Give something back

Volunteering is a fantastic way to give something back and we have many dedicated volunteers that kindly give up their time to help us manage this special reserve.

Wheatfen is a relatively small reserve but there is always a great variety of work to be done. Our volunteers play an integral part in the life and future of the reserve and have a huge input to conservation management at Wheatfen. No two days volunteering on the reserve are the same. Our volunteers are involved in activities such as coppicing trees, helping to main the pathways, cutting, harvesting and burning reed, undertaking wildlife surveys and even scrub bashing to remove invasive willow.

If your skills are more indoor focused, with a new research library in the study centre we would also like volunteers to help manage and develop the library and work on maintain our ecological records.

What you get out of it

Our volunteers benefit from giving up their time in a number of ways. They gain a range of practical conservation skills, such as reed cutting and coppicing, and learn how these techniques affect the land over time. Through working together and with our Warden, volunteers can also enhance their knowledge of flora and fauna including birds, butterflies, dragonflies and plants. However perhaps most importantly of all they (and the Reserve) benefit from knowing they are giving up their time to protect and enhance this important wetland area!

"Volunteering at Wheatfen is a wonderful way to spend time outdoors, share time with other people who are like minded, get some exercise, and to learn about our beautiful local landscape, all while helping to maintain a jewel of a nature reserve in Norfolk. And I haven’t even mentioned spending time with our swallowtail butterflies, bitterns or marsh harriers!" - Peter Dickinson

Get involved

If you’d like to get involved we have a regular volunteer meet up on the 2nd Saturday of each month and a group which goes out every Tuesday (from September to April). There is also an annual taster day if you would like to get a quick flavour of volunteering. If you are interested in a more indoor-focused role, we’re looking for volunteers to help manage and develop the library and work on maintain our ecological records in the new research library within the study centre.

Students can also get in touch with us about voluntary work placements and there is training available for work on the reserve.

If you are interested in getting involved with any of the above please contact us, we are very appreciative of the help given by volunteers and are always looking for new recruits!