Natural England - Volunteering with Natural England
Volunteering with Natural England
Natural England encourages volunteers to get involved and, through them, we are able to form close links with communities. We encourage people from all walks of life to take an interest and to be active in supporting nature conservation where they live and work.
Why involve volunteers?
Natural England recognises that people benefit from contact with the natural world. Where possible, we promote our National Nature Reserves (NNRs) as places for people; places to enjoy nature, to take some exercise or to escape from the pressures of bustling towns and cities. We need the support of people who live and work near NNRs in order to protect and enhance them effectively.
Spreading the word
Volunteers are ambassadors for Natural England, gaining trust and respect from members of the public on our behalf. They help to spread the word about us and the special sites and species we protect. That message is all the more powerful because volunteers carry out their role simply because they want to.
By involving volunteers Natural England benefits from a huge range of new skills. We are also able to increase the amount of time spent on protecting nature. We have estimated that, in total, our volunteers give around 17,000 days of support per year!
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If you are already a volunteer with Natural England, you can click on any of the links on this page to find further information about issues relevant to your role.
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How to register as a volunteer
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and offering your time and skills to benefit local nature conservation, please contact your regional office to discuss volunteering opportunities. If there is a suitable opportunity you can tell us more about yourself and your interests by completing the registration form.
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Natural England has over 2,200 volunteers across the country, offering help on National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, providing expert advice on protected species to members of the public and helping with projects or administration in regional teams.
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What can volunteering do for you?
You might think that you don't have the time or the skills to be a volunteer with Natural England, but you'd be wrong! Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds and are involved in a wide variety of tasks - from scientific surveying to enthusing visitors on our National Nature Reserves. There is no minimum time commitment - you choose how much you do.
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Volunteering Is ... Conference
Natural England’s “Volunteering is…” Conference took place on 17 and 18 March in York and was a resounding success. It brought together a range of organisations from across the environment, voluntary and private sectors, to discuss how we can work together more effectively to improve and increase opportunities for environmental volunteers.