Volunteer roles
Practical Conservation Volunteers plant trees in a nursery on site in April 2014
Come and make friends, learn new skills, gain experience in the environmental sector and have fun! There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at St Nicks to suit everyone including:
- Practical Conservation Volunteering: Help out on the nature reserve and Centre garden, with tasks such as planting, path building, and tree work. Conservation sessions run every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am-4:00pm.
- Wildwatch Group: Join the wildwatchers observing wildlife and carrying out surveys, along with aiding in public education and project development. The group meets every Wednesday, 10:00am-12:30pm.
- Derwenthorpe Wildwatch: Meet at the Derwenthorpe Super Sustainable Centre (off Derwent Way, YO10 3NP) and help discover the wildlife living in the natural space around Derwenthorpe. The group will be looking out for the different wildlife including birds, insects, small mammals, plants and wildflowers in a range of habitats. The session are held of a Wednesday afternoon from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Each 3 hour session will include a spotting walk across the site recording all the species we find and a more detailed habitat or species survey.
- Student Action Volunteering: These sessions are designed for university students who would like to learn about wildlife surveying and gain practical conservation experience. Activities take place Wednesdays during term time, 2:30pm-4:30pm.
- Greening up Heworth Holme: Help restore the wetland meadow at Heworth Holme Friday afternoons 10:00am-12:00pm (Bad Bargain/Tang Hall Lane entrance). We will be cutting the grass using scythes, sowing wildflowers and installing a path in order to improve the area for it’s biodiversity and those who use the site.
- Events and Outreach Volunteering: Help organise, publicise and co-ordinate St Nicks events, on and off site though delivering leaflets, helping with events on the day, marketing and fundraising. Assist in raising the profile of St Nicks at external events. View our Events page to see what St Nicks have planned for the coming weeks and please get in touch if you would like to get involved.
- Park Ranger Interns: Assist in looking after the nature reserve and supervise the Practical Conservation volunteers. The internship runs for 6 months and it is a great opportunity to gain skills needed for work in this sector. Recruitment for this role takes place twice a year, usually in Spring and again in Autumn. If you are interested in becoming a ranger, please view our Vacancies page to see if we are recruiting and to find out more information about the role.
We also often hold one off volunteering days and events. Take a look at our Events page to see what’s coming up!
So, with whatever time or experience you have, why not get in touch with our Volunteer Co-ordinator to find out more?
