Countryside Volunteers

Join our Countryside Volunteers

Countryside volunteering is a great way to get outdoors, keep healthy and enjoy company while making a rewarding and valued contribution to our country parks and nature reserves. We are always on the look out for new countryside volunteers and new applications are always welcome. 

The countryside volunteers are a happy, willing and much appreciated group of folk of all ages, who carry out voluntary tasks and activities at our various country parks and nature reserves. They work alongside the council's Parks and Countryside team, either as individual volunteers, or as a member of one of several local countryside groups which include:

• The Friends of Lake Meadows (opens new window)
• The Friends of Wick Country Park (opens new window)
• The Mill Meadows Society (opens new window)
• The Norsey Wood Society (opens new window)
• The Gloucester Park Community Group (opens new window)
• Friends of Great Berry Community Group (opens new window)
• Laindon Conservators (opens new window)
• Basildon Natural History Society (opens new window)
• Email The Friends of Langdon Ridge (opens new window)

Apply to join the countryside volunteers

To apply, all you have to do is complete our online application form and tell us your preferred volunteering location. We can't guarantee you will get your first choice of location - but we will always try to place you as agreeably as possible.

• Apply online to join the countryside volunteers ...>>

Volunteering is flexible. You give only whatever time you choose to whichever tasks and activities that appeal to you. Safety advice and work tools and equipment are all provided by the council's Parks and Countryside staff.  Volunteers are only asked to take part in activities which suit their age and the ability, and give satisfaction and pleasure to their volunteering contribution.

Countryside volunteers wanted at these locations

Countryside volunteers can join one of our environmental conservation work parties at any of the following council owned nature reserves or country parks: 

• Lake Meadows, Billericay
• Mill Meadows Local Nature Reserve, Billericay
• Nevendon Bushes Local Nature Reserve, Pitsea
• Noak Bridge Local Nature Reserve, Billericay
• Norsey Wood Local Nature Reserve, Billericay
• Northlands Park, Pitsea
• Queens Park Country Park, Billericay
• Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea
• Wick Country Park, Wickford
• Wickford Memorial Park, Wickford
• Vange Hill Nature Reserve, Vange

Countryside volunteer activities you can take part in

There are a variety of tasks and activities volunteers can take part in. These include... 

• Patrolling sites 
• Providing information to visitors 
• Protecting the landscape and wildlife 
• Litter-picking 
• Carrying out small scale routine maintenance and repair work 
• Helping to manage natural resources of the site with regular practical work 
• Keeping a site diary 
• Staffing the visitor centres 
• Leading guided or Health walks 
• Monitoring and recording wildlife 
• Assisting education staff with school visits 
• Helping with office administration 

Further information and enquiries

Further information and enquiries to the council's Parks and Countryside Team. See contact details below...