Many environmental organisations depend on the support of committed and enthusiastic volunteers and, coinciding with Volunteers’ Week, new research published today by Natural England has revealed the true value of their help.

Using guidance and a measuring formula developed over the last 16 years by the Institute of Volunteering Research, a Volunteer Investment and Value Audit for 2011 discovered that 3000 Natural England volunteers provided over 29,300 working days, which has a market value of over £3.5 million.

Further analysis showed that for every £1 spent on supporting volunteers – through training, providing equipment and transport - a value of £8.48 is returned.

Essential tasks are carried out by volunteers for Natural England on the organisation’s many National Nature Reserves every week include;

Providing advice to visitors and helping at events,

Planting trees or cutting them back to clear pathways,

Monitoring and surveying species and habitats,

Leading guided walks,

Taking photographs and helping with art or interpretation projects,

Monitoring livestock to keep them healthy and safe,

Creating new ponds, paths and carrying out repairs to fencing

Natural England’s executive director Jim Smyllie said: “My heartfelt thanks and appreciation go out to all our volunteers for their time, unfailing enthusiasm and commitment to looking after our wildlife and natural environment.

"We now know the true value of their support but really it is priceless to us - the benefits to us all and the environment are far reaching – and there for anyone to see when they visit our National Nature Reserves.”

Justin Davis Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England, said: “During Volunteers’ Week we celebrate the more than 20 million people who donate over 100 million hours to their communities every week. It has been estimated that the economic value of this activity is worth in excess of £40 billion to our economy.

"As Natural England has found, the value of volunteers far outweighs the investment needed to ensure they are well supported.”

Case Study – Castle Eden Dean National Nature Reserve, Durham
Located on the edge of Durham’s urban fringe, this woodland reserve has been left to spread and sprawl through this deep gorge for over 10,000 years. It’s now the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north-east England, and is famous for its majestic yew trees, folklore and fantastic stands of ancient oak and ash.

Volunteer impact on the reserve in 2011

50 practical conservation days averaging 4 volunteers per day

12 Junior Conservation task days carried out by the award winning ‘Dene Team’ (2008 Youth Group of the Year)

The Dene Team also work with the Marine Conservation Society for their annual coastal litter survey

50 guided walks and 24 public events aided by volunteers

Volunteers are solely responsible for monitoring the 12 miles of footpath in the reserve

In partnership with Butterfly Conservation, the volunteers carry out weekly surveys during spring and summer

Volunteers carry out pollution monitoring of Castle Eden Burn – taking water samples, monitoring the stream bed and recording invertebrates

In addition to the already generous offer of their time, the volunteers have also raised £1500 for local good causes and charities

Castle Eden Dene NNR has worked with a number of groups to support volunteers who benefit greatly from the personal impact of being involved. Groups include MIND, Mental Health Matters, Rehab UK, Phoenix Futures and the East Durham Trust

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