Livestock Checker Volunteer - Sherburn Willows

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust manages over 100 reserves, restoring biodiversity, protecting habitats and wildlife and providing wonderful opportunities for visitors to get close up and see some of our most enthralling wildlife. Part of the management of many of our grassland, fen and heathland reserves is carried out by grazing animals.

Grazing helps control competitive ‘rough’ plant species that can out-compete the finer, more interesting species of grass and wildflower that we seek to encourage. Livestock on the reserves need to be checked on regularly throughout the week to ensure that their health is good, and that they are still all there. Local volunteers who can visit the site each week will reduce the need for staff to travel to this site on a daily basis and ensure livestock are happy and well.

Sherburn itself is a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' primarily for the limestone meadow species assemblage present there. To maintain this meadow and protect it from scrub encroachment we graze it with sheep and/or goats throughout late summer - early winter. During this period we check them every day. The checker volunteer role normally involves offering to check on them once per week. However, if you are only available once every other week we would still be interested in hearing from you.

Perks and Benefits

• The chance to spend quiet time outdoors and you will often spot fantastic wildlife close up while stock checking.
• Opportunities to work with our livestock and learn more about the amazing role goats and sheep play in creating wildlife friendly habitats.
• Learn skills in animal welfare and management if desired.
• Learn some more about nature reserve management and meet other like – minded people.
• Access to our free volunteer training programme and volunteer events throughout the year.
• 15% discount in Yorkshire Wildlife Trust shops & a 15% discount at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust cafes when you are volunteering.

Skills You'll Need

• No previous knowledge or experience necessary, but you need to feel confident being around grazing animals, and any experience or knowledge of stock welcome.
• The main requirement is reliability – the volunteer must check the stock on their allocated day, or let us know if they can’t so we can make other arrangements.
• You also need to be fairly physically fit as some of the grazing areas have rough terrain, tussocks, boggy ground etc that you need to be able to negotiate.