Founded in 1959, we are proudly one of the largest Wildlife Trusts in the UK, committed to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature. We manage 8,400 acres of land made up of 87 nature reserves, two nature parks and ten Nature Discovery Centre’s across Essex.
Essex is blessed with a rich and varied wildlife heritage and home to the UK’s second longest coastline at 905km. Working with over 1400 volunteers, we are dedicated to protecting species and preserving habitats from ancient woodlands, mosaic and grasslands to wetlands and coastal grazing marshes.
We have a unique culture that is both mission-driven and collaborative, centred around a shared passion for wildlife conservation and a commitment to making a positive impact for nature and the people of Essex. We believe that teamwork is essential to achieving our goal of a Wider Essex. Whether you're interested in maintaining a nature reserve, engaging with children and young people about wildlife or supporting an event, you'll have the opportunity to become part of a like-minded community of Essex Wildlife Trust Volunteers who are committed to making a difference for the natural world.
Very simply, we could not achieve our vision for a #WilderEssex without volunteers. Being a volunteer with us is a rewarding experience - that's why our volunteers keep coming back.
Volunteering can be for as little as a couple of hours a month, or every week, and for some roles, no particular skills or experience are required. Whichever role you would like to support the Trust in, full training will be provided. We invite you to explore our volunteer opportunities and join us.
Volunteer in our Nature Discovery Centres
Our Nature Discovery Centres are a gateway to nature. All centres are open seven days a week from 10am-5pm (4pm in the Winter months). Centre volunteers engage with visitors about the work of the Trust and support the centres with café and retail outlets in a varied and sociable role.
Centre and Catering Assistants
We are looking for catering and centre assistants to help at our Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Centre.
Front desk and retail assistant (Gift shop)
Can you help welcome our visitors to our busy Langdon Nature Discovery Centre?
Food and Beverage Assistants
We are looking for volunteers to help in the Trust’s very first restaurant in our Langdon Nature Discovery Centre.
Front desk and centre assistant
Can you help welcome our visitors to our busy Langdon Nature Discovery Centre?
Food and Beverage Assistants
Could you help fundraise for Wildlife in the Naze cafe?
Centre Volunteer
Can you help at our Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre?
Catering Assistant
Can you help at our Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre? We are looking for Catering Assistants to help at weekends.
Front desk and retail assistant
Can you help welcome our visitors to our busy Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre?
Weekend Centre Assistant
Are you available to help on weekends at our Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery centre?
Volunteer in Outdoor Education #WilderLearning
We have over 100 volunteers who donate time to inspire the next generation with wildlife. We are always on the lookout for applications for #WilderLearning volunteers, especially if you could help lead sessions that will allow us to reach even more children and young people. We run forest school’s sessions, birthday parties, school visits, outdoor cookery sessions and we have an outdoor Nature Nurse. Our Wilder Learning volunteers have as much fun as the children.
Please note, any volunteer engaged in regulated activity with children and young people will be subject to vetting checks including an Enhanced DBS check with a barred list check.
Nature Nursery volunteer (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Are you enthusiastic about working with pre-school children and keen to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers?
Wilder Learning Assistant
Volunteers required on school holidays and weekends at Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre.
Wilder Learning Assistant - Drop off days - North Essex
We are looking for volunteers to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers at our Abbotts Hall, Abberton and Fingringhoe Forest…
Nature Tots volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers at our Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre.
Forest School volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers at our Chigwell Meadows during the summer holidays.…
Volunteer on our Nature Reserves
Volunteering on our nature reserves involves practical activities that support land management and improvements for nature. You could find yourself hedge laying, coppicing, clearing ponds, removing invasive species, laying paths, erecting fencing and much more.
Work party volunteers
Would you like to help maintain our Roding Valley Meadows reserve?
Work party volunteers
We are looking for work party volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays to help maintain our unique Chafford Gorges reserve.
Work party volunteers
Would you like to help maintain our Langdon and Langdon Lake Meadows reserves?
Work party volunteers
We are looking for work party volunteers on Wednesdays to help maintain Oliver Road Lagoons.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Other volunteering opportunities include supporting the Trust's nine Local Groups across Essex who carry out all manner of fundraising activities and events, corporate volunteering days and any office-based opportunities.
Local Group Events Co-ordinator
Braintree Local Group are looking for a Events Co-Ordinator to arrange the Local Group's events.
Corporate Volunteer Days
More and more employers allow time off for volunteering. Why not join in with one of our work parties or nature discovery centre teams…
Local Groups Talk Organiser
We are looking for an orgainised individual to help the Chelmsford Local Group.
Local Group Publicity Lead
Chelmsford Local Group are looking for help to promote and publicise their events.
If you would like to contact us to discuss a volunteer opportunity, please email volunteering@essexwt.org.uk.
A full list of current volunteering vacancies, including opportunities from other Wildlife Trusts across the UK, can be found here. Alternatively, if you are interested in our employment opportunities, please visit our jobs page.