WWT Martin Mere Reserve Volunteer

The reserve is over 500 acre of stunning habitats including wet grassland, reedbed, woodland and hedgerows. We manage each of the habitats to benefit the wildlife that relies on the reserve. 25% of wetland plants and animals are at risk. One of the best parts of volunteering on the reserve is seeing the results from the work we have done. This can be tawny owls using the boxes we’ve put up, Marsh Harriers nesting in the reedbed we managed or Common Terns nesting on the gravel we put out. We could not do this without volunteers.

Volunteers play a crucial role in saving wetlands for wildlife and people.

This role involves:

We survey everything at Martin Mere don’t worry if you are worried about your ID skills we can teach that but the role will involve counting birds, insects, plants etc.
Lots of practical outdoor work is really varied and includes cutting down trees in the reedbed, cutting and raking the wildflower meadows and pulling Himalayan balsam.
We love to explain to visitors what we are doing and explaining to them why we are surveying or cutting something.
We have a herd of English Longhorn Cattle that are really important for managing the wet grasslands, the role involves check them and helping move them between fields.
In the mornings we need to get the reserve ready for the visitors this involves opening the hides checking everything is in order, filling up the birdfeeders, looking for any exciting birds to put on the sightings pages.

This role will suit you if:

You enjoy getting outside no matter the weather, like to get involved with a wide variety of tasks and enjoy working in a team.