Volunteer with us

Sunlight is essential for our bodies and spending time outside in nature can be beneficial. Volunteer in the great outdoors and boost your wellbeing.

Lend a hand, make a difference

Volunteering can help you feel like you are making a difference. It gives you a sense of pride, purpose, meaning and can help build self-confidence and resilience as well as provide a natural sense of accomplishment.

Volunteering at an Essex Country Park is good for your mental health and it’s a great way to relax and get close to nature along with increasing knowledge and skills. You’ll meet new people who may have similar interests as yourself and you’ll make new friends while doing something beneficial, whether surveying wildflower meadows or planting trees and hedgerows to benefit both wildlife and preserve nature for future generations. Volunteering can also be an introduction to a new career or a hobby.

Take the first step

First, think how many hours you can offer, find out if any training’s provided and whether there’s any travel requirements.

Many Essex Country Park staff were first volunteers. Six years ago June Jackson, Weald Country Park manager, changed career. After volunteering and working with her local council conservation team June joined Essex County Council to work at Weald and never looked back.

Matt Smith enjoyed his volunteering experience so much he joined Essex County Council as a park ranger at Cudmore Grove Country Park. Matt loves to work outdoors and with nature, he especially enjoys working with trees and undertaking coppice work along with woodland management.

Interested in volunteering with Essex Country Parks? Then email explore.essex@essex.gov.uk. If you need inspiration Essex County Council has many volunteering opportunities: www.volunteeressex.org

There’s also the Essex Forest Initiative which is planting trees to help and protect the environment. Find out how to get involved by visiting: www.essex.gov.uk/essexforest-initiative