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Volunteer with Essex Wildlife Trust #WilderEssex

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.

Volunteering Frequently Asked Questions

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

View our current volunteering opportunities