Our Wildlife Team are able to offer several volunteering opportunities:
A group of volunteers working on a range of sites across Ipswich. There is a range of interesting and varied tasks - coppicing, cutting meadows, management of heathland and scrub, even litter-picking and repairing fences.
We work every Thursday from 9am-3:30pm, starting and finishing at the Stable Block in Holywells Park, although alternative pick-up and drop-off points can be arranged and other work days started if there is enough interest.
For more information please contact our Wildlife Ranger Team on: 01473 433998
The wildlife team offer companies the opportunity to experience a day out of the office doing practical work in Ipswich's parks and open spaces. Activities can include path maintenance, bridge creation and maintenance, hibernacula creation, tree planting and installing benches etc.
If this is something your team would enjoy please contact our Wildlife Ranger Team on: 01473 433998
Holywells Park is able to offer several volunteering opportunities:
Every Wednesday and Thursday
10am to 4 pm
A group of volunteers carrying out practical conservation work and estate maintenance in Holywells Park. Work includes conservation habitat management, footpath building and repairs, fencing and installing park furniture.
Every Tuesday
10am to 4 pm
A group of volunteers that manage and maintain the horticultural areas of the park including flower beds, the sensory maze, the Victorian Dell Garden and all amenity areas of the park.
This involves assisting at events in Holywells Park including setting up, stewarding, helping to man stalls, dismantling and tidying up after the event.
Including visitor observation surveys, questionnaires and a variety of wildlife surveys.
Each area of volunteering provides 'on the job' and formal training. These include:
To apply to be a volunteer or if you would like more information please get in touch - see Contact Details.
Christchurch Park offers a variety of ways to get involved. You might be able to give us a whole day, half a day, or even just a couple of hours.
Opportunities include:
For further information about getting involved please call in to the Reg Driver Visitor Centre near the Bolton Lane entrance of Christchurch Park or contact Park Manager Nigel Campbell.
Tel: 01473 432989
Email: nigel.campbell@ipswich.gov.uk
The Greenways Countryside Project is a partnership supported by Ipswich Borough Council, Babergh District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council and Suffolk County Council.
It exists to protect and enhance the countryside, landscape and open space across an area of about 100 square kilometres in and around the town of Ipswich. This area is home to around one quarter of the population of Suffolk and this work is to the benefit of the local wildlife and people.
The project relies on volunteers to complete much of its practical conservation work.
The Greenways Countryside Project website provides information on the background, aims and achievements of the project, together with news, events, details of how to get involved, and links to other related sites.
Ipswich Tree Warden Network is a group of volunteers passionate about supporting trees in Ipswich.
The Tree Warden Network, co-ordinated by The Tree Council are local tree champions who plant, look after, and stand up for the trees in their patch. The Tree Warden Scheme started life in 1990, inspired by Leicestershire and East Sussex Groups of local people who wanted to make a positive difference to trees in their community and from there The Tree Council created the national scheme.
Tree Wardens plant, protect and promote their local trees. No prior training or experience in tree management is needed – just a love of trees and a few hours to spare. Basic training will be provided by the Tree Council and The Ipswich Tree Warden Network.
Every year, tree wardens’ plant and care for thousands of trees and dedicate thousands of hours of volunteer time to the care of the trees in their community.
Tree wardens are part of local networks co-ordinated in a variety of ways including by local authorities, parish councils, independent and other associated groups. Networks operate independently from each other deciding what the priorities are for the trees in their area, allotting them to share their unique skills and interests in the most effective way.
The Tree Council manages this national programme and works to develop and support networks across the country.
More information about the scheme.
The Ipswich Tree Warden Network (ITWN), launched in May 2022, is a dedicated network of tree volunteers who focus within the boundaries of Ipswich. We also work collaboratively with the wider Suffolk Tree Warden Network and other local wildlife groups on wider projects in the area.
The Ipswich Tree Warden Network is co-ordinated by the Ipswich Tree Warden Co-Ordinator, a member of the Wildlife Team at Ipswich Borough Council.
There are two voluntary roles in the Ipswich Tree Warden Network:
Tree Warden Leader volunteers assist the Tree Warden Co-Ordinator in running groups within each of the five areas of the town; North West, North East, Central, South East and South West Ipswich. Although groups are split across the town, we are one big network all working together towards the same goal of supporting trees in Ipswich.
Volunteers will assist with:
Training will be provided and no previous experience is necessary for this role. For more information about the roles please see the documents below:
Ipswich Tree Warden Leader Volunteer
Ipswich Tree Warden Application Form
Please find further information below about our Code of Conduct, Do's and Don'ts for Tree Wardens and our GDPR (Data Protection) Statement for information held about volunteers.
Ipswich Tree Warden GDPR Statement
Ipswich Tree Warden Code of Conduct
Ipswich Tree Warden 'Do's and Don'ts'
If you are interested in becoming a tree warden, please complete the Ipswich Tree Warden Application Form and sign up to our Code of Conduct, returning both of these completed documents by email to: ipswichtreewardens@ipswich.gov.uk.
For any enquiries about the roles or the project, please get in touch with the Ipswich Tree Warden Co-ordinator by emailing ipswichtreewardens@ipswich.gov.uk or calling 01473 433998.
Parks & Cemeteries,
Ipswich Borough Council,
3E Grafton House,
15 - 17 Russell Road,
Ipswich,
IP1 2DE
01473 433512
