Great Ouse Blue Connections Volunteer Citizen Scientist

At WWT, we believe the best way for people to understand and connect to wetlands is to experience them, so we bring awe-inspiring nature up close. We take people with us and form partnerships to build support for wetlands. People feel part of something amazing and are motivated to make a difference.Our volunteers play a crucial role in saving wetlands for wildlife and people.

We are looking for a small team of volunteers to support our staff in helping with surveys and collecting water quality data in the area of the River Great Ouse for WWT’s ‘Great Ouse Blue Connections’ project. We are specifically looking for volunteers based in locations near the project site, including:

• Around the River Great Ouse, Roxton to Earith.
• Alconbury
• Brampton Brooks
• Huntingdon
• St Neots
• St Ives, Cambridgeshire

The initial focus of the role will be water quality monitoring. We hope to continue and extend the project, and therefore and there may be future opportunities to undertake further training and surveys in invertebrate sampling and other data collection or initiatives in the future.

As part of the project’s volunteer team, you will be helping WWT develop a vision for wetland restoration locally, with the aim of securing significant benefits for the water environment, including water quality, flood mitigation and biodiversity. These two catchments are upstream of the Ouse Washes Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is under threat from excessive, deep and prolonged flood events and poor water quality, with Cambridgeshire being one of the most impoverished counties in the UK for biodiversity.

The data you collect will be used by WWT to better understand the water quality of the river and tributaries in the area; help locate potential sites for natural flood management interventions – natural techniques that can be used to help reduce flood risk and improve the ecological status of waterbodies; and to measure the success of any interventions put in place. Your data will also contribute to national water quality monitoring schemes.

The locations for the project are only accessible by foot. Should travel or mobility be difficult for you, there may be options to support data entry only – just let us know.

This role involves:

• Working in pairs as part of a team of staff and volunteers collecting data from rivers, streams and tributaries in the area of the Ouse (Roxton to Earith) and Alconbury and Bampton Brooks, Cambridgeshire.
• Visiting pre-agreed sites to undertake fieldwork to undertake water quality monitoring. This fieldwork may include:
  • Getting your hands wet!
  • We may ask you to enter shallow water depending on the survey you are undertaking.
  • Reading maps to locate survey locations.
  • Using various pieces of equipment to carry out the surveys (training provided).
  • Using apps to digitally enter data.

• There are options to support data entry only – for this, or if undertaking both fieldwork as well as data submission, we ask for a basic level of IT for either app or form use.
• Undertaking training, including an induction into WWT and its work, mandatory health & safety for the role, as well as learning both the monitoring methods required to carry out the surveys and how they are submitted. Training would be delivered at a location close to Huntingdon.
• Joining other volunteers and WWT staff at meetings in person or online to discuss data collected, be involved in the interpretation process and find out how it is being used (optional).

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don't wish to apply online, please email volunteering@wwt.org.uk or leave a message at 01453 891 231 with your name and number

Just to let you know, some of our roles are very popular. To help our teams and minimise disappointment for people kind enough to want to support us, we might take roles down before the closing date if we get a lot of applications. If you do miss a role, or are looking for something particular, you can sign up to opportunity alerts. 

This role will suit you if you:

• Are enthusiastic, reliable, willing to learn new skills and over the age of 18 years.
• Have 4 - 6 hours available each month
• Have an interest in nature and conservation
• Are supportive of our work and will enjoy working as part of the WWT team.
• Are able and comfortable working under your own initiative and with other volunteers, under the direction of the Great Ouse Blue Connections staff
• Have a good level of general fitness for walking to survey locations
• Enjoy working outdoors in all conditions (we try to plan with the weather!)
• Can follow Health & Safety guidelines and other procedures appropriate to the role.
• Have a good eye for detail and can keep clear and accurate records, with basic IT skills.
• Can easily and independently access the areas around the survey sites we agree in advance

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life