This blog is dedicated to all of our lovely volunteers and simply to say a HUGE thank you!

It's National Volunteers' Week from 1st-7th June, a week in which the UK celebrates volunteers and says thank you to them for the contribution they make. The week also raises awareness about the benefits of becoming a volunteer and the diverse volunteering roles that are available.

Here at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust we are fortunate enough to have a huge team of volunteers who contribute in many different ways and have a huge impact on our work to protect wildlife and wild places across Leicestershire and Rutland. 

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of our volunteers for everything that you do. It’s so wonderful to work in a place which has such a large volunteer input and where our volunteers are all so dedicated with their time. 

At Rutland Water Nature Reserve, our volunteers are the passionate and friendly faces who greet members of the public in our visitor centres, birdwatching hides and out on the reserve, they go above and beyond to see our habitat work undertaken come rain or shine, or gather vast amounts of information on species found on the reserve, which is crucial to help us make informed management decisions and of course, there are all those who put in so many hours to monitor our fantastic Rutland Ospreys!

Across the rest of the organisation we have an incredible team of volunteers; there are those who help undertake vital management work on our other 34 nature reserves; volunteers who help our education team inspire the next generation of young conservationists; we have volunteers who help with admin tasks in our Leicester head office; those who help survey and record wildlife; those who help at events like the Birdfair, and eight wonderful volunteer-run local groups that represent us in their local areas by organising talks and events. 

It's been a funny 16 months with COVID largely dictating how we have been able to work, but the resilience of our volunteers through this time has been fantastic. It’s highlighted to us all how important volunteering can be! When we start to think about the effort put into volunteering where do we begin?... It’s said time and time again, but it’s hard to say anything other than thank you. You are all exceptional people who contribute so much!

When you say the word “volunteer” so many people's immediate reaction is “its doing something for free”,  and in part that statement is true. However, there is so much more that comes with volunteering at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, other than just giving your time for free. 

Volunteering with the Trust truly brings a sense of community among likeminded people. It can open a whole new world where ages and abilities mix to share in a common passion of wildlife. Not only can you learn new skills from fellow volunteers, you can also make lifelong friends.

So here’s to the wildlife warriors, the hide building heroes, the livestock wranglers, the charismatic centre champions, the seriously splendid surveyors, the early risers, the extraordinary educators and the ever determined ragwort pullers- Thank you one and all. 

In whatever way you volunteer with us, thank you once again for all that you do and for sticking with us in an incredibly challenging time during the pandemic. 

We couldn't continue our work for wildlife without you!