Founded in 1959, we are proudly one of the largest Wildlife Trusts in the UK, committed to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature. We manage 8,400 acres of land made up of 87 nature reserves, two nature parks and ten Nature Discovery Centre’s across Essex.
Essex is blessed with a rich and varied wildlife heritage and home to the UK’s second longest coastline at 905km. Working with over 1400 volunteers, we are dedicated to protecting species and preserving habitats from ancient woodlands, mosaic and grasslands to wetlands and coastal grazing marshes.
We have a unique culture that is both mission-driven and collaborative, centred around a shared passion for wildlife conservation and a commitment to making a positive impact for nature and the people of Essex. We believe that teamwork is essential to achieving our goal of a Wider Essex. Whether you're interested in maintaining a nature reserve, engaging with children and young people about wildlife or supporting an event, you'll have the opportunity to become part of a like-minded community of Essex Wildlife Trust Volunteers who are committed to making a difference for the natural world.
Very simply, we could not achieve our vision for a #WilderEssex without volunteers. Volunteering can be for as little as a couple of hours a month or every week. For some roles, no particular skills or experience are required. Whichever role you would like to support the Trust in, full training will be provided. We invite you to explore our volunteer opportunities and join us.
Volunteer in our Nature Discovery Centres
Our Nature Discovery Centres are a gateway to nature. All centres are open seven days a week from 10am-5pm (4pm in the Winter months). Centre volunteers engage with visitors about the work of the Trust and support the centres with café and retail outlets in a varied and sociable role.
Catering Assistant Volunteer (Hanningfield Reservoir, Mid Essex)
We are looking for volunteers to help with the cafe at our Hanningfield Nature Discovery Park located between Billericay, Rainham and…
Food and Beverage Volunteer (Ingrebourne, South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers to help with the cafe at our Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre located between Hornchurch, Rainham and…
Visitor Centre Meet and Greet Volunteer (Ingrebourne, South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre located between Hornchurch, Rainham and Upminster.
Food and Beverage Volunteer (North Essex)
Can you help at our Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre? We are looking for Catering Assistants to help at weekends.
Meet and Greet Visitor Centre Volunteer (South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our Belfairs Woodlands Park located near Leigh on Sea, to welcome visitors to the centre and talk about…
Visitor Centre Volunteer (Mid Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our Thameside Visitor Centre located near Stanford-Le-Hope in Thurrock.
Visitor Centre Volunteer (South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our Thorndon Park Visitor Centre located near Brentwood.
Visitor Centre Volunteer (South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our visitor centre located near Basildon.
Visitor Centre Volunteer (Mid Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our Bedfords Park Visitor Centre located near Romford.
Visitor Centre Volunteer (North Essex)
We are looking for volunteers at our visitor centre located in Walton-on-the-Naze.
Front Desk and Gift Shop Volunteer (North Essex)
Can you help welcome our visitors to our busy Abberton Reservoir Nature Discovery Centre?
Food and Beverage Volunteer (South Essex)
We are looking for volunteers to help in the Trust’s very first restaurant in our Langdon Nature Discovery Centre.
Front Desk and Gift Shop Volunteer (South Essex)
Can you help welcome our visitors to our busy Langdon Nature Discovery Centre?
Volunteer in Outdoor Education #WilderLearning
We have over 100 volunteers who donate time to inspire the next generation with wildlife. We are always on the lookout for applications for #WilderLearning volunteers, especially if you could help lead sessions that will allow us to reach even more children and young people. We run forest school’s sessions, birthday parties, school visits, outdoor cookery sessions and we have an outdoor Nature Nurse. Our Wilder Learning volunteers have as much fun as the children.
Please note, any volunteer engaged in regulated activity with children and young people will be subject to vetting checks including an Enhanced DBS check with a barred list check.
Wilder Learning Assistant - Ingrebourne nature discovery centre (Hornchurch)
We are looking for volunteers to support the Wilder Learning Officer with the running of education events ensuring a high quality and…
Forest School Volunteer (Langdon)
Helping to inspire home educated children at Langdon Forest School sessions
Forest School Volunteer (Mid Essex)
We are looking for volunteers to help inspire the next generation of nature lovers at our Chigwell Meadows reservice during the Summer…
Volunteer on our Nature Reserves
Volunteering on our nature reserves involves practical activities that support land management and improvements for nature. You could find yourself hedge laying, coppicing, clearing ponds, removing invasive species, laying paths, erecting fencing and much more.
Volunteer Livestock checker (Fambridge or Tollesbury Wick)
We are looking for livestock checking volunteers in 2 locations: Blue House Farm Nature Reserve (North Fambridge) and Tollesbury Wick…
Work Party Volunteers (Chigwell)
Would you like to help maintain our Roding Valley Meadows reserve?
Work Party Volunteers (Chafford)
We are looking for work party volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays to help maintain our unique Chafford Gorges reserve.
Work Party Volunteers (Basildon)
Would you like to help maintain our Langdon and Langdon Lake Meadows reserves?
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Other volunteering opportunities include supporting the Trust's nine Local Groups across Essex who carry out all manner of fundraising activities and events, corporate volunteering days and any office-based opportunities.
Local Group Chairperson
Braintree Local Group are looking for a Chairperson.
Corporate Volunteer Days
More and more employers allow time off for volunteering. Why not join in with one of our work parties or nature discovery centre teams…
Local Group Events Co-ordinator
Braintree Local Group are looking for a Events Co-Ordinator to arrange the Local Group's events.
Local Groups Talk Organiser
We are looking for an orgainised individual to help the Chelmsford Local Group.
Local Group Publicity Lead
Chelmsford Local Group are looking for help to promote and publicise their events.
If you are interested in our employment opportunities, please visit our jobs page.