Volunteering

Founded in 1959, Essex Wildlife Trust is proud to be one of the largest Wildlife Trusts in the UK. Our mission is to protect wildlife and inspire a lifelong love of nature. Managing 8,400 acres of land, including 87 nature reserves, two nature parks, and ten Nature Discovery Centres across Essex, we are deeply committed to conserving our natural heritage.

Essex boasts a rich and diverse wildlife heritage, home to the UK’s second-longest coastline. Our work spans ancient woodlands, mosaic grasslands, wetlands, and coastal grazing marshes, all crucial habitats for countless species. But we cannot achieve our vision for a #WilderEssex without the support of volunteers like you.

Essex Wildlife Trust has over 1,500 dedicated volunteers that the backbone of the Trust, helping to safeguard Essex's wildlife and habitats. Volunteering with us offers you a unique opportunity to make a real difference, gain new skills and be part of a passionate community of like-minded people.

We offer thousands of volunteering sessions across more than 50 different roles throughout the County. Whether you're looking to get involved in hands-on conservation, support our educational programs, or lend a hand in our non-for-profit visitor centres, there's something for everyone.

Some of our volunteering opportunities include:

Nature Discovery Centres
Our Visitor Centres are a gateway to nature. Help us create a welcoming environment, talking to our customers about the work of the Trust, Membership options and the wildlife to discover around our visitor centres.
Catering and retail
Support the running of our cafes and retail services.
Wildlife Surveys and Impact Monitoring
Participate in surveys and help us monitor the health of our ecosystems.
Gardening
Maintain and enhance our gardens areas at the visitor centres.
Administrative Support
Provide essential administrative assistance to our teams.
Conservation Work Parties
Join hands-on conservation tasks such as hedge laying, coppicing, clearing ponds, removing invasive species, laying paths, erecting fencing and much more to protect and restore habitats across our 87 nature reserves.
Grazing and Livestock
Volunteer to check livestock at various locations across the County.
Outdoor Education
Forest School, birthday parties and school visits: Volunteer with children and young people, fostering their love for nature through outdoor education programs.

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.

We deeply value the contributions of all our volunteers and strive to recognise and celebrate their efforts in various ways:

Room to Reward
Exceptional volunteers can enjoy complimentary hotel stays, giving them well-deserved rest and relaxation.
Ray Marshall Award
Our highest accolade, awarded annually to volunteers who have made an outstanding impact.
Wild Service Certificates
Presented to volunteers to acknowledge their dedication and the hours they have contributed.
Thank You Events
Throughout the year, we host special events to thank our volunteers, providing opportunities to socialise, share experiences and celebrate achievements.