Volunteering makes a big difference to Eden Rivers Trust and much of our work is only possible because of the help we receive from our volunteers. Volunteers bring a whole range of skills and interests to our work and you do not have to be an expert to help; bring your enthusiasm and we’ll bring the cake!
Volunteering with Eden Rivers Trust gives you a chance to meet like-minded people, make new friends, learn new skills and care for our rivers and the wider Eden catchment, an area loved by so many. Volunteering with us is very flexible depending on how much time you are able to commit. We appreciate all contributions, however great or small.
We have a range of activities to choose from, spanning the river Eden river catchment. Whether you prefer outdoors-get-your-hands-dirty conservation based jobs or helping at events, with educational work, photography or citizen science research, we’ll have something that’s sure to fit.
Regular weekly work parties
Help support conservation projects all round the Eden catchment – Tree planting in the winter, crayfish surveys & balsam bashing in the summer plus special additional dates including crayfish or fish rescues and watervole releases. Held on Thursdays and one weekend day each month.
Tree nursery sessions – Penrith
Join us at our Eden Community Tree Nursery, growing up trees from seeds, building the space, and supporting resilient and sustainable communities. Regular sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings.
Independent surveys and monitoring
River & habitat surveys / Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) mapper / Riverfly monitoring
PRISM Project
Help us with riverfly monitoring, mink monitoring and riparian surveys in the Upper Irthing.
Invasive, non-native species project
Join us on regular work parties through the summer months to remove invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam from the Eden catchment.
Education
Support our Learning and Outreach Manager in delivering fun, inspirational hands-on sessions in schools.
Events
Meet people and share information about our work, rivers and Eden’s wildlife at public shows and events.
Photography
Help us build a library of stunning images for educational, promotional and research use.
Filming
Help us build a library of footage for educational, promotional and research purposes.
Trustee
Help our charity to deliver our aims to improve and sustain the River Eden and its catchment to become an even better place for people and wildlife.
We are keen to hear from people in advance who are interested in taking on this role and joining our Executive Board when opportunities arise.
Follow the link below to view our current volunteering opportunities. If you’re new to volunteering with ERT, you’ll be invited to register your details with us. Once approved, you’ll be free to book places on our volunteer activities and receive regular updates from us about new opportunities.
Make sure you fill in as much of the extra detail on your account as possible, add a picture, save details of any training or certification you have, and let us know your skills. This will let us tailor the information we send to you and ensure that you hear about suitable volunteering opportunities as soon as they become available.
If you would like to know more or have a chat about volunteering with us or about any of the activities available, contact Jenni Payne our Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or call 01768 866788.
Measures are put in place to keep everybody safe while they are working with us. We welcome every volunteer, whatever your skills or background, however much time you can spare.