Durham Wildlife Trust Volunteers Log Nearly 30,000 Hours in a Year

More than 250 volunteers have contributed over 36,000 hours to Durham Wildlife Trust over the past year, a figure the charity is highlighting during Volunteers’ Week 2026. The Durham Wildlife Trust says the active volunteers have thrown themselves into everything from scrub clearance on nature reserves to seagrass monitoring along the coast, manning visitor centre gift shops, and leading community wildlife gardening projects.

The Trust operates across County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Sunderland, managing more than 50 nature reserves between the Tees and the Tyne. Its task force volunteers carry out practical habitat management including tree felling, coppicing, hedge laying, meadow raking, and reed cutting. “Learn how to use a range of hand tools, learn about habitat management for wildlife, opportunities to learn practical management skills,” the Trust says of what volunteers can expect. The charity stresses that no prior experience is needed and full training is given.

Established in 1971 as the Durham County Conservation Trust and renamed in 1988, the charity now has more than 8,000 members and forms part of The Wildlife Trusts federation of 46 independent charities across the UK. Its two visitor centres at Rainton Meadows and Low Barns on the banks of the River Wear are open seven days a week with on-site cafes, and both rely on volunteer support. The Trust also runs a Links with Nature programme across greenspaces in the Coalfields area, including Copt Hill, Elemore Park and Herrington Country Park, where volunteers help connect local people with wildlife on their doorstep.

Residents interested in joining the volunteer community can email [email protected] or call 0191 584 3112. Emily Routledge is the main contact for enquiries. Volunteers must be over 18 years old, though older teenagers may be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Depending on the role, successful applicants may need a DBS check.