Lower Woods Nature Reserve Monitoring

At almost 300 hectares, Lower Woods in South Gloucestershire is the largest ancient woodlands in the southwest, perfect for exploring and immersing yourself in nature. We need surveyors to help protect this precious landscape.

We're a small, friendly team and beginners are very welcome. If you're new to this you'll need at least half a day to a day training, depending on experience. We train new volunteers as we survey.

We survey the health of the woodland by collecting data on tree and ground flora species plus ecological factors using a standard methodology.

You can sign up for as many days as you wish, but due to training time we ask for a minimum commitment of 4 days per year. Survey days are approx. 9.30am to 4.30pm and you can pick which ones suit you. We supply any survey equipment needed, but you'll need suitable outdoor clothing and to bring your own lunch.

Lower Woods is wild and beautiful, but sometimes rough and muddy, and we rarely see other people while surveying!

There are toilets at the Lodge car park, but we can be working anything up to an hours walk away.

I look forward to seeing you on a sunny survey soon.

Ellen

 Perks and Benefits

NRCM volunteers get all the usual GWT perks (travel expenses, GWT café and Cotswold Outdoors discounts, volunteer events, free tickets to shows - more details in the GWT Volunteer Handbook) but most surveyors find that constantly learning and improving their wildlife skills through being out on our beautiful reserves is one of the main benefits.

 Skills You'll Need

Physically fit enough to survey on rough terrain for at least 4 hours. Being willing and able to learn some basic ecological surveying and plant identification is useful, although if you can get where we get and accurately type what we identify onto a digital form then you can learn as you go.

 Travel Information

Please car share where possible and park considerately. Unless informed otherwise we will park/meet in the LW Lodge car park at 9:30am. Most people park at the Lodge, but please note the 500m access track to the car park can be in poor condition, so do car share or park on the road if you prefer not to risk your car.