WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION

 

 

Archaeological Trust - Needs volunteer potwashers and people to help catagorise the artifacts. Must be available on an ad-hoc basis. Contact Details are available from the Student Activities Centre, above Essentials

 

  

Branching Out - Branching Out is an all accessible walking group to allow adults with learning or physical disabilities, or who, for whatever reason, cannot easily access the great outdoors the ability to come closer to nature.  They are looking to attract volunteers to the following volunteer roles which are available in term time and during the summer vacation. They need volunteers in the following areas:
 
Volunteer Travel Buddy Type 1. Looking for volunteers to travel on public transport with people with mobility or confidence issues to and from walks. Walks currently run twice a month for half a day.
 
Volunteer Travel Buddy Type 2; Looking for volunteers to provide car share with members to the walks. Walks currently run twice a month for half a day.
 
Walk Leaders to help to run the walks.  Must be able to drive to walk locations as some fairly remote. Walks currently run twice a month for half a day.
 
Walk Co-ordinators to help to organise walks and promote the service, a more advanced commitment with a greater degree of responsibility than the Walk Leaders.
 
Administrators - a great opportunity for people to volunteer from the comfort of their own home revamping their website and redoing their marketing and publicity, as well as assist with mailouts and related admin tasks for the group.  Must be computer literate, especially Word, Excel and Access.
 
Volunteers are especially needed during the summer and spring months.  Full training is provided, and CRB checks will need to be undertaken for the Travel Buddies and Walk Leader roles.  Info on Branching Out can be found here:

 

Campus Organic Garden - Are you looking for the opportunity to work in teams or pairs, learn useful skills, benefit wildlife conservation, get fit and do all this conveniently on campus whilst having the opportunity to earn yourself some healthy food in the process?  Why not sign up to work with the wildlife conservation group and/or the Campus Organic Garden?  We are looking for students who wish to get involved in whichever way suits them.  So you can contribute physical work (lots needed!), campaigning and awareness activities, specific research studies and projects or even undertaking fundraising, business development opportunities or engage through the creative arts.  Activities will be linked to the Personal Development Planning framework and training will be provided where necessary.   If you are interested, please contact Becky on rsc7@kent.ac.uk.  An introduction meeting is taking place on Friday 29th February from 12-2 in the Mandela Building Meeting Room.  All interested students are welcome to attend.

 

Conservation Society - The Conservation Society is a great way to get involved with various conservation projects on and off campus.  You can join them via the Kent Union Social Network.

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Horse Riding - The Paddocks provides horse riding and equine training to disabled people, those with serious illnesses, disadvantaged people and as a development area for young people who have troubled social skills. Volunteers are needed to help with all areas of The Paddocks work.  Contact Details are available from the Student Activities Centre, above Essentials.  CRB checks may be required.

 

Kent Wildlife Trust - The KWT run a number of wildlife reserves and sanctuaries across Kent and work to raise awareness of environmental issues. They require volunteers in many areas, including; park wardens and guides, conservation workers, centre workers, fundraisers and admin. staff.  Their full programme of activities is below and volunteers are responsible for contacting the organisers directly and arranging their own transport. .  

  

The National Trust - Multiple opportunities in conservation work, including working holidays, beach cleaning, wall repair work etc  Working Holidays are also available.  Volunteers are responsible for making their own arrangements for volunteering here.  Full details are available on the National Trust website

 

The National Trust Working Holiday - A fun outdoor holiday with a difference!  Try dry-stone walling or footpath laying, help with a sheep count, clear the countryside of invasive rhododendron, take part in a botanical survey, protech British Wildlife habitat, plant flower borders in historic gardens, clear beaches of debris and maintain coastal footpath, help at an archaeological dig.  From £35 for a weekend and £65 for seven nights, which includes accommodation and meals.  Your meals are sourced locally and seasonally where possible and prepared as a group.  Farmhouses, stone cottaches, converted barns, mills, stableyards and new hostels provide accommodation.  All working holiday participants receive free entry to all National Trust properties for an entire year.  No experience necessary - you will need enthusiasm, a sense of humour and old work clothes suitable for the outdoors.  Phone 0870 429 2429 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/workingholiday for a brochure. 

 

 

  

 

Conservation Day Trips (weekends and weekdays - full schedule below)

 

Volunteers need to arrange their own transport for these trips.  Events start at 10am and finish at 4pm.

Tasks may change at short notice due to weather conditions, or work demands, therefore please check with one of the task leaders below that the task is going ahead. 

No special skills are required, just plenty of enthusiasm, energy and a desire to help conserve Kent's wildlife.  Work gloves and tools are provided.  Please bring a packed lunch and a drink, waterproofs, stout shoes etc.

 

Weekends

Volunteers needed at the following events to help with greeting visitors, car parking, manning stalls, helping with activities as well as joining in with events.

 

14th and 15th June - This Is Your Wildlife event.  Sandwich and Pegwell Bay. 

20th September 2008 - Town Centre event, Faversham

20th September 2008 - Town Centre event, Canterbury

27th and 28th September - This Is Your Wildlife event, Oare Marshes

 

 

 

Contact Details

 

Parkgate -(TR 168 456),  Ian Rickards 07889 737839, meeting point reserve entrance behind Stelling Minnis and Elham

Joan Beech - (TR 062565), Neil Moris, 07889 274535, meeting point at field gate were public footpath from Rhode Common enters the wood

East Blean - (TR 194 643), John Wilson, 07808 568821, meeting point the eastern carp park along Hicks Forstal Road, near Hoath

Lydden Temple Ewell - (TR 287 454), John McAllister, 07714 238174, meeting point Temple Farm, off Singledge Lane, meet below the underpass

Burnt Oak - (TQ 990 348), Neil Moris, 07889 274535 - meeting point Faggs Wood F.E. Carpark

Pegwell Bay - (TR 341 632), Jason Mitchell 07747 608292, meeting point KCC picnic site car park at Pegwell Bay, Cliffs End

Broad Oak - (TR 155 620), Emilie Mitchell, 07747 474365, meeting point Mayton Oast, Mayton Farm, Broad Oak

Spong Wood - (TR 122 455) Ian Rickards 07889 737839, meeting point Parking at Elmsted Church (TR 116 450)

Hothfield - (TQ 990 348) Neil Moris, 07889 274535, meeting point football field carpark, Cade Road

 

Weekdays

 

Monday Projects

Oare Marshes and South Swale Reserves - contact Kevin Duvall on 07889 822408 for details

 

Tuesday Projects

Broad Oak (Near Canterbury), contact Emilie Mitchell on 07747 474365 for details

Pegwell and Sandwich Bay, contact Tony Swandale on 0889 822 412 

 

Wednesday Projects

Please contact Ian Rickards on 07889 737839 for details on all reserve tasks, except for:

Neil Morris on 07889 274 535 for Hunstead Woods

Emilie Mitchell on 07747 474365 for Broad Oak

 

23rd April - Lydden Temple Ewell, Fencing

 

30th April - Lydden Temple Ewell, Fencing

 

Thursday Projects

Pegwell and Sandwich Bay, contact Tony Swandale on 0889 822 412 

 

Friday Projects 

September to March only, please contact John Wilson on 07808 568 821 for details