Make volunteering with us a New Year’s Resolution
Some New Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep, but they don’t all have to involve dieting or gyms.
Taking time to volunteer in your local community could be just as, if not more valuable to your sense of wellbeing.
The RSPB has a large volunteer network supporting its reserves across the UK, and at RSPB Sherwood Forest and Budby South Forest there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
The work parties which assist our wardens to manage the landscape here are very popular and there is always plenty of work to be done.
But there are other opportunities within our Visitor Centre to spend some time volunteering, gaining valuable experience, making a difference or just helping out.
Family trail vendor is one of the roles we are currently seeking volunteers for
Welcoming our visitors
Our welcome area, shop and café are great places to volunteer, meeting and serving members of the public, and enhancing their visit.
One current opportunity is for Family Trail Vendors. Throughout much of the the year, especially through school holidays, we run a series of fun and engaging trails designed to help children and their parents or carers develop a connection with nature.
Over Christmas, for example, you may have seen or heard about the Robin Robin Adventure Trail, based on the Aardman animation showing on Netflix, for which the RSPB is the official charity partner.
It’s a role which involves welcoming family groups to RSPB Sherwood Forest and Budby South Forest, proactively promoting and explaining the available trails and related activities, and processing payments.
Another important role we are recruiting for is that of Welcome Steward.
This post is all about greeting visitors on their arrival and being a key source of information about the Forest, its trails and wildlife, its history and legends, as well activities and events.
Volunteers welcoming visitors to RSPB Sherwood Forest
You don’t need experience. Training will be provided to help you get up to speed with your role and to quickly feel part of our team.
There is also a chance to help recruit and assist other volunteers, connecting with them and keeping them informed and involved.
Or maybe you would like to lead a guided tour of the Forest, talking about its wildlife and, of course, its myths and mysteries.
Staff from Murphy Plant hire in Ollerton spent a day volunteering with us.
Take a break from the day job - with your colleagues
We offer corporate volunteering days too, so you and your colleagues can spend time with us, bonding as a team away from the workplace over a task which will have real and lasting benefits for our environment.
It all helps to support the work of the RSPB, the UK’s largest conservation charity, as well as to safeguard Sherwood Forest for generations to come.
We know these remain uncertain and difficult times for many people, but our volunteers of all ages still relish the chance to be part of something which is connecting people from far and wide with nature and our heritage.
If you would like to volunteer with us, please contact our Community and Volunteer Development Officer Carol Hallam by emailing carol.hallam@rspb.org.uk or calling 01623 677321.
You can also visit the volunteering pages of our website.