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 nature. 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.
Volunteers bring a huge range of new skills to Natural England. We are also able to increase the amount of time spent on protecting nature. We have estimated that, in total, our volunteers give around 20,000 days of support per year!
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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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Natural England has almost 3,000 volunteers across the country, offering help on National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), providing expert advice on protected species to members of the public and helping with projects or administration.
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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 tell us more about yourself and your interests by completing the Expression of Interest form and send it to our Volunteering Team.
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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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Natural England joins the 25th Hour campaign
(29 March 2010) Natural England is delighted to be a part of the 25th Hour campaign, launched today by the Government Olympic Executive, the body responsible for building a legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the UK. The aim of the 25th Hour campaign is to harness the nation’s enthusiasm for volunteering for 2012 and building a legacy for the future.
