Natural England - Getting involved
Getting involved
Millions of us get involved with nature every week. We may volunteer at a nature reserve, encourage wildlife in our garden, join a bird watching group, or simply go out walking.
If you want to do you your bit for nature, but aren't sure where to start, here are a few ideas.
Create your own wildlife reserve
If you have a garden, a backyard or even a window box, you can help make more space for wildlife. Our wildlife gardening pages are a mine of information on how to get started, and what to look out for.
Find out what's going on where
Natural England has teamed up with the BBC to create the most comprehensive listing of environmental events and organisations in the country. To find out how to count bats, when to clear up your village pond, or where to go on a glow worm walk, visit the Breathing Places website.
Join a walking club
Going for a walk is the simplest way to enjoy nature. If you want some company as you go there are hundreds of local groups you can join. Natural England organises easy walks in towns and in the countryside if you want to take up walking to help get fit. Visit our Walking the way to Health website to find a group near you.
If you're keen on longer walks over more difficult terrain, contact organisations such as the Ramblers Association or Walking-UK.
Volunteer for nature
There are thousands of ways in which you can actively help to protect wildlife. You could give up an afternoon to help clean a beach, work as a volunteer warden at a nature reserve or train to become a registered bat warden.
Register as a volunteer with Natural England.
Other organisations that advertise for volunteer positions include:
Take the lead for nature
If you are a teacher or a community group leader and want to organise a visit to somewhere natural, you don't need to be a mountaineer or have an outward bound qualification.
Natural England supports farms, nature reserves and wildlife centres across the country that can set up amazing study visits for school children and other groups.
Find out where to go by visiting the Growing Schools website or contacting Farm and Countryside Education (F.A.C.E.).
Speak up for nature
Look out for new campaigns you can support and join the millions of people actively seeking to protect the natural world. Over the spring and summer, Natural England's Undersea Landscapes Campaign will be raising awareness of the unique wildlife and landscapes around our coastline.
Check out our Marine Campaign pages and find out where you can go to paint a giant undersea mural or create your own porthole window revealing the mysteries of the deep.