Isle of Wight residents can get involved in hands-on conservation projects this summer, with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust offering a range of volunteering opportunities to help restore and protect some of the Isle of Wight's most important habitats.

From restoring internationally important seagrass meadows in the Solent and tackling invasive Himalayan Balsam along the Eastern Yar, to becoming a livestock looker and helping monitor grazing animals, there are a variety of ways for people to get involved in practical conservation.

People can also take part in marine surveys, collect valuable conservation data, become a Marine Champion, and conduct butterfly or bird surveys, helping to make a difference for local wildlife and support nature recovery.

Helping wildlife along the Eastern Yar

The Trust is recruiting volunteers to join its Isle of Wight Balsam Basher team. Based at Alverstone Mead and other locations across the Eastern Yar catchment, volunteers help remove Himalayan Balsam, a non-native invasive plant that spreads rapidly along riverbanks and wetlands, crowding out native plants and reducing biodiversity.

Volunteers can take part on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the summer, carrying out practical conservation tasks including pulling and cutting Himalayan Balsam before it sets seed. The role offers opportunities to learn new skills, improve wellbeing, meet like-minded people and make a lasting difference for wildlife.

Participants don’t need any special knowledge or experience to volunteer but must be aged over 18 years. Find out more here. 

Volunteer on nature reserves across the Island

For those who enjoy practical outdoor conservation, the Trust is also looking for volunteers to join its reserve work parties across the Isle of Wight. Volunteers help carry out a wide range of hands-on tasks on nature reserves including habitat management, scrub clearance, coppicing, fencing and boardwalk construction. There are also some survey opportunities and livestock lookering opportunities if volunteers have an interest in this area. 

The Isle of Wight Reserves Team meets regularly at sites across the Island, offering people the opportunity to learn new skills, stay active and contribute directly to the management of important habitats for wildlife. Opportunities are available throughout the year, with additional roles including Reserve Wardens and Livestock Lookers helping to support the Trust's conservation work throughout the year.

Find out more on the Trust website here.

Restoring seagrass beneath the waves

One of the Trust's most exciting volunteer opportunities this summer involves supporting its seagrass restoration programme, which is helping to bring back one of the UK's most threatened marine habitats. Throughout July, volunteers are needed to help collect seagrass seed from meadows at Seaview.

Seagrass meadows provide a home for an incredible variety of marine wildlife, including thornback rays and cuttlefish. They help improve water quality, lock away carbon and protect coastlines from erosion, yet up to 90% of these habitats have been lost in the UK over the last century.

The Trust's restoration work would not be possible without volunteers. Participants can join snorkelling or wading sessions, helping marine conservationists collect seed that will later be used to restore seagrass beds across the Solent.

Anyone interested in taking part can find out more here or email marine@hiwwt.org.uk

Help protect seagrass from the shore

The Trust is also looking for volunteers to support its Recreational Activity Surveys on the Isle of Wight during August and September.

The surveys help gather valuable information about how coastal areas are used, providing data that contributes to the protection and management of seagrass habitats. Volunteers will spend a couple of hours by the sea recording recreational activities, supporting vital conservation work while enjoying time outdoors on the coast.

Surveys will take place every weekend and on one weekday throughout the months. Full training will be provided which requires attendance to all day training days and volunteer registration with the Trust. Find out more information on the Trust website here or email Casey.spry@hiwwt.org.uk 

Become a Marine Champion

For those keen to learn more about the Island's incredible marine environment, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is also recruiting Isle of Wight-based Marine Champion volunteers.

Marine Champions support a wide range of marine conservation and community engagement activities across the Island. Volunteers can take part in citizen science projects, including intertidal and boating surveys, helping to gather valuable data that supports the protection of marine species and habitats. There are also opportunities to get involved in talks, events and workshops, helping to inspire local communities to care for the Solent's remarkable wildlife and special marine habitats.

The flexible role allows volunteers to choose activities that interest them, while gaining hands-on experience of marine conservation, developing new skills and learning more about the species and habitats found around the Island's coastline. Full training is provided, and no prior species identification or public engagement experience is required. 

Find out more on the Trust website here.

Bea Beggs, Senior Nature Recovery Manager (Wilder Wight and Solent) from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said: "Volunteers are at the heart of our conservation work. Whether you're collecting seagrass seed, helping us better understand how our coast is used, or tackling invasive plants along the Eastern Yar, every contribution helps wildlife and wild places.”

“Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and make a real difference for nature on the Isle of Wight."

These opportunities are just some of the many ways local people can get involved with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and support nature across the Island.

Volunteering is also a key part of the Trust's Wilder 2030 strategy and its ambition to create Connected Communities, where people are inspired and enabled to play their part in nature's recovery. By getting involved, volunteers are helping create a wilder Isle of Wight where both people and wildlife can thrive.

For more information about volunteering opportunities, visit here.