Volunteering on the Yorkshire Coast

Ranger repairing a stile at Yorkshire Coast | © National Trust Images/Zoe Frank

We’re always on the lookout for new members to join our volunteer team here on the Yorkshire Coast. Find out all you need to know about the kinds of conservation work our volunteers help out with, from replanting hedgerows to maintaining footpaths, and how to get in touch with us if you’d like to apply.

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National Trust work on the Yorkshire Coast

National Trust rangers and volunteers carrying out essential conservation work at Hayburn Wyke on the Yorkshire coast. This tied it with the national Great Big Green Week campaign and work included rhododendron removal, step building and pond restoration.

What’s involved?

A day of volunteer conservation work on the Yorkshire Coast can involve anything from woodland work or fencing to drystone walling or footpath repairs.

Volunteers also get involved in helping rangers with biological surveys: recording wildlife and plant species of the diverse habitats we care for is vital to ensuring our wildflower meadows, ponds, maritime heath and woodlands thrive long into the future.

The ranger team’s work programme also involves replanting hedgerows. A rapidly declining feature of the British landscape, hedges not only define the borders of fields, they provide an important natural habitat, cover for nesting birds and protective ‘corridors’ for wildlife to move safely around the countryside.

At Hayburn Wyke we are removing non-native plants such as rhododendron, cherry laurel and sycamore from ancient woodland as it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for flora and fauna.

With miles of footpaths bringing thousands of walkers to the coast every year, keeping them in good condition and ensuring stiles, steps, boardwalks and gates are well maintained is essential.

A view of a sandy car track running alongside the green coastline at Ravenscar and Peak Alum Works, Yorkshire. A small stone cottage stands between the track and the cliff edge. — A view of the coastline and Peak Alum Works at Ravenscar | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Why join us?

There are lots of reasons to join us; making the move to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make.

Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships
Utilise your existing skills and learn new ones
Strengthen your CV and help to develop your career
Enjoy the great outdoors
Learn about the history of this special place.

Volunteer story - John

‘I volunteer as I didn’t want retirement from full-time work to be an end to working. Being outdoors, doing something of benefit to others, learning new skills and being part of a team were important to me.

‘Volunteering as a ranger with the National Trust has given me all of these, together with the pleasure of working with different groups of people. I also like the fact that what we do is recognised by the public who we meet when we are out working.

‘It suits me that I don’t have to commit to a number of sessions, and I enjoy the variety of working in different locations.’

Joining our team

If you’d like to volunteer but don’t have any experience, don't worry – we provide onsite training for all our volunteer tasks.

We also support volunteers who may be looking to develop experience in a certain field and can often help when training opportunities become available within the National Trust.

For further information please contact the ranger team at yorkshirecoast@nationaltrust.org.uk, or you can search for current opportunities via the link below.