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Wildlife residential volunteering

Your chance to explore somewhere different, learn new skills, or gain experience for your CV.

Two volunteers wearing blue tops with their backs to us getting items out the back of a truck within a forest.

Whether you’d like to gain hands-on conservation experience or simply want to try something new, residential volunteering is a brilliant opportunity to meet people and discover some of the UK’s best places for nature.   

There’s a wide variety of tasks to get involved in, from practical work and land management, to greeting people and helping at our visitor centre. You can choose from more than 40 nature reserves across the UK and stay for a week or more, either on your own or with a friend or family member.  

We’ll provide you with accommodation, teach you new skills and make sure you leave with some amazing memories. 

What it's like to be a residential volunteer

Here's what Anneke Emery had to say about being a residential volunteer at Fairburn Ings nature reserve: 

"I could walk through the reserve to work each morning with the peepings of Oystercatchers surrounding me. I learnt all the tricks of the trade, ranging from fencing, moth trapping and reed planting (including how to extract yourself when you’ve fallen in), to butterfly surveying and the less attractive Ragwort pulling and litter picking. Now it’s over, I’m keen to do another!" 

A view of a snow capped Forsinard Flows from a visitors trail.

Heather Corrigan recently took part in a residential volunteering placement at Forsinard Flows and is now a Peatland Restoration Field Officer. This was her experience:  

“In March 2024, I joined the incredible team at RSPB Forsinard Flows as a residential volunteer. 

Since then, I have been immersed figuratively and literally in all things bog. I’ve carried out surveys for protected species, mended fences, wielded bog bubblers and giant hammers and practised the Zen art of reviewing camera trap footage. 

Looking forward, I’m excited to join the Peatland Restoration team. Under their guidance, I hope to become the ‘beaver of the bog’, restoring damaged habitat and helping Forsinard Flows be its wettest best.” 

LIFE Raft Fieldwork team members
Become a residential volunteer

If you’re ready to help save nature and have a great time doing it, apply to be a residential volunteer today.  

To find out more about residential volunteering and what it involves, take a look at our frequently asked questions.

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