National Trust recruiting people who want to help protect and maintain their local countryside

It’s a case of new year, new opportunities at the National Trust’s office in Marsden, where the team are looking to recruit for several new volunteer roles.

These range from hands-on environmental work, such as surveying, photographing or propagating plants to help restore the moorland, to setting up a new second-hand bookshop, guiding walks or fundraising for vital conservation projects.

The roles include the chance to get hands on with some of the Trust’s conservation work on the moors above Saddleworth.

One of the new roles is an opening for a nursery volunteer who will be responsible for propagating sphagnum moss for use in moorland restoration.

There are also openings for Coast and Countryside Volunteers help the ranger team with other practical work, including planting sphagnum, removal of non-native species and installing dams.

Ian Dowson, Area Ranger at Marsden Moor, said: “The moor is a precious place, not just for the 250,000 people who visit it each year to hike, ramble or go wildlife spotting, but as a crucial environmental resource.

"Its deep peat soils are globally important carbon store, and volunteers who get involved with moorland restoration work have a hands-on opportunity to mitigate against the effects of climate change in their local area.”

Dowson is also looking to recruit Community Fire Watch Volunteers who play a key role in guarding against the growing problem of moorland fires.

These volunteers will join the National Trust rangers in patrolling the moors during wildfire season (February-September) and reporting any concerns to staff.

Dowson said: “We rely on the public to help us protect the moor, both by enjoying it responsibly, and by volunteering.

"One of our priorities for 2024 is to reduce both fire and flood risk to our local communities, but the moor is a vast landscape, and we need more volunteers who can keep their eyes open for fire risks.”

For those who prefer reading to digging, there’s also scope for another brand-new position, setting up and running a second-hand bookshop from the information room at the Trust offices, adjoining Marsden station.

The National Trust’s Senior Volunteer and Community Officer for West Yorkshire, Emily Ghassempour, said: “Second-hand bookshops are an invaluable source of income for the National Trust, these funds will be used for vital conservation work at Marsden Moor.

“Across the board, we’re looking to recruit for volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and with a variety of interests - both those who love to be out on the moor getting their hands dirty with planting and others who might be more interested in landscape photography or fundraising.

“No prior experience is required.

"We’re looking for people with the right personality who enjoy communicating with other people.

"If you’re friendly, enthusiastic and enjoy meeting new people, this is a great role to start your volunteering journey with the National Trust.”

To find out more and to apply, please click the link here

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