Natural England - Aston Rowant: want to get involved?

Aston Rowant: want to get involved?

There are plenty of opportunities for getting more involved on the reserve.

A volunteer helps with lambing © Jenny Hanwell

A volunteer helps with lambing

Volunteering

Volunteers are highly valued here at Aston Rowant NNR and contribute hugely to the management, monitoring, education and outreach work at the site. Volunteering is a great way of learning new skills, gaining work experience, getting fit, meeting new people and doing your bit for wildlife.

There are three weekly volunteer groups which meet at the reserve office on a Monday. These are:

  • Practical conservation – including scrub management, fencing, livestock husbandry and woodland management.

  • Survey and monitoring – carry out wildlife surveys throughout the year, including bird and botanical surveys.

  • Education and Events – preparation of kits for school visits, helping with visiting groups, producing interpretation materials, writing newsletter articles, promoting and delivering events.

Volunteers of all abilities are very welcome and on-task training is delivered by reserve staff. Volunteers can claim travel expenses and will be provided with safety equipment.

In addition, Sonning Commonexternal link and Wallingford Green Gymsexternal link carry out practical tasks on the reserve once a month during the week. If you would like to join a weekend group contact Oxford Conservation Volunteersexternal link, who visit the reserve once a month.

Group or corporate volunteering opportunities are also available on the reserve and site staff have experience of working with teenage groups, prison groups, young offenders, local conservation societies and groups from large and small businesses.

It is also possible to arrange a short period of work experience or arrange a student placement at Aston Rowant NNR, please contact the reserve office to discuss options.

If you are interested in volunteering and would like more information please contact Bob Silverwood, or call the reserve office on 01844 351833.

We are also looking for people who would be interested in establishing a new Friends Group for the reserve and welcome calls from anyone who is keen on getting involved. Please contact Jenny Hanwell.

Advisory Group

Aston Rowant NNR has an Advisory Group that meets with reserve staff on a quarterly basis to discuss the management of the reserve. The group is made up of a range of invited members from conservation organisations, researchers, neighbouring land owners, volunteers and members of the local community.

If you are a member of the local community who is interested in the management of the site and would like to get more involved, please contact the reserve office for more information.