This year People's Postcode Lottery funding will be used to help us deliver our volunteering programme, offering a range of volunteering opportunities to both skilled and unskilled members of the public.

Grant funding of £58,050 will be spent on staff supervision of volunteers; volunteer equipment/tools and PPE; volunteer expenses; and materials for carrying out a variety of land management activities and access improvements on our reserves.

Our volunteer programme is designed to improve the skills of local individuals interested in the natural environment, conservation, land management, ecology and species surveying. The specialised nature of many of our volunteer tasks means volunteer groups are generally limited to a maximum of 10-15 volunteers and staff supervision is often required.

We currently have four main types of volunteer opportunities within the Trust, offering a range of activities to appeal to a broad spectrum of volunteers: Land Management Volunteers, Evidence Volunteers, Livestock Volunteers and Office Volunteers. All opportunities complement and assist those duties carried out by paid staff.

Volunteers will be supported and gain additional skills through work tasks at nature reserves. The Trust will provide volunteers with the opportunities to attend informal and formal training courses to enhance their skills and their ability to support the trust.

Over the year, 200 existing volunteers and up to 20 new volunteers will benefit from one or more of the following:

• Improved practical skills and experience to enhance employability within the woodland management, conservation, agricultural and land management sectors
• Improved communication, team working and leadership skills
• Reduced social isolation through taking part in meaningful activities with others
• Improved emotional and physical wellbeing including increased self-esteem and self-confidence

Thanks to People's Postcode Lottery funding volunteers will be supported and gain additional skills through work tasks at nature reserves.

Our Trust will provide volunteers with the opportunities to attend informal and formal training courses to enhance their skills and their ability to support our work.

The wider community and wildlife will also benefit, as the land management/enhancement work undertaken by volunteers will help our Trust maintain and improve local nature reserves and other green spaces and support biodiversity.