The last year has shown just how important nature is to our everyday lives. In the absence of other activities, millions of people have accessed the countryside and noticed nature all around them, sometimes for the first time.

Nature is important to people’s health and wellbeing and with the world facing an ecological and climate crisis, the need for people to learn about and respect our wildlife has never been greater.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust want to build on the interest in nature that lockdown has generated. However, with visitor centres having been closed and all events and group activities stopped, the Trust needs help to re-open and re-start these activities and is looking for volunteers who would be willing to give up some time to engage with people on their busiest sites (Gibraltar Point, Far Ings and Whisby Nature Park) and group activities such as Wildlife Watch (a nature club for children and families who meet once a month and have fun learning about and nature and carrying out various nature related activities).

Potential volunteers should have enthusiasm, be happy to talk to people and a willingness to get involved. Roles include helping to lead Wildlife Watch Groups, welcoming people to our visitor centres, walking the reserves and chatting to visitors and helping to run events and activities for families and other audiences.

Matthew Capper, Head of Public Engagement, says:
“People assume that they need to be a wildlife expert in order to get involved but they don’t! It is much more important that you are enthusiastic and happy to pass on that enthusiasm to other people.”

Leanne Smart, Head of Wildlife Watch says:
“There is nothing more rewarding than instilling a love nature into the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts and knowing that they will grow up caring about and taking action to save our natural heritage”

The Trust are looking to re-open visitor centres fully by the end of May and at the same time will be aiming to re-start events and Watch Groups. As part of this, we will be holding a number of induction days for new volunteers and would welcome enquiries from anyone who is keen to get involved.

There are opportunities available right across the County. For more details on any of the roles, go to the Volunteer Vacancies page of our website.