Volunteering out and about
There are so many ways to get involved both by using your existing abilities and experience or learning new skills, all carried out at a variety of locations to suit the time you have available. Reserve Work Parties and volunteering at our HQ or centres appear elsewhere on the site. The volunteer opportunities in the rest of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are included here - divided into the North of the county, the Itchen Navigation, the New Forest and elsewhere.
Full details of our programme of wildlife reserve work parties, guided walks and interesting talks is available from our Diary of Events. In addition a variety of volunteer projects are being highlighted all the time. We depend on volunteer effort to achieve our aims - join in and make it all happen.
Donna Birch, Volunteering Development Manager, DonnaB@hwt.org.uk or 01489 774442
North of Hampshire
FENCE FIXER - to assist the Grazing for Wildlife Project on ensuring the sites remain stock proof for the animals that are helping to improve the reserves for wildlife. This will include regularly checking the fence lines (on foot or bicycle) to make sure they are all intact and repairing any breaks. Tools, materials and training provided.
A record of when you have checked the fences and any repairs made, will need to be kept. You will need to be happy to work on your own in various weather and ground conditions. You will need to be physically able to walk reasonable distances around the perimeter of the reserves. You will need to be able to work safely on your own and follow simple heath and safety guidelines in order to carry out the practical works.
Days of the week/times totally flexible, although approximately 5 hours a week is ideal. Please contact the Grazing Project team on 01256 381190LODDON AND EVERSLEY MINK MONITORING. The role will involve checking mink rafts with another volunteer/member of staff and identifying footprints and signs. The purpose of the role is to monitor for signs of mink on stretches of waterway known to have water voles. Ideally you will be able to volunteers for one day a week although one day a fortnight would be acceptable. For more information contact Amanda Bassett, Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area Project Officer on 01256 381186 or email amandab@hwt.org.uk
Itchen Navigation Volunteer Opportunities
ARTS EVENT HELPERS - We are running arts workshops and public events to get local people involved in the Itchen Navigation project. A series of public events will be run till September 2010. Our first event will be at Riverside Park in Southampton from 18th to 20th Sept (Friday to Sunday) 2009. The public will be invited to come and help create a giant picture of salmon and eel and there will be dance performances by students from a local school. We are looking for volunteers to help set up and run the Hampshire and IoW Wildlife Trust stand at the event, giving out information and talking to the public. You will also get to see the artwork evolve! Volunteers are needed to cover morning and afternoon slots on the 3 dates. For further details please contact Polly Whyte on 01489 774400 or pollyw@hwt.org.uk
LOCK PRESERVATION - vegetation clearance around historic locks and hatches on the Itchen Navigation. Training will be given. Required for anything up to 20 days work from October to February. For further details please contact Polly Whyte on 01489 774400 or pollyw@hwt.org.uk
ITCHEN NAVIGATION HABITAT ENHANCEMENT - Scrub management and litter clearance to give an area on the Itchen Navigation a much needed make over. Required for anything up to 20 days works from October to February. For further details please contact Polly Whyte on 01489 774400 or pollyw@hwt.org.uk
New Forest
HIMALAYAN BALSAM PULLING - several work parties have been arranged in June 2010. For details, contact Catherine Chatters, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, 023 8042 4205 (mobile 07770 923315) catherinec@hwt.org.uke
Thursday 10th June, 2010 - Come and help to pull up Himalayan balsam near Acres Down in the New Forest with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's Romsey Area Group. Meet at 10 am in the farmyard to the south of ‘Robins Bush Farm' on the western side of the minor road leading towards Acres Down at grid reference SU 271 102. Cars can be parked in the farmyard. Please wear suitable footwear (wellingtons or boots) and bring a sun hat and sun protection cream (if it is likely to be a warm day), gardening gloves, a picnic and plenty to drink. It is advisable to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
Tuesday 15th June, 2010 - Come and help members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's Flora Group and Plantlife members with the battle to eradicate the highly invasive Himalayan balsam from the bank of the Lymington River Site of Special Scientific Interest. This beautiful river in the New Forest is being threatened by the balsam plants whose explosive seed pods shoot out their seeds which can fall in to the river to be carried downstream and germinate to create problems elsewhere. Luckily the plants can be pulled up easily in June before the formation of seed pods. Meet at 10 am at Bridge Farm, Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7TR. The entrance to the farm is at grid reference SU 303 029 on the eastern side of the Lyndhurst Road (A337) south of the turning into Balmer Lawn Road. Please bring gardening gloves, a packed lunch and plenty to drink. It is advisable to wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Please wear sturdy boots or shoes. If it is a sunny day, please bring a sun hat and sun protection cream.
Wednesday 16th June, 2010 - Come and help members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's Flora Group and Plantlife members with the battle to eradicate the highly invasive Himalayan balsam from the banks of the Lymington River Site of Special Scientific Interest. We'll also be joined by members of the Brockenhurst Manor Fly Fishing Club who fish the Lymington River. This beautiful river in the New Forest is being threatened by the balsam plants whose explosive seed pods shoot out their seeds which can fall in to the river to be carried downstream and germinate to create problems elsewhere. Luckily the plants can be pulled up easily in June before the formation of seed pods. Meet at 10 am at Boldre Bridge, Boldre, Lymington, SO41 8PD. Boldre Bridge is at grid reference SZ 320 985. The Manager of The Red Lion pub (SO41 8NE), just to the west of Boldre Bridge, has kindly offered space for us to park in the field at the rear of the pub car park. Please bring gardening gloves, a packed lunch and plenty to drink. It is advisable to wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Please wear sturdy boots or shoes. If it is a sunny day, please bring a sun hat and sun protection cream.
Sunday 20th June, 2010 - The New Forest Area Conservation Volunteers will be pulling up Himalayan balsam along the Cadnam River between 10 am - 3 pm. Meet at 10 am at Withers Farm, Cadnam Lane, Cadnam, Southampton, SO40 2NU at grid reference SU 295 145. Please wear suitable footwear (wellingtons or boots) and bring a sun hat and sun protection cream (if it is likely to be a warm day), gardening gloves, a picnic and plenty to drink. It is advisable to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
Elsewhere in the two counties
HAYLING OYSTERBEDS WARDEN - If you have a passion for wildlife why not become a warden with The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust at Hayling Island Oysterbeds this summer? We are working together with Havant Borough Council to manage and warden the sea bird colony at this nature reserve. If you can spare some time, perhaps a couple of hours a week, or would like more information, then please contact our seasonal warden Jason Crook. JasonC@hwt.org.uk, Tel. 07786-616651
ISLE OF WIGHT - We work on the Island through Wight Wildlife, a partnership with the Isle of Wight Natural History Society and the Wight Nature Fund. The Trust manages 6 wildlife sites with a wide range of volunteer opportunities on them including survey work, estate work, practical habitat management and checking on livestock.
Contact: Chris Archbold, Countryside Officer, The Forest Office, Parkhurst Forest, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5UL.
Tel: 01983 533180, email: chrisa@hwt.org.uk.
MARINE - Qualified scuba divers for underwater surveys required for Seasearch programme. Also, assistance with shoreline surveys (Shoresearch) required - some knowledge useful. Administrative support also required; a general interest in marine issues in Hampshire and Isle of Wight is desirable.
SOUTH EAST OTTERS AND RIVERS PROJECT - Otter 'spraint' collection - early morning visits to pre-determined sites on Hampshire's chalk rivers to find and collect suitable ‘spraint' (Otter Droppings).
HISTORY PROJECTS - Dockens Water - help us plot the history of this Forest stream that runs through our Blashford Lakes Wildlife Site.
