| Volunteering on the Downs |
| What is the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project? |
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In 1999 the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project was set up to protect the outstanding wildlife interest of the Bristol side of the Gorge and Downs and to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of this site for people and wildlife.
We are working to create opportunities to enable people of all ages to discover, learn more about and enjoy the wildlife and the landscape of the Gorge and Downs. |
| Where would you be based? |
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You would be working with the Project’s Education Officer. She is based in the Education Department at Bristol Zoo Gardens. |
| What would you be doing? |
At different times of the year we’re busy doing different things. The spring and summer tend to be the busiest with plenty of events, schools visits and the family funday. The following is a non-exhaustive list of the types of things that you might get involved with:
Helping with the events programme. We run a range of walks, talks and courses throughout the year looking at all aspects of the wildlife and landscape of the Gorge & Downs. Help is needed with administrative tasks relating to the events programme including: dealing with enquiries, sending out tickets to participants, producing publicity posters and help at the events themselves.
Supporting school visits to the Downs including pre-session preparation (ie, making resources used during the sessions) and working with small groups of children helping them to focus on their studies.
Supporting children’s holiday events. We run these throughout the summer and during at half terms. Each event normally consists of a morning session consisting of games and activities focused on a particular wildlife theme and an afternoon craft session. Events have included Bugs bees and butterflies, Feathered friends and Autumnal antics.
Help with the planning and delivery of big events such as the Gorge-ous wildlife family fun day. This event aims to encourage families to learn about the wildlife of the Gorge and Downs by following a trail of costumed wildlife characters. There are clues to solve and prizes to be won. (And behind the scenes weeks of preparation!).
Helping with preparation of classrooms for talks, courses and children’s events (you can get creative with the latter!)
Helping to promote the work of the project through public events. We take a travelling display to events such as the Bristol Festival of Nature and the Bristol Flower Show (where we also run kids activities). |
| How much time would it take? |
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It depends entirely on your circumstances. We’ve had volunteers help for a set block of time on volunteer placements (anything from a week to a month), although some volunteers come in on a regular basis once a week. |
| What have previous volunteers thought of their placements? |
“Thank you for everything over my placement. I thoroughly enjoyed coming out on the Downs with you and learnt so much.”
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get an insight into what you do – it’s been really fun! I can certainly say that I now feel I have more direction in the area I would like to go into in the future, I feel very inspired!” |
| Interested? |
Then contact :
Mandy Leivers,
Avon Gorge and Downs Biodiversity Education Officer,
The Education Department,
Bristol Zoo Gardens,
Clifton,
Bristol,
BS8 3HA.
Telephone: 0117 9030609.
E-mail: mleivers@bristolzoo.org.uk |
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