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Volunteering in Scotland, nature & wildlife
There are two options with this holiday, both involving helping in the gardens in the mornings, but then in the afternoons you can help with research on seal conservation at Findhorn Bay. Alternatively, you can spent more time exploring the area and getting to find out about local wildlife - discover the local seals, dolphins, birds, deer and more. You also do a number of ‘nature connection’ activities to help you slow down and really ‘be’ in the land
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Help preserve important wetland habitat and their wildlife by getting wet & muddy on your break! This is a wonderful opportunity to really get some understanding of why our wetlands matter. The UK's wetlands cover fens, marshes, bogs, rivers, canals & ponds and they all represent important wildlife habitat. So this is your chance to really get stuck in, do something for conservation and help ensure the survival of the UK's wetlands. From £70 for 3 days.
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Go to parts of Cornwall most tourists don't see, and discover some spectacular hidden landscapes. You can also have access to projects to maintain & improve habitats and the species they support. From £260 (8 days), you'll get the chance to listen to talks by professional locals involved in protecting the marine life, including Silver Dolphin (who raise awareness about the whales & dolphins in the area) and the National Seal Sanctuary who rescue & rehabilitate seal pups washed up along the coast. You should go home with quite an insight into the impact marine pollution has on wildlife.
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From £100 for 3 days, discover, experience, conserve & enjoy this Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in breathtaking Northumberland. This is an ideal break for anyone who can't take a lot of time off, but who would love to do something different over a weekend or sligthly longer, making a difference to conservation, as you'll be helping with nature conservation.
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At first thought, you may wonder what use fences are to widllife, but everything has its place & role. Fences help protect fragile & threatened habitats which need that protection if they're to be preserved. It may be that there's a need to fence off woodland from grazing animals to allow woodland flora to flourish & trees to regenerate. It may be that there's a need for boardwalks, bridges & styles to help give you & I access in a way that minimises erosion & disturbance. A really practical break which adds much value to wildlife habitat conservation. From £60 for 2 days.
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From £60 for 3 days, this invaluable work helps manage woodland. Head to some of the most peaceful and beautiful locations in the UK and help nature & conservation organisations with the preservation of the UK's woodlands. Activities may involve coppicing, woodland crafts, rhododendron clearance and tree planting - this depends on the time of year you do your bit.
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Hedges matter. They provide food & shelter for birds & animals, but thousands have been lost as agriculture has changed & towns have spread out into the countryside. They define the layout of the countryside, too, and can lay out its shape for years & centuries to come. Here's your chance to help redress the balance and learn the craft of hedging, too. Techniques vary but these breaks will give you the chance to discover something new & do your bit for conservation and keep an ancient craft alive. From £60 for 2 days.
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Human activitiy largely sustain crucial wildlife habitats; controlled grazing, mowing or burning have produced special communities of wildflowers, birds & invertebrates. Encroaching vegetation helps stop the establishment of more competitive species. You can help by getting stuck into activities such as scrub clearance, haymaking, or removing poisonous ragwort. This means that livestock can graze and so preserve traditional management regimes. From £60 for two days.
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The UK has a huge network of footpaths & bridleways but many are badly maintained and some have been eroded through over-use. These holidays will give you the chance to help maintain them, improving access through practices such as surfacing, way-marking, step-building and stile construction. You may help put up kissing styles or install waymarkers to open up access to the countryside.
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A slightly longer & more expensive break, taking from 9 days & £1,100, but what an opportunity to help with the conservation of these beautiful animals in the stunning Inner Hebrides in Scotland. Some 24 four cetacean species have been recorded in the areas off the west coast of Scotland, so it's one of the most abundant in Europe, and this is your chance to get on board a research vessel and help produce the data sets for use in logistical analysis in the winter months. Stable sea legs a must!
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There are lots more volunteer holidays available - click here for a full listing!
If you really want to get away for a couple of days and do something different, these short conservation breaks may be just the thing. Animals are dependent on wetlands & woodland, hedges and trees for places to rest & nest, shelter and feed, so the conservation of these places makes a difference. They will get you away to beautiful surroundings, give you exercise, fresh air, a chance to make new friends and that feel good factor that comes with volunteering and making a difference. You do need to be physically fit & willing to muck in and get stuck in in all aspects of these breaks.
The UK has some stunning scenery & countryside in which you can volunteer - and here are just a few ideas of volunteer breaks for you, all listed on ethical travel directory Responsible Travel. If you have a whim to travel further afield, they also have lots of volunteer holidays listed all over the world.
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