Thank you for your interest in volunteering.
Volunteering is a great way to support your community, grow new skills, meet new people, and take action for wildlife.
You are all welcome, regardless of your experience or availability.
Every hour is valued and valuable, and we will support you with relevant inductions and training, keep in touch with newsletters, and provide the tools needed to volunteer, including travel expenses.
Quick links
Practical task days ↗
Get hands on with vital conservation
Wildlife recording ↗
Add your wildlife sightings
Take action for nature ↗
Get inspired to help wildlife at home and in your community
Wild Work Days↗
Corporate conservation away days
User Forum walks ↗
Join a guided walk to learn more about your favourite nature reserve
Frequently Asked Questions ↗
Volunteering with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
“Great to be with a group of like-minded volunteers, also interested in nature. People of all ages and from different backgrounds. Sharing knowledge and expertise.”
Volunteer Ranger
“Their hard work is what actually makes this nature reserve better.”
Land Management Team Leader
“Volunteering for Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust brings many benefits to me, and it is good to know that I’m giving something in return.”
Task Day Volunteer
New volunteer roles
Contact volunteering@wildsheffield.com to apply
Volunteer Dog Ranger
Do you love talking to people and have a passion for looking after your local nature reserve?
We’re looking for a dedicated team of Volunteer Dog Rangers to engage dog walkers at Redmires.
This is ideal for someone who enjoys chatting to the public, and has a well-behaved dog who is comfortable walking on a lead.
Volunteer Ranger
Volunteer Rangers regularly visit a reserve, record any changes, and chat to visitors.
Join the Volunteer Ranger team at Redmires and Centenary Riverside, to help protect these important sites.
Work experience placements 2024
If you are interested in applying for a school or college work experience placement for 2024, please can you complete this application form.
Get hands on
Monthly Task Days
We run monthly practical conservation days across our nature reserves. These are a great way to get some fresh air, to get closer to nature, and to make a real difference to our green spaces.
Tasks can include habitat restoration, fence repairs, invasive plant control, litter picking and wildlife gardening.
No previous experience is needed, you’ll just need to bring sturdy shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting messy, a packed lunch and water. We’ll provide tools, gloves (and biscuits!). There’s also no obligation to come every week, you can pick the days and locations that suit you.
Support a nature reserve
User Forum Walks
Interested in your local reserve? User Forum walks and online talks happen twice a year for many reserves.
This is a great opportunity to find out more about how we manage the site, hear future plans, ask questions and give input. We love to hear your thoughts.
Record local wildlife
Nature Counts
Whether you’ve seen something common or rare, on a nature reserve or elsewhere in Sheffield and Rotherham, then we’d love to know.
All species records are welcome, from beginners to experts and all records go into the NBN atlas to help build a picture of what wildlife calls Sheffield and Rotherham home, and how these species are changing.
Take action at home and in your community
FAQs
Yes! We welcome young volunteers in many roles, please get in touch if you are interested.
If you are aged 16 to 18, depending on the role, you can volunteer without a parent or carer, we just need a signed consent form before you start.
If you are aged 14 to 16, especially if you are doing your Duke of Edinburgh Award, you can volunteer with a parent or carer.
Unfortunately we are unable to support under 14s volunteering, but may have activities or partner events to take part in, please see our upcoming events.
We encourage walking, cycling and public transport use to our nature reserves and other sites. There are bus, train, tram and cycle routes to many nature reserves and to the office. We may also be able to provide transport to more remote reserves, please ask when booking a work day.
If you would prefer an online or volunteering from home role, please get in touch.
Absolutely, if you have a unique skill to share, or would like to volunteer in a different area to those mentioned above, we’d love to hear from you at volunteering@wildsheffield.com
Visit our corporate membership page to book a ‘Wild Work Day’ conservation task for your team.
All new volunteers need to complete a details form, either for a one-off session, or to sign up as a volunteer. This includes emergency contacts, health information and media consent. We will send you the form before you start, or you can fill it in when you arrive for your first day.
You will also get a Welcome Leaflet, and have a welcome chat with your Volunteer Leader to get you started.
An easy read registration form and welcome leaflet are available. Please ask if you need anything in another format.
– A warm welcome with a introductory meeting or tool talk so you know what you will be doing, what is expected of you, and so you can ask questions.
– We reimburse travel expenses, including car, bike and public transport.
– We say thank you with regular volunteer social events and online talks.
– We keep in touch with a monthly volunteer e-newsletter.
– We provide outdoor footwear and waterproofs to borrow if needed.
For more placement and job adverts, please visit: conservationjobs.co.uk, countryside-jobs.com or the Voluntary Action centres in Rotherham and Sheffield.
Current Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust job vacancies can be found here.
Find out more from our neighbouring Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust