Wetland Volunteers

Volunteering Newsletter Welcome to London Wildlife Trust's latest update on volunteering opportunities at Walthamstow Wetlands. Walthamstow Wetlands is now open daily from 9.30am-4.00pm, almost every day of the year. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered with us and helped out, we couldn't have done it without you! We have lots more volunteering opportunities on offer this week including conservation work, family activity days, ecology surveys and inductions for visitor engagement volunteers for heritage and wildlife guides and marshals. Whether you're a nature novice or an ecology expert; everyone's welcome to get involved!  To volunteer with the Trust you need to complete a registration form. All of our volunteers must be aged over 16 years. Under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Expenses can be provided for travel within Zones 1-6 and for a lunch of £5 or under. Any equipment needed for practical conservation is provided by us, please wear suitable clothing for outdoor tasks and sturdy footwear. Please inform your volunteer manager of any relevant medical conditions when completing your registration form. Visitor engagement We are looking for enthusiastic and welcoming Visitor Engagement Volunteers to support our team. Are you interested in telling our visitors about the  area's history, industrial and cultural heritage, and wildlife?  Are you knowledgeable about wildlife and keen to communicate to new visitors what they might see on the nature reserve via wildlife walks or guide in a hide? You could be based in the Engine House or out on the reserve. If you haven’t volunteered with London Wildlife Trust before you will need to complete one of our induction days. If you are unable to attend either date below, we will run more inductions in the future. Thursday 23rd November and Sunday 26th November at 10.30am - 2.30pm  Venue: Fishing academy, access via Thames Water Fisheries entrance on Forest Road (building located by the stock pond). To book your place on an induction select your preferred date and add your full name to this doodlepoll.    Have you already attended an induction day and volunteered at Walthamstow Wetlands? You don’t need to attend an induction, contact London Wildlife Trust's Visitor Engagement Ranger, Shirelle Hawkins shirellehawkins@wildlondon.org.uk to discuss your interests and availability. Practical conservation workdays Join our practical conservation team and take part in habitat restoration, meadow management, tree care, building an outdoor classroom and more. You’ll play a key part in supporting London Wildlife Trust’s work to improve the habitats for a range of wildlife. Days: Wednesday, Friday and alternate Saturday's until Christmas 2017. Due to staff availability there is no session on Wednesday 22 November. Sessions run from 10am - 3pm. What to wear and where to meet: We advise you wear sturdy boots and clothing suitable for the weather and working outdoors. Please bring a packed lunch and water. Tea/coffee and light refreshments are provided. Meet at the tool store, located at the edge of Reservoir 5 (next to brick building) and gate 3. Bike racks are located at the Engine House and Coppermill Tower.  Book your place on Eventbrite. Note there is no further confirmation required once you've booked. If you are unable to make a session, please cancel through Eventbrite. For any other questions contact London Wildlife Trust's Conservation Volunteering Officer Nadia Ward nward@wildlondon.org.uk Friday 24 November 10:00am - 3:00pm Saturday 25 November 10:00am - 3:00pm Ecology surveys Ecology volunteering We will be undertaking a range of citizen science surveys throughout the year with your help. Volunteers have already taken part in surveying small mammals, butterflies and dragonflies. This is a great opportunity to gain new skills and encounter some of Walthamstow Wetlands more elusive inhabitants. Harvest mouse surveying We will be carrying out a non-invasive survey for harvest mice on Walthamstow Marshes and Walthamstow Wetlands in collaboration with Lee Valley Regional Park. Whilst there are no confirmed records for the species across both sites, the mixture of reedbed, canals and ditch systems provide ideal habitat. We won’t be entering the water at any time, however wearing wellies or sturdy footwear is strongly recommended. No training necessary.  Friday 17th November Harvest mouse surveying (part 2) 10:00am-3:00pm Meet LWT Ranger Nathan in Engine House foyer We will be checking the bait tubes set up in the previous week for signs of activity. To book your place add your full name to this doodle poll here Wednesday 22nd November Fungi surveying 10:00am - 2:00pm Meet LWT Ranger Nathan in Engine House foyer  Please wear clothing suitable for walking and the day's weather To book your place add your full name to this doodle poll here Future ecology dates for your diary Friday 1st December, Basic bird ID - further details to come. Saturday 2nd December, Basic bird ID - further details to come. For more details contact London Wildlife Trust's Ecology Ranger, Nathaniel Legall nlegall@wildondon.org.uk Education and family activities Our dedicated Outdoor Learning Officer runs a range of activities, including regular Under five classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, family activity days two Sundays a month and holiday activities. From Spring 2018 we will be launching our primary schools outdoor education programmes. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support sessions and engage children in wildlife and the outdoors.    To support these sessions you will need to be a registered volunteer and complete a volunteer induction, though no teaching experience is required! To find out more about education volunteering or to sign up for an induction please contact London Wildlife Trust's Outdoor Learning Officer Myfanwy Lloyd at mlloyd@wildlondon.org.uk    Next week we will have activities on Monday 20th November, Wednesday 22nd November and Sunday 26th November. We especially need volunteers for Sunday morning's tree planting session with families.  If you have had an induction and would like to support these sessions as a volunteer, please register here: Events at Walthamstow Wetlands Walthamstow Wetlands also sends out a regular email newsletter advertising upcoming events and other activities. To sign up visit www.walthamstowwetlands.com and use the subscribe button at the bottom of the page. Walthamstow Wetlands is a partnership between Thames Water, London Borough of Waltham Forest and London Wildlife Trust, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.  You are receiving our emails because you either are a volunteer with London Wildlife Trust at Walthamstow Wetlands, or have expressed an interest in volunteering, and have opted to receive our newsletter.  Copyright © 2017 London Wildlife Trust, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to our volunteer mailing list or met us at one of our consultation events or guided walks and told us that you would like to be kept informed about volunteering at Walthamstow Wetlands. We will continue to keep you updated about volunteering opportunities at Walthamstow Wetlands with LWT. Our mailing address is: London Wildlife Trust Walthamstow Wetlands 2 Ferry Lane London, London N17 9NH United Kingdom