The Wildlife Team

Our Wildlife Team are able to offer several volunteering opportunities:

Wildlife Ranger Volunteers

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

Business Away Days

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

Holywells Park is able to offer several volunteering opportunities:

The Volunteer Rangers

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.

The Gardening Club

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.

Event stewarding

This involves assisting at events in Holywells Park including setting up, stewarding, helping to man stalls, dismantling and tidying up after the event.

Surveys

Including visitor observation surveys, questionnaires and a variety of wildlife surveys.

Each area of volunteering provides 'on the job' and formal training. These include:

• The Conservation Club: 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.
• The Horticulture Club: a group of volunteers that will plant up and maintain the horticultural areas of the park including flower beds, the sensory maze, the Victorian Dell area and all amenity areas of the park.
• Event stewarding: this will involve assisting at events in Holywells Park including setting up, stewarding, helping to man stalls, dismantling and tidying up after the event.
• Surveys: the surveys will include visitor observation surveys, questionnaires and a variety of wildlife surveys.
• Reception staff for our new visitor centre.

To apply to be a volunteer or if you would like more information please get in touch - see Contact Details.

Christchurch Park

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:

• Gardening tasks;
• Practical work in the wildlife areas;
• Surveying for wildlife;
• Litter picking;
• Surveying park users, for example carrying out number counts and asking visitors to complete questionnaires.

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

Greenways Countryside Project

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.