Earlier this year, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust hit a new milestone with over 1,000 active volunteers contributing to the protection of priority habitats for conservation across Hertfordshire in support of native wildlife.
Across the region, the Trust has more than 40 nature reserves and is indebted to the army of volunteers who help out on them, yet that’s far from the whole story of the many roles volunteers play in contributing to a wilder Hertfordshire. The Trust’s volunteers may mend steps and fix fences, but you will also find them Water Vole surveying and helping the charity realise their ambition of Water Voles back on every river in Hertfordshire by 2030. Trained volunteers sample groups of sensitive river invertebrates and provide valuable data to guide us on the health of our precious chalk rivers. Then, there are volunteers, who enter data and organise group talks, those who monitor planning applications and Trustees who volunteer their expertise and experience to govern the charity. Every single volunteer assists in nature’s recovery in the county.
Volunteer roles
Conservation volunteers help in their numbers, often joining regular work parties to take care of nature reserves. Before and after photos often show just how much is achieved – and capture the camaraderie that exists too! Livestock volunteers monitor the wellbeing of the animals who graze on the Trust’s reserves and some take on the responsibility of being a volunteer nature reserve warden.
Surveying volunteers capture important information and data, supporting a programme of work on nature reserves, Local Wildlife Sites and on our chalk streams – with only 240 of those in the whole world and around 10 per cenr of them in our region that’s extremely important work.
Within the community, volunteers engage and inspire people to take action for wildlife, educating people at community events, talking to uniformed groups and a host of other organisations, who all benefit from their time and knowledge.
Administrative tasks can stretch a charity’s resources but volunteers support the Trust with data entry, membership administration and with their experienced grasp of financial spreadsheets.
Marathon runners, cyclists, crafters and all manner of other dedicated teams and individuals set aside days, weeks and months of training and doing – all in order to fundraise for the Trust.
Trustees bring their considerable skills and experience to the table, steering and governing the charity and taking it from strength-to-strength.
The benefits of volunteering
Whilst volunteers undoubtedly extend the Trust’s scale and reach, the benefits of volunteering are twofold. Volunteering provides an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, work outdoors, make a difference, improve fitness and, overall, it has a positive effect on wellbeing.
Interested in volunteering?
If you would like to find out more about joining the Trust’s band of volunteers and doing more for nature, visit www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering
All activities are carefully risk assessed and all volunteers must be registered with the Trust before joining an activity.
