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Heathland survey by Gwen Hitchcock

by Gwen Hitchcock

Monitoring and Research Volunteering

Get involved in our wildlife monitoring programmes and help gather data on a variety of species and habitats by joining our Ecology Group volunteers. Ecology Groups were established in 2001 to enable volunteers to help us monitor our reserves. The results of these surveys feed into our practical reserve management.

Opportunities come up across all three counties, and sometimes involve working remotely assessing or collating data. Opportunities may be weekdays, weekends, or evenings with our main survey season runs from May to September/October, and only a few exceptions over winter.

Current projects include:

• Bat call surveys

• Aquatic insect surveys

• Dormouse nest box monitoring

• Dormouse footprint surveys

• Breeding bird surveys

• Orchid surveys

And more...

For other volunteer roles with the Wildlife Trust BCN please check our main volunteering page. 

Tubby 27g male dormouse by Jo Chesham

Tubby 27g male dormouse by Jo Chesham

grassland survey

Photo: Grassland survey by Josh Hellon

Conducting an aquatic invertebrate survey

Aquatic invertebrate survey

Experience required

For most surveys previous experience of surveying is useful but not essential - all you need is the enthusiasm to come out regularly and the drive to learn more about our wonderful local wildlife. Some of our solo surveys, such as the breeding bird surveys, will require you to be confident in your ability to identify this group.

Our surveys are not set up to accommodate intensive volunteering over a short period - such as work experience placements - as for most projects survey days are spread out over several months.

Unfortunately, not all surveys run in all locations and many surveys are at remote nature reserves. Please get in contact to find out what opportunities there are near you.

For more information or to express an interest, contact us at ecologygroups@wildlifebcn.org. 

Please view the current volunteering opportunities with the monitoring and research team below...

If there are no results showing please check back another time.