Volunteering with Natural England: how to get involved
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-23)

Find out how to become a volunteer to support nature conservation where you live or work.

People from all backgrounds volunteer with Natural England. You can get involved in a wide range of activities, including:
- conservation work on National Nature Reserves (NNRs)
- helping NNR visitors enjoy and understand nature
- volunteer bat roost surveying
In some areas you can also volunteer as part of a student placement or work experience. These are both considered forms of volunteering.

There is no minimum time commitment. You choose how much time you give.

The volunteering promise (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6877ab89760bf6cedaf5bd2d/Volunteering_Promise.pdf) gives a broad outline of what support you can expect of us and what we expect of you as a volunteer, for example our code of conduct and how we retain personal information.

Find volunteering opportunities

Natural England does not advertise specific volunteering roles on this page. Instead just send us an Expression of Interest. We will forward your details to a site or office local to you.

We encourage local volunteering to support sustainability and fairness. Please do not travel long distances to volunteer.

Volunteering on National Nature Reserves (NNRs)

You may have a National Nature Reserve near you that offers try-out sessions before you formally enrol as a volunteer. It can be as short as a 1 day session or a few days. This gives you the opportunity to see if volunteering is right for you.

Use the NNR finder (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-nature-reserves-in-england) to check for sites near you. Not all NNRs are managed by Natural England; contact details for each site are listed to differentiate between Natural England and other bodies within England.

To register your interest in volunteering on an NNR, complete the Expression of Interest form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/volunteer-expression-of-interest-form) and email it to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Student placements

Base your Masters, undergraduate, diploma, BTEC or A-level dissertation project on one of our NNRs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-opportunities-on-national-nature-reserves-in-england). If there is an available opportunity you may be asked to complete an expression of interest.

To register your interest in a student placement, complete the Expression of Interest form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/volunteer-expression-of-interest-form) and email it to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Work experience

If you’re between 14 and 18, or returning to a work environment, there may be work experience opportunities available at Natural England managed sites. Complete an expression of interest to explore availability.

To register your interest in a work experience role, complete the Expression of Interest form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/volunteer-expression-of-interest-form) and email it to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Volunteer bat roost visitor

Natural England has a network of trained and licensed volunteer bat roost visitors (VBRVs). They provide advice about bats in homes, places of worship and public buildings. Find out how to become a VBRV (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-bat-roost-visitor-how-to-volunteer).

To register your interest, read the guidance on how to become a volunteer bat roost visitor at Become a volunteer bat roost visitor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-bat-roost-visitor-how-to-volunteer).

Corporate or group volunteering and team building days

Depending on your location, Natural England may be able to offer corporate, group and team building volunteering opportunities in practical conservation tasks.

To register your interest in one of these days, complete a volunteer expression of interest form (EOI) for corporate or group volunteering (https://defragroup.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9MomF01zSJFMqCW)

Overseas volunteers or students

You must check with UK Visas and Immigration (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/) that you’re eligible to volunteer in the UK. Natural England:
- is not registered as an official sponsor for overseas volunteers or students
- cannot cover travel expenses to the UK or accommodation expenses whilst in the UK
How Natural England treats your personal information

If Natural England cannot offer you a placement, it adds your details to a list of potential volunteers. It shares the list regularly with staff. They may contact you if a role becomes available. Natural England:
- keeps your details for up to 6 months, unless you ask us not to
- will only use your details to contact you about possible volunteering opportunities
The volunteers privacy notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/volunteers-privacy-notice) gives more details.

Benefits and entitlements

By volunteering with Natural England you:
- give valuable support to the conservation of special habitats and species
- use your existing skills and learning new ones
- keep active
- work as part of a team with staff and other volunteers
- add valuable work experience to your CV
Natural England provides:
- information on your voluntary role and how it contributes to Natural England’s work
- an induction to your role
- information on health, safety and welfare
- an identity card for use during your voluntary role
- protective clothing or equipment required for your role (on loan)
- a reference if you apply for another job or voluntary role
- agreed out-of-pocket expenses