There are lots of ways to get involved with Wild Bicester
Volunteer
Volunteering with BBOWT nourishes the soul and helps maintain a balance in my life
See all volunteering opportunities
Whether you have just an hour, a day or a week to give, and whatever your skills, there’s an opportunity for you to volunteer with the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) near where you live.
You will be joining hundreds of other people from all walks of life who volunteer with the Wildlife Trust. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities.
As well as being a great way to meet people, learn new skills and gain valuable experience that could help you start a career in conservation, volunteering with the Wildlife Trust will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to protect and enhance your local environment to benefit wildlife and connect people with nature.
You don’t need lots of experience! BBOWT has volunteering opportunities at all levels, on our nature reserves, at our visitor and education centres and in our offices, and relevant training is given before you start.
Benefits of being a volunteer
You will help your local wildlife, have fun and possibly get fit too, learn new skills and meet other volunteers at social events.
If you have an email address you will receive Grapevine, our e-newsletter full of information about volunteering with BBOWT, and information about free training courses and other events.
You could win an award! Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution Awards are presented every year at our AGM when we recognise and celebrate all that BBOWT volunteers are doing for wildlife.
There are lots of benefits to becoming a volunteer with BBOWT. Photo by Helena Dolby.
Examples of practical volunteering
You can help your local wildlife in a number of ways – these are just a few of them:
- As an occasional or regular ‘work party’ volunteer on a local reserve, you will carry out practical conservation tasks to help improve wildlife habitats on the reserve.
- Your admin and computer skills are very useful to our office teams who would appreciate your support loading data, compiling membership packs and replying to wildlife queries.
- Our education teams rely on volunteers to help guide and inspire the young people who attend our 3 education centres.
School pupils join an education session designed specially for children at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre (SCEEC). Picture: Ric Mellis
- If you join one of BBOWT’s mid-week teams in Berks, Bucks or Oxon you will be doing practical tasks every week on several different nature reserves within the county.
- You can help at our events, ‘meet and greet’ at Visitor Centres, or enjoy a walk around a reserve to check on our livestock.
- Volunteers with ecological expertise carry out surveys of various species groups including birds, butterflies, plants and water voles.
Water vole surveying by Karen Lloyd
Regional groups
Regional groups in the Chilterns, East Berkshire and Mid-Berkshire play key roles in raising the profile of BBOWT in their area, helping to raise vital funds and increase membership by organising local events and work parties. Volunteers are needed to help run events such as guided walks and plant and produce sales, and serve on committees.
'Friends of' groups
‘Friends of’ groups are linked to specific nature reserves such as Letcombe Valley and Thatcham Community Orchard. Find out more about these groups by emailing volunteering@bbowt.org.uk
BBOWT Volunteers Hub
The BBOWT Volunteers Hub is a place for volunteers to download documents, catch up on training videos, contact their Volunteer Voice Forum representatives and discuss wildlife sightings.
Please click below to log in or create an account:
Volunteering policies
We believe in the value of volunteering, and we have policies that guide our work in recruiting, supporting and managing volunteers. We also have a strong commitment to equal opportunities in volunteering. We have procedures to make sure you are fairly treated.
Read about what some of our volunteers get up to
Ramblings from Finemere Wood
"Life still goes on in this hostile environment, and rewards are reaped from braving the elements."
The highs and lows for wildlife in 2024
The numbers are in - Colin Williams looks back at the highs and lows for wildlife on BBOWT nature reserves in 2024
The ‘Out of Hours’ Ecology Trainee
Vicky Hall, Ecology Trainee, discovers dusk brings new activity to our nature reserves
Ramblings from Finemere Wood
"With visions of beasts thundering through the undergrowth, the woodland workers saw themselves thrashing through brambles and…
Ramblings from Finemere Wood
"When next in the woods, bring sharp eyes and a pair of binoculars and take note of those smaller creatures fluttering around.…
Ramblings from Finemere Wood
“The foxglove is a magical plant associated with many folklore tales of fairies, and thus it is not a surprise to find a thriving…
BBOWT trainees by Adrian Wallington
Kick start your career in conservation as a Wildlife Trainee
Find out more
Aston Clinton Ragpits by Phil Townsend
Volunteer with our Regional Groups
Find out more
Bowdown Woods by Rob Appleby
The latest winners of our Volunteer Awards
Find out more
Would you like to support your local Wildlife Trust and supplement your income? We are looking for friendly, independent and self-motivated people of all ages to work with us and encourage members of the public to join the Wildlife Trust.
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