Volunteering
Would you like to meet new people and help out in your community?
Would you like to learn new skills, or use existing skills and apply them in different ways?
Poole Park gardeners meet once a month to tend to various parts of the extensive gardens. If you’d like to volunteer, please email greenvolunteer@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.
Poole Park Railway volunteers
The railway is managed by council-employed Supervisors and an enthusiastic team of volunteers. We are always keen to make contact with volunteer drivers, guards and platform staff, no experience necessary, training provided.
If you are interested in joining the friendly team in the park please come along and chat with the Supervisor at the Railway Station (10am – 4.30pm), or send us an email at poolepkrailway@bcpcouncil.gov.uk – thank you.
Volunteering in other BCP parks & greenspaces
BCP has a wide range of opportunities available for volunteers with a range of life skills who can work with our community engagement officers, heathland, countryside and parks teams.
You’ll develop valuable skills, boost your physical and mental health, have fun, make new friends and be able to make a real difference in your area. People of all ages and abilities are welcome and no prior experience or knowledge is required. If you’re under 18 you’ll need to come with an adult or an organised group or scheme.
Get in touch now if you are keen to get the ball rolling – email us at greenvolunteer@bcpcouncil.gov.uk letting us know which park, heath, nature reserve or other open space interests you, and what sort of tasks you are best suited to. If you have any special needs or are not sure what might be suitable, please still get in touch and we would be happy to give suggestions and more information.
Upton Country Park is just a 10 minute drive from Poole Park and offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities across the 160 acre estate that include:
- visitor experience volunteers working in the Welcome Centre
- sixth form student work experience placements and youth volunteering
- interpretation and research, delving into the estate’s 2,000 year history or monitoring & recording wildlife
- engagement and learning volunteers, working with schools, local groups and families
- gardening tasks, horticulture, and practical conservation activities such as hedge laying, land clearance, pond management and coppicing.
Find out more and make contact at uptoncountrypark.com/get-involved/volunteering
The Parks Foundation works with BCP Council on a number of projects across the region and has volunteering opportunities that include office support, outdoor conservation activities, working in community cafés within parks at Parkstone, Bournemouth & Boscombe, and helping out in the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre at Stour Valley Nature Reserve.
They also offer Ranger Work Experience sessions across parks in the BCP area, giving 16-25 yr olds valuable environmental skills to add to their CV.
Find out more and make contact at parksfoundation.org.uk/become-a-volunteer