.
Meeting point: Holt Country Park main car park (off Norwich Road), NR25 6SP. The car park charge is £2 but this will be refunded. Registration is at 10am.
Refreshments: Please bring your own drinks. Biscuits will be provided.
What to wear: Please wear sturdy footwear and thorn-proof trousers and tops.
What to bring: A pair of thick gardening gloves, loppers and secateurs if you have them - we will have spares if not.
Access to toilets: Holt Country Park
Contact: Fiona on 01263 713226 or 07768 717902, or Claire on 01263 713817 or 07760 462693.
Volunteers planting trees at Old Hall Farm (credit: Emily Mildren)
Cley beach clean
We host regular beach cleans at NWT Cley Marshes to clear the shore for the benefit of coastal wildlife. Everybody is welcome to attend and all equipment you may need is provided. In the event of adverse weather, please contact the visitor centre in advance to check for cancellations.
Our upcoming beach cleans can be found on our What's On page.
Wymondham Nature Group
This group meets every Sunday from September - April at 2pm. Please park in the car park and meet in the wood. The group works mostly at NWT Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe.
Contact: Anne Edwards on 01603 812309.
NWT Broadland Group
This group is part of our Broadland Local Group. The group meets monthly on Sundays in winter at NWT nature reserves in the Broadland area only.
Contact: Jerry Simpson on 01692 630674 or broadland@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Mid Norfolk Conservation Volunteers (MNCV)
The group meets every Friday from 11.15am–2.15pm, working at various sites in the heart of Norfolk including NWT Foxley Wood and Wayland Wood.
Contact: 07546 722454 or mncv@protonmail.com
Ragwort pulling at Filby Common (credit: NWT)
Norwich Environmental Weekenders (NEWS)
This group meets every Sunday and works all over Norfolk. Minibus pickup from Norwich.
Contact: Steve Cook on 01603 259363 or steve.w.cook@openreach.co.uk
Twitter: @NewsVolunteers
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
TCV carries out a range of tasks throughout Norfolk, via various groups, and can provide minibus pick-ups. Please see their website for links to individual groups, including those below.
Contact: Debbie Murray on 01603 274512 or d.murray@tcv.org.uk or norfolk@tcv.org.uk
In Norwich:
- Norwich Environmental Action Team: for day projects across the county, minibus transport is provided from central Norwich.
- West Earlham Wood: regular conservation tasks and events.
- Netherwood Green Woods: weekly conservation tasks and events in South Norwich.
- Other Norwich volunteering opportunities including Mousehold Heath tasks with members of the Norwich Community Green Gym, and other activities.
Outside of Norwich:
- Bungay Green Spaces Project are leading a project for Bungay Green Spaces, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Waveney Volunteers for Nature: their newest independent group, working in Diss and surrounding areas.
- North Walsham Conservation Group: their award-winning project working on old railway lines around North Walsham.
- Mid Norfolk Conservation Volunteers: for middle of the day projects in central Norfolk.
- Great Yarmouth Green Gym: half-day sessions in Beacon Park Woods, Gorleston, in Great Yarmouth and nearby.
Norfolk Conservation Corps
This group of volunteers works on reserves across Norfolk.
Contact: Eddie Boosey on 01362 694071 or enquiries@norfolkconservationcorps.org
Norwich Fringe Project
Established in 1991, the Norwich Fringe Project is a local authority funded countryside management partnership, working with volunteers and local communities to look after the countryside around Norwich, including woodlands, meadows, marshes, heathlands and ponds.
The group meets on various days, usually Thursdays and Fridays. They rely on volunteers to be able to complete their tasks and are always keen to hear from new volunteers.
Contact: Matthew Davies on 01603 989311 or 07733 102013 or MatthewDavies1@norwich.gov.uk
Beeston Common Management Group
Can you spare a couple of hours or so to help maintain the important and beautiful Beeston Common, near Sheringham? Please get in touch if you're interested.
Contact: hon.warden@btinternet.com
Great Yarmouth Green Gym group after building a set of steps (credit: NWT)
Buxton Heath Wildlife Group
This group meets on the first and third Saturday of the month at NWT Buxton Heath, north of Norwich. Minibus from Norwich is available.
Contact: Phil Davison on phildavison1@yahoo.com or 01502 524412 or 07714349947.
Gaywood Valley Conservation Group
This group meets every Monday (excluding bank holidays) at 9.30am until approximately 1pm in King’s Lynn, PE30 4DN. They work on a variety of sites in the Gaywood Valley area.
Contact: 07944 953397 or Gvcg2015@gmail.com
North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust Wildlife
The North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust seeks volunteers to regularly survey and record the Canal's wildlife - from mosses and lichens to aquatic invertebrates, insects, birds, and mammals. The aim is to compile proper records of the fauna and flora along this important wildlife corridor for use by the Canal Trust and its partners. Volunteers will make up the Trust's Wildlife Team and will work with its Wildlife Officer.
Contact: Visit the NWDC Trust's website and contact the current Secretary.
Thetford Conservation Group
Free activities every Thursday, with a mixture of practical conservation tasks and opportunities to learn more about local natural history.