
GET INVOLVED

Volunteering and Engagement Officer
Jade has lots of exciting plans for the future of volunteering with WRT, which you can read more about below.
Change is Coming
Here at the Wear Rivers Trust we are striving to improve our volunteering provision. We strongly believe that good conservation and environmental management can only take place with local communities on board. We also pride ourselves in supporting and nurturing the next generation of environmental managers. Over the autumn and winter of 2023, our volunteering team will be rolling out a brand new volunteering platform, which will streamline our approach and make events and opportunities easier to join. The platform is already well-used within our region, with key partners such as Durham Wildlife Trust and Durham University already involved. This will allow us to engage in a joined-up, community approach to conserving the waterways of the Wear Catchment. If you’d like to be involved in trialling the new platform, please email Jade Harley at volunteering@wear-rivers-trust.org.uk
Volunteering Opportunities

Tree planting
We work with landowners across the Wear Catchment to plant trees in riparian environments. This has multiple benefits including increasing biodiversity, stabilising banks, decreasing flood risk, and improving habitat for spawning fish.
Look out for opportunities during the winter months, from November - March.

Balsam Bashing
We are working to manage invasive species across the Wear Catchment. A key species volunteers can help with is Himalayan Balsam. Throughout the spring and summer months, you can join us on Balsam Bashes from Weardale to the lower reaches of the Wear and its tributaries. You can also help us to better understand Himalayan Balsam distribution by carrying out walkover surveys.
Look out for opportunities from May - August

Electro fishing
Electro fishing allows us to understand fish populations across our catchment. This is especially important close to fish barriers, such as weirs and culverts. This informs us where our work can have the biggest impacts.
Look out for opportunities from July - October.

Natural Flood Management
We use natural processes to limit flood risk and safeguard communities. Our techniques include leaky dams, wetland creation, tree planting, and scrapes. These options increase the storage capacity of riparian land, helping to slow the flow whilst also creating valuable habitats that enhance biodiversity and capture carbon.
Look out for opportunities year round.