Our voluntary wardens help to make our reserves just that little bit more special. This dedicated band of over 70 individuals plays a major role in helping the Trust care for our reserves. Not only do they act as eyes and ears keeping a watch over their site but in many cases play an active role in the management of the reserve.

What does a volunteer warden do?
The wardening role varies enormously depending on the types of habitat present on the reserve and its location. Some sites need a lot of practical management, others need careful monitoring, some receive large numbers of visitors and need more traditional wardening providing information and advice for visitors. Some need all of this while others need no more than a look over once in a while. However, voluntary wardens are not expected to do everything on their own or without support.

What support is there?
There is a Trust Field Officer responsible for each of the reserves in their part of the county. Their job is to co-ordinate the annual work programme, support the wardening team and help with the management work. New volunteer wardens attend a 1day training session on the warden's role and if necessary, receive training in hand tool use and leading work-parties. Each year all the wardens across the county have the opportunity to get together at the Wardens Conference. Machinery training is also provided for those wardens who need or want to use equipment such as mowers, brushcutters and chainsaws.

Team Work
Where possible the Trust is trying to establish wardening teams for each reserve in order that responsibilities can be shared. This allows individual wardens to work to their strengths and individual interests. Activities such as leading work-parties, undertaking monitoring and leading guided walks can then be shared amongst the team.

Who can become a warden?
The key attributes for any warden are an enthusiasm for the reserve, a desire to share their interest with others and the ability to commit a small amount of time on a regular basis. It is not essential to have a detailed knowledge of wildlife and land management. Experience and skills can be picked up over time and within the wardening team as a whole there is a tremendous amount of knowledge most of which is no more than a phone call away.

For more information please telephone the Trust on 01473 890089 or email us on info@suffolkwildlifetrust.org