Local graduates volunteer to develop employability skills

Local conservation graduates have been given the opportunity to volunteer at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre to contribute to the management and monitoring of our 600 acre reserve, whilst developing their employability skills in this competitive field.

“It’s a great opportunity for the Trust to invest in the development of conservationists right at the start of their careers” said Tom Clare, WWT Martin Mere Reserve Manager, “The volunteers will be assisting with a wide range of conservation activities, including water vole surveys, botanical monitoring, and land management. They’ll also have the chance to get up close with our herd of Old English Long Horn Cattle.”

In addition to their energy and enthusiasm, our young volunteers are bringing some useful skills and knowledge to the team. Jenny, a Zoology graduate from the University of Dundee, is a keen birder who is currently training as a bird ringer with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Fraser, who studied Environmental Science and Geography at Keele University, has previously volunteered with the RSPB, and Emily, a Biology graduate who studied at Liverpool John Moores University, has a keen interest in botany. All hope to pursue careers in the conservation sector, and hope that their work with the Trust at Martin Mere will be the first step towards gaining the practical experience they will need to gain employment.

WWT Martin Mere has a long history of volunteer involvement, and you will find over 180 volunteers working alongside paid staff in every part of the centre – in the visitor centre, in the grounds and out on the reserve. Our volunteers provide invaluable support to the smooth running of the centre, and come from all walks of life. Their work is equally wide-ranging, and includes teaching school groups, greeting visitors, being an expert ‘guide in the hide’, maintaining the grounds and buildings, assisting guests on the canoe safari, assisting in media production and gardening in our eco-garden.

For more information on current volunteering opportunities, and to find out how you can get involved with volunteering at WWT Martin Mere, please visit the dedicated volunteering page of our website at http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/volunteer/

Martin Mere is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am to 6pm during summer months (and until 4.30pm during the winter) and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6.  The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations.  Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight WWT Wetland Centres.

ENDS

Contact: Victoria Fellowes on 01704 891240 or email [email protected]

Notes to editors

• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is one of the world’s largest and most respected wetland conservation organisations working globally to safeguard and improve wetlands for wildlife and people
• Founded in the UK in 1946 by the late Sir Peter Scott, today we complement wetland conservation work carried out worldwide with a network of nine UK visitor centres
• Wetland Centres are where people can have close encounters with awe-inspiring nature – wildlife clusters near water so there is always something to see at a Wetland Centre, every day of the year
• As well as hundreds of species of birds, you can also see other wetland creatures like otters, watervoles and dragonflies in their natural environment
• WWT Wetland Centres hold year-round events such as walks and talks, canoe safaris and feeding sessions, photography and craft classes, children’s activities and a host of special guest speakers
• All WWT Wetland Centres have comfortable hides, easy pathways, fully stocked cafes and gift shops, Disabled and Mother & Baby facilities and lots of interactive ways to get close to wildlife
• WWT members enjoy free access to all nine visitor centres and are kept up to date with developments through an award-winning quarterly magazine, Waterlife

Useful links

Find out more about WWT Martin Mere at:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere