The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is a charity and relies on the generous support of volunteers at all its wetland centres to help with conservation work and other daily tasks.
In this section you will find information on how to become a volunteer at Martin Mere as well as corporate team builidng days.
At Martin Mere Wetland Centre we have over 120 volunteers of all ages and walks of life. They help us run the nature reserve, the grounds and the education service, but we need more!
There are many opportunities for volunteering at the Centre. The work includes teaching school groups, staffing the information desk, greeting visitors, being a ‘guide in the hide’, patrol wardening, grounds maintenance and gardening. It also includes spending a couple of hours at weekends helping visitors of all ages with simple craft activities and even story-telling.
Volunteers work alongside staff and other volunteers. If you make a regular commitment we provide WWT clothing, training and as much tea as you can drink! You also get staff discount in our excellent restaurant.
Current vacancies
We are currently looking for some energetic people to join our ever expanding education department. Perhaps you are an ex-teacher or you have experience of working with children. We are looking for enthusiastic people to help out with both formal and informal education activities – school groups/crafts/games/storytelling.
Becoming a volunteer
If you are interested please contact me at jane.barker@wwt.org.uk and I will send you an application form. Alternatively click here to download a form. Once I have received your completed application, I will arrange to have an informal chat so that we can work out the area which would best suit your skills and level of commitment.
Meet a volunteer
Kat Macpherson
Occupation: Graduate
Lives: St Helens
Department: Aviculture
Kat has been volunteering as part of the aviculture team since November 2008, after graduating from University of Aberdeen with a degree in Zoology.
Kat is looking to be employed in conservation and decided to volunteer with Martin Mere to increase her employability options. She works two days a week and, usually, her job involves working within the eco-garden and feeding the beavers and flamingos as well as getting involved with the care of the baby beaver Wizzy.
“I enjoy working at Martin Mere. All of the people are very friendly and fun to work with. I am hoping that working with the WWT will lead me to get an enjoyable and rewarding job and in the mean time is really good fun.”
Corporate Team Building Days
Let us organise a day out of the office for you and your colleagues and see your workmates in a new light. On a Team Activity Day you will join our Wardens in tackling an outdoors project. The activity will depend on the time of year, the number in the group and on how muddy you want to get but it will be a fun and rewarding day. Improve staff morale, learn new skills and help with conservation at the same time. We can also include guided walks, use of our meeting rooms and refreshments in the package.
With the growing trend in the UK for companies to do more than simply give money away to good causes and even more importantly under current economic conditions, Corporate Team Activity Days are an excellent way to demonstrate your commitment to community investment as well investment in your team. They are a fun way to re-energise your employees whilst at the same time supporting a local conservation charity.
The type of activity that we can offer depends on the season and the number of corporate volunteers available. We are always happy to tailor-make a package specifically for your organisation but the kind of activities include
• Removal of willow saplings from our marsh and reed bed
• Tree planting
• Clearing and maintenance of footpaths leading to the centre
• Clearing of invasive Himalayan Balsam
• Thatching, wattle and daubing in our Anglo Saxon village
Contact us
Please contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator, Jane Barker, on 01704 891224, or email jane.barker@wwt.org.uk