Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for practical conservation volunteers to help us deliver the habitat management work required at Rutland Water Nature Reserve.

Rutland Water is an internationally important wetland site, and is home to a wide variety of habitats including woodland, reedbed, scrub, and ponds to name a few. A regular programme of management work is required to ensure that these habitats remain productive and biodiverse. 

What’s involved:

We typically follow a seasonal trend with our work programme, focusing mostly on coppicing and scrub management in the winter and infrastructure repairs during the bird breeding season. However, there are a number of other tasks ranging from hibernacula creation to invasive species management throughout the year.

Hours:

We are looking for more volunteers to help us on Tuesdays or Thursdays, from 9am to 3pm. 

Skills required:

No experience is required, as we provide training. Anybody and everybody is welcome. As long as you are reasonably fit and enjoy being outside in all weathers.

Location:

Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Oakham, Rutland

Other Information: 

Please note there is a limited number of positions available so the role will be closed when capacity has been reached. 

We are looking for practical conservation volunteers to help us deliver the habitat management work required on our reserves in the east of the county. Our reserves require management in order to halt or reverse successional processes. Left unmanaged, our grasslands and heathlands would revert to woodland and we would lose the wildlife which favours the aforementioned habitats. Even our woodlands require management to create and maintain structural diversity and encourage a broad range of species. 

What’s involved:

Our work is responsive, but there are seasonal trends, such as woodland, hedgerow and scrub work in winter, fencing and infrastructure repairs in the bird breeding season, invasive species work in the heat of the summer and mowing and raking in August and September. 

Hours:

Volunteering workdays are (generally) on a Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9/10am to 2.30/3pm. 

Skills required:

No experience is required, as we provide training. Anybody and everybody is welcome. As long as reasonably fit and enjoy being outside in all weathers.

Location:

• Bloody Oaks Quarry
• Coombs Meadows (Stathern)
• Cribb’s Meadow
• Great Merrible Wood
• Holwell
• Ketton Fields
• Ketton Quarry
• Launde Big Wood
• Launde Park Wood
• Lyddington Meadow
• Merry’s Meadows
• Prior’s Coppice
• Stonesby Quarry
• Wymondham Rough 

This role is the perfect opportunity for nature lovers! For those who enjoy being outdoors and a desire to help maintain the garden of our visitor centre. Working alongside a great team of volunteers, you will play an important role in the upkeep and development of the garden, so that it can be enjoyed visitors all year round.

What’s involved:

• Weeding of over-vigorous plants
• Pruning
• Planting
• Keeping the paths clear for visitors.
• Occasional pruning of overhanging branches 

Skills required:

• Passion for gardening and a basic knowledge of horticulture 
• A love of the outdoors and who is able to carry out physical tasks in varying weather conditions
• Commitment to sustainability and promoting wildlife-friendly practices
• A can-do attitude, able to work independently and as part of a team. 

Hours:               

Every Wednesday from 10am – 12pm (followed by an optional hot drink in the centre)

Training: 

Ongoing in-role training provided by our volunteer group leader

Location:

Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Rutland Water Nature Reserve

Other Information: 

Please note there is a limited number of positions available so the role will be closed when capacity has been reached.